The 2007 Saturn Aura is far from the best mid-size sedan released in 2007, but it outclasses the repair-prone Accord for this model year, and it delivers a lot more value than you expect for under $5,000.
Is the 2007 Saturn Aura a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – Objectively speaking, the Aura is mediocre in more ways than not. It’s just the low price point and the high-end cabin that make it worth a test drive.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – It’s about as roomy and comfortable as you hope a mid-size to be, but the trunk is a little larger than most, and the quiet cabin is appointed with higher quality materials than you expect at this price point.
- Reliability 7/10 – The Aura’s life expectancy is on the shorter end, at around 200,000 miles, but maintenance is cheap and major repairs are scarce.
- Safety 8/10 – Excellent crash test scores and generous standard features make the Aura a safe mid-size.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – At 20/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway, an XE model is good, but not quite in the same league as the Accord and Camry.
- Value 8/10 – The Aura isn’t nearly the best mid-size on the market, but it’s one of the best you’ll find in this model year for under five grand.
What Do Critics Say About the 2007 Saturn Aura?
Consumer Reports found the 2007 Saturn Aura to be an improvement over its platform-mates, the Pontiac G6 and the Chevy Malibu, but they note that it still doesn’t match up to leading family sedans. They report the XR trim to be a bit of a stiff ride.
Kelley Blue Book praised the Aura’s “confident styling,” capable handling, comfortable ride, and quiet cabin. They found the interior to be well-appointed, too. They note that the car’s lack of a (non-hybrid) four-cylinder engine makes it less efficient than the class-leading Accord and Camry.
Edmunds liked the spacious, high-quality interior, and the refined powertrain. They report that the lack of a real manual transmission option makes the sport-oriented XR trim kind of pointless, and the car could have used a coupe or wagon model.
What Common Problems Does the 2007 Saturn Aura Have?
The 2007 Saturn Aura has generated 602 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Around one third of these are for powertrain issues, with complaints of faulty shift cables still being registered around a decade after a pair of recalls were issued in 2012 and 2014.
There are 101 complaints on file for airbags, with drivers reporting that the airbag warning light will stay on. The airbag indicators may also show a passenger in the front seat when it is unoccupied.
103 electrical complaints have been registered, with the common theme being battery drainage leaving the doors impossible to unlock, windows impossible to roll down, and ignition impossible to turn over. A recall was issued in 2014 for brake light failure, but the broader issue remains unaddressed.
The 2007 Saturn Aura has only been recalled 4 times, which is on the lower end of the median for a car this old.
How Long Will the 2007 Saturn Aura Last?
A 2007 Saturn Aura should last a minimum of 200,000 miles with decent maintenance. This doesn’t quite put it in the same league as a Toyota or a Honda, but it’s not bad. With excellent care you might reach 250,000 miles or more, but, to be safe, bet on 200,000 when making a buying decision
Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $423, with a hybrid battery replacements being the most expensive common repair, starting at around $1,463..
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology in the 2007 Saturn Aura is pretty good for the model year. CD/MP3 players with auxiliary input jacks come standard, and the sporty XR model includes a 6-disc CD changer.
Safety technology is generous, with anti-lock brakes and traction control included as standard features. 2007 was before features like rearview cameras and lane keep assist became commonplace, but what’s here isn’t bad for the model year.
Is the 2007 Saturn Aura a Good Value?
The 2007 Saturn Aura is a very good value. Typical listing prices start at just $3,989 for a Greenline edition, while a sporty XR typically lists for around $4,664. The Aura is fuel-efficient and low maintenance, so, while you may be sacrificing some of the comforts of a more expensive Camry or Accord, you’re saving a lot of money.
Note that the Greenline edition isn’t really worth the money, though. A hybrid car for under four grand may seem tempting, but you’ll have to replace the traction battery as soon as you drive it off the lot, as they’re only intended to last about a decade or so at the most.
What are the Different Models of the 2007 Saturn Aura?
The 2007 Saturn Aura is available in three models, a base XE, a sporty XR, and a hybrid Greenline edition. For the most part, the draw of each model is the engine, not the additional features. But there are a few differences between trims.
With the entry-level XE you’re getting:
- Cloth seating
- Manual air conditioning
- Remote keyless entry
- CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers
- Anti-lock brakes
The sporty XR adds:
- 8-way power adjust seating
- Automatic air conditioning
The Greenline’s list of features is almost identical to that of the XE, but with automatic air conditioning.
What Engines Come In the 2007 Saturn Aura?
- The XE model Aura comes packed with a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 224 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic in front wheel drive, and it averages 20/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
- With the XR edition you’re getting a 3.6L V6 delivering 252 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed automatic in front wheel drive, and averages 20/28 miles to the gallon.
- Greenline Auras come equipped with a gas/electric hybrid 2.4L inline-four Ecotec delivering 164 horsepower and 159 lb.-ft. of torque. The i4 is paired to a 4-speed automatic in front wheel drive, and averages a respectable 28/35 miles to the gallon.
What Colors Does the 2007 Saturn Aura Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2007 Saturn Aura?
The 2007 Saturn Aura is generally about as comfortable as you expect a mid-size sedan to be. Suspension rides nice and firm, you’ve got plenty of head and leg room, and seating stretches about 52 inches across.
Where the Aura really steps up is in the fit and finish. Cabin quality is surprisingly good for such a cheap car, with little road noise and better-than-average trim materials throughout. It’s rare to see a car this affordable that isn’t packed with cheap, flimsy plastics.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2007 Saturn Aura Have?
The 2007 Saturn Aura packs an impressive 15 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. That’s five or six medium sized suitcases, and it more than competes with most full-size sedans, outclassing a majority of mid-sizes. The cabin is generous with the cupholders, slots, and pockets, too.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2007 Saturn Aura marked the debut of the nameplate, kicking off the 1st Generation, which would run until 2010 when the model was retired.
2007: The Saturn Aura debuted in three variants on the same platform as the Chevy Malibu, and saw the brand leaning into a more “European” style of cabin design.
2008: A 2.4L Ecotec inline-four engine was made available in the XE for 2008.
2009: Saturn introduced an entry-level XR for 2009, with a 2.4L Ecotec i4 engine and a TAPshift 6-speed transmission.
2010: There were no major changes for the Aura’s fourth and final model year.
How Does the 2007 Saturn Aura Compare to the Competition?
The 2007 Saturn Aura can’t quite compete with a 2007 Honda Accord when it comes to overall value. The Accord has a good chance of reaching 300,000 miles on the original transmission, it’s incredibly fuel efficient, and it’s more responsive than a Saturn Aura. It’s also $2,000 more expensive.
A Toyota Camry, on the other hand, would be the better car hands-down almost any other year, but 2007 was a particularly lousy model year for the iconic mid-size, with way too many expensive repairs and a strong potential for early failure.
The 2007 Saturn Aura isn’t the best mid-size released in 2007 by any stretch of the imagination. But, with prices starting at well under five grand and an interior that feels more like a Lexus than a Saturn, it’s punching well above its class.
