![]() ![]() A quick call to our friends atĬonsumer Reports verified the number, as they recorded an 8.2 second time on their test track with the AWD XR they bought for their fleet. Using Autoblog's patented and highly-sophisticated seat-of-the-pants/"One Mississippi.Two Mississippi" performance measurement tools on a long entrance ramp, I figured that the Red Line runs to sixty in 8 seconds or so. You know the deal: your results may vary. EPAįuel economy is stated to be 16 city/22highway, and we observed 17 and change over the week in the usual mix of miserable traffic and local driving. In AWD trim, the Red Line tips the scales at over 4,300 pounds, so there's quite a bit for the engine to haul around. The 3.6L V6's 257 horses move the SUV around ably if not exactly briskly for what's supposed to be the range's performance model. Remove, which could give some drivers a bit of a hard time.īy now, you're probably wondering how the new Vue drives, so let's get right into it. Molded styrofoam cover that requires some effort to The spare and related tools are topped by a If you need to access the spare tire, be advised - you'll have to remove both the net and its adjustable mounts to do so. Bi-level tracks are mounted on either side of the cargo area, and the spring-loaded net easily pops into the adjustable guides. The '08 model also offers a nifty adjustable net that lets you manage that area in back quite nicely. The rear wheel wells seem to intrude more than they did on the outgoing model, but the available room is still more than enough for the usual grocery shopping trips and other day-to-day hauling needs. With the second row seats in place, the cargo volume behind them is 29.2 cubic feet (the last Vue's was 30.8). Capacity with the rear seats folded flat is 56.4 cubic feet compared to the outgoing model's 63.8. It neatly integrates audio and cruise controls, is attractive to look at, and is comfortable in hand.Ī look at the spec sheet reveals that the new Vue loses some cargo space compared to its boxier predecessor. The multifunction steering wheel is a different unit than we'd become accustomed to finding in GM vehicles. Not so in the Vue, where everything feels solid, whether it's the storage bin's latch or the sturdy "click" the stalks hanging off the steering column make when you engage them. The latter brings me to a point: these are better materials than used in the Aura (a car I like a lot), whose center bin is topped by a cheapo lid held closed by a latch that seemingly came out of a Cracker Jack box. There, you'll find the leather-topped shifter, a pair ofĬupholders, and a dual-level storage bin. Below them, the stereo's on top, the heater controls take the middle position, and a small storage cubby trims out the bottom, which merges into the console between the front seats. Round HVAC vents with metallic bezels sit atop the uncluttered center stack. Quality, good-looking, good-feeling plastics are the norm. The rest of the cabin stacks up well, too. I've seen that type of seating material combo in more expensive GM cars - V-SeriesĬadillacs, for example - and it's a welcome sight in the less costly Vue. Model-exclusive elements include the Ebony color theme,įloor mats embroidered with the Red Line logo, andīlack leather seats with suede inserts and red contrast stitching. There's much to like about the interior you find yourself in. Like all other Vues, large side vents sit aft of the front wheels, adding a dash of style (if not function) and integrating the side marker lights quite nicely.Īfter clambering into the driver's seat, a pull on the metallic-trimmed handle closes the door with a satisfying thud that was conspicuously absent in the previous-gen Vue. Up top, low-profile roof rails are in line with the vehicle's sporty market positioning, while out back, a roof-mounted spoiler, model-specific taillamp treatment and trapezoidal exhaust tips peeking under a black bumper insert complete the appearance package. It's flanked by a set of foglamps, and if you move to the side, smooth rocker panels span the distance between the Red Line's 18" five-spoke alloys. It's substantial enough that no one would hold it against you if you looked for an intercooler behind it, but your search would be fruitless. The look is repeated on the gaping, love-it-or-hate-it lower opening. ![]() The horizontal slats of the standard Vue's grillework are replaced by a sportier-looking diamond mesh pattern. A unique, super-aggressive front fascia is the Red Line's calling card, and makes it unmistakable next to its more sedate kin. The Red Line-specific appearance package augments the lowered look with a comprehensive visual upgrade. ![]()
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