Mini-van meets SUV - Saturn Relay is new Gm 'mid-van'

srobertson

Saturn Relay is new GM 'mid-van'

In researching this week's test vehicle, a 2005 Saturn Relay, I discovered an interesting coincidence. Saturn, the planet with the mysterious rings, is arguably the most beautiful object in the sky. Saturn, the car company, is building a beautiful new sports car called "Sky." With a body of steel (not plastic that Saturn is famous for), it will be available in 2006, and is designed to do two things: move the Saturn brand upscale -- between Pontiac and Buick -- and bring customers back to Saturn showrooms.

Another new Saturn vehicle with a heavenly-sounding name, "Aura," is also scheduled to appear in early 2006, and will ride on the same GM platform as the Chevy Malibu Maxx and the Pontiac G6. Befitting Saturn's desired "upscale" image, GM sees the Aura competing against the Acura TL, while the Pontiac targets the Honda Accord and the Mazda6, and the Malibu goes after the Toyota Camry.

That's the plan for the future, but for now Saturn will have to make do with a new "mid-van" -- a name GM invented to describe a new "cross-over" van it is selling under the Chevy, Pontiac, Saturn and Buick brands. The term "minivan" has been banished from GM's marketing speak. The Relay is Saturn's first seven-passenger vehicle, carries steel body panels, and is another indication that this one-time maverick division is moving mainstream.

Designed to look more like an SUV (marketing types tell us the SUV craze will last another decade, or until fuel prices hit $3 a gallon), Saturn has a squared-off front end with an upright grille, higher hood line, and a more vertical windshield. But look closer and you'll see this is no SUV -- the sliding rear doors are a dead give-away. Also, Saturn has a low step-in height, although the seating position is more SUV-like. And so is the entertainment system. A six-speaker AM/FM audio system with a CD/MP3 player is standard, as is a rear-passenger DVD system. If that's not enough, a six-disc system with XM satellite radio is available, and Saturn will soon offer the PhatNoise system, which incorporates a 40-gigabyte hard-drive cartridge. The cartridge can be removed for use in home systems.

The Saturn brochure proclaims, "For drivers who don't think a family car should look like a family car," and that statement goes right to the heart of the philosophy behind Relay's styling cues. Everyone knows how darn handy and practical minivans are, but many drivers (and their kids) are tired of looking at them, and don't want to be seen in them. GM's solution is the Relay -- a mid-van with front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive.

While Relay's strongest selling point is its bold, fresh styling, its nicest feature are all the storage bins throughout the handsome interior. The interchangeable overhead console slides on a rail system that allows owners to move or add storage components as they see fit. Relay comes with a pair of functional and very deep plastic bins with four compartments built into the rear floor to keep things out of sight and in place. The backs of the front- and second-row seats come with pull-open compartments to hold such items as headsets for the standard DVD entertainment system. There are at least 12 cupholders and power plugs front and rear. Another convenient option is a 115-volt AC outlet. The Relay's third-row seat offers ample room for adults and splits 50/50, allowing families to carry a mix of passengers and cargo -- an important feature. I recall my first minivan. It was impossible to load six passengers and their luggage for a trip. The second and third row seats do not disappear into the floor -- the under-floor storage compartment and the all-wheel-drive machinery prevent that -- but they do fold completely flat for loading large items.

Powered by a 3.5-liter V-6, the Relay engine makes 200 horsepower. There are other vans on the market that offer considerably more power, but the Relay did not feel under-powered. The engine was smooth and the transmission well mannered. Handling, steering and braking were up to modern standards, and my rear-seat passengers commented on the smooth, quiet ride. It is certainly superior to the typical SUV's.

The dual sliding power doors were a hit with everyone. A push of a button on the remote fob or the door panel slides the doors open or shut, making it effortless to load people or things. This vehicle is going to appeal not only to soccer moms and their handy-man husbands, but also to senior citizens looking for a comfortable, stylish, easy-entry vehicle that gets decent mileage. My Relay is rated for 18 mpg/city and 24 mpg/highway.

My test vehicle listed for about $31,000 with the premium seating package and other popular options, such as traction control, remote starting system and ultrasonic park assist, which beeps out a warning when you pull too close to an object, such as that gas-sucking SUV sitting in your garage.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.