Honda-Powered SATURN VUE ?

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Scott (4)

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My father is currently in the market for a new SUV, so we went to the Auto Show today to comparison shop the various offerings of both import and domestic marques. Among the very last SUVs we considered was a 2005 Saturn Vue with AWD and V-6 power . . . supplied by HONDA ?!?!

At first, I thought I'd simply misunderstood what the Saturn sales rep had said, but when I asked him to clarify his statement, he reiterated that General Motors partnered with Honda for powerplants. Specifically, Honda furnishes V-6 engines to Saturn for their Vue, but that the available four-cylinder engines are GM units.

So, I'm curious if anyone else out there had been aware that the V-6 Saturn Vues are Honda-powered? Further, is there anyone with ownership experience with these vehicles who'd care to share their observations and opinions with this discussion group?

My father is actually looking for a smaller-sized, car-based SUV as opposed to a large, truck-based SUV, so if you have any other suggestions for what to add to our search list, I would greatly appreciate your insight and input.
 
Scott said:
My father is currently in the market for a new SUV, so we went to the Auto Show today to comparison shop the various offerings of both import and domestic marques. Among the very last SUVs we considered was a 2005 Saturn Vue with AWD and V-6 power . . . supplied by HONDA ?!?!
Yep.

At first, I thought I'd simply misunderstood what the Saturn sales rep had said, but when I asked him to clarify his statement, he reiterated that General Motors partnered with Honda for powerplants. Specifically, Honda furnishes V-6 engines to Saturn for their Vue, but that the available four-cylinder engines are GM units.
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Yep. Some of the V6's in the VUE are made by GM though.
So, I'm curious if anyone else out there had been aware that the V-6 Saturn Vues are Honda-powered? Further, is there anyone with ownership experience with these vehicles who'd care to share their observations and opinions with this discussion group?
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Read the Saturn group. Apparently this V6 in the VUE is not one that Honda uses in its own vehicles. There have been some complaints that it's not a terribly good in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness.
My father is actually looking for a smaller-sized, car-based SUV as opposed to a large, truck-based SUV, so if you have any other suggestions for what to add to our search list, I would greatly appreciate your insight and input.
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CR-V, of course.
 
Scott said:
My father is currently in the market for a new SUV, so we went to the Auto Show today to comparison shop the various offerings of both import and domestic marques. Among the very last SUVs we considered was a 2005 Saturn Vue with AWD and V-6 power . . . supplied by HONDA ?!?!

At first, I thought I'd simply misunderstood what the Saturn sales rep had said, but when I asked him to clarify his statement, he reiterated that General Motors partnered with Honda for powerplants. Specifically, Honda furnishes V-6 engines to Saturn for their Vue, but that the available four-cylinder engines are GM units.

So, I'm curious if anyone else out there had been aware that the V-6 Saturn Vues are Honda-powered? Further, is there anyone with ownership experience with these vehicles who'd care to share their observations and opinions with this discussion group?

My father is actually looking for a smaller-sized, car-based SUV as opposed to a large, truck-based SUV, so if you have any other suggestions for what to add to our search list, I would greatly appreciate your insight and input.
Click to expand...

Drive train performs flawlessly until 300,000 Km . . . Unfortunately the rest of the vehicle only lasts until 120,000 Km. Fit and finish is apparently typically poor.

Sign in and do a SEARCH at hondasuv.com.

'Curly'
 
So, I'm curious if anyone else out there had been aware that the V-6 Saturn Vues are Honda-powered?
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Yes. Old news. The deal was made around 2002. The Honda V6 and 5-speed auto was put in Vues, I believe, starting with '04 models. As to the claim that it is a V6 *not* used in Hondas, that is news to me. And I don't think it is an accurate statement. Honda wouldn't make such a small run engine just for a partnership. It is made at the same plant as v6's for Accords, Pilots, Odysseys. If it is thrashier (don't know if that is the case), it is probably due to the application. Things like plastic body panels, amount of sound insulation, and engine mounts can make a big difference in perceived refinement.
 
Same engine as in V6 Accords. Slight modifications to produce 250 HP for the Vue application instead of the 240 in the Accord.

Ken
 
So, I'm curious if anyone else out there had been aware that the V-6 Saturn Vues are Honda-powered?
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Yep. Common knowledge around here for quite awhile.

Saturn is contractually obligated to keep it very low key; there's no Honda label of any kind anywhere on the car, for example. I'm surprised that the auto show guy said anything about it.
 
Acctually, Saturn used Honda's engine a while ago in some of their earlier sc models. GMs own engine in the car didn't live very long. (I forget the exact problem, but I think it was head gasket failure.)
 
Errr, this is NOT the Accord V6. This is the V6 from the Pilot/last gen Ody.
 
Acctually, Saturn used Honda's engine a while ago in some of their earlier sc models. GMs own engine in the car didn't live very long. (I forget the exact problem, but I think it was head gasket failure.)
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Huh? Where did you come up with this?
The small Saturns had lost-foam cast 1.9L engines, SOHC and DOHC. Made, IIRC, in Tonawanda NY. No Honda engine like this comes to mind. The newer small Saturns have the GM Ecotec 2.2L engine. This is absolutely a GM engine. Tonawanda and Spring Hill.

The LS used the same 2.2 or a GM U.K. supplied 3.0L-6.
 
Dave said:
Huh? Where did you come up with this?
The small Saturns had lost-foam cast 1.9L engines, SOHC and DOHC. Made, IIRC, in Tonawanda NY. No Honda engine like this comes to mind. The newer small Saturns have the GM Ecotec 2.2L engine. This is absolutely a GM engine. Tonawanda and Spring Hill.
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its GMs answer for everything, basically. itll be in evertyhing from the new cobalt to the smaller saabs. pretty sad seeing them spread their cancer worldwide. taking individualistic companies with a proud history of engineering and performance and turning them to shit.
 
Dave said:
Yes. Old news. The deal was made around 2002. The Honda V6 and 5-speed auto was put in Vues, I believe, starting with '04 models. As to the claim that it is a V6 *not* used in Hondas, that is news to me. And I don't think it is an accurate statement. Honda wouldn't make such a small run engine just for a partnership. It is made at the same plant as v6's for Accords, Pilots, Odysseys.
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The V6 in the Accord (3.0L) is not the same as the one in the Pilot, Odyssey, and Acura MDX (3.5L). The one in the VUE is the 3.5L, IIRC. Earlier VUE models had the GM 3.0V6 from the LS2/L300; I don't know if that one is still available in the VUE.
 
The V6 in the Accord (3.0L) is not the same as the one in the Pilot, Odyssey, and Acura MDX (3.5L). The one in the VUE is the 3.5L, IIRC.
Yup.

Earlier VUE models had the GM 3.0V6 from the LS2/L300; I don't know if that one is still available in the VUE.
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Nope (well, at least I'm pretty sure it is "no"). The 3.0V6 was a GM engine made in the UK. It had been used for years in the Opel Omega. If you have a link to a reputable source that says otherwise, I'd be interested.
 
Dave said:
The V6 in the Accord (3.0L) is not the same as the one in the Pilot, Odyssey, and Acura MDX (3.5L). The one in the VUE is the 3.5L, IIRC.

Yup.

Earlier VUE models had the GM 3.0V6 from the LS2/L300; I don't know if that one is still available in the VUE.
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Nope (well, at least I'm pretty sure it is "no"). The 3.0V6 was a GM engine made in the UK.[/QUOTE]

Yup, which is also where the 3.0V6 in the LS2/L300 came from.
 
Dave wrote:

Yup, which is also where the 3.0V6 in the LS2/L300 came from.
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Sorry, brain spasm. You wrote "GM", I somehow read "old Honda".
Mea Culpa.

And no, the 3.0V6 is no longer available in the VUE. It is either the Honda 3.5-6 or the GM 2.2-4.
 
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