Saturn Aura XR vs Malibu LTZ

[member12]

Okay, so which do you think has a nicer interior?

My empty nester parents looked at both and so have I. I may be crazy, but I think the Malibu LTZ (with the brown interior) looks to have slightly better details than the Aura- like stitching in the leather, material on the doors, guage display, and center console.

Maybe I am crazy, but does anyone else see this? They are very minor details.

These cars also seem a little narrower than the competition.

What do you guys think?

[Hitman1970]

Malibu > Aura. Exterior and Interior. Aura is a great vehicle, but Malibu seems to do all the little things just a bit better.

I was in an Aura XE recently. It is a fine vehicle as well. The Aura suspension tuning is good as well, a co-worker said it drove like his Acura. I assume that would be a good thing for Saturn to want to hear.

[Minnesota Nice]

I think the side profile of the Aura is far sexier than the Malibu. The Malibu looks bloated, especially by the rear doors. Everything else goes to the Malibu though.

[69Firebird400]

I prefer the Malibu over the Aura.

And your observation about their width is also accurate. They look long and skinny (long because they're both on the LWB version of Epsilon I). Actually their narrow width is one thing that (to me) keeps them from being absolute knockouts. Newer cars tend to be wider (to accommodate American fat asses better, I suppose) and also helps handling, and most importantly, appearance.

The 2008 CTS is wider than the 2007 model, for example, and it really helps the looks, IMO (though I may be biased on that one).

[BigAls87Z28]

Malibu does edge out the Aura on every front. Exterior, interior, everything is just really top notch.
Malibu without a doubt. Aura is a great sedan, but Malibu takes it to another level.

[BlackGTP]

I just bought a new 2008 Malibu LTZ last week (almost $7,500 off the sticker, excluding trade in). I had a tough time between the Malibu and the Aura XR. Obviously they are the same cars under the sheetmetal - so the choice comes totally down to styling. I went between the Saturn and Chevy dealer 3 times... In the end I decided the interior of the Malibu was much nicer (the Saturn was somewhat plain in comparison) and the exterior of the Malibu is more masculine (my opinion).

Take a look at both Malibu interior color choices - I did not like the black and brick, but the cashmiere and cocoa looks great. I do wish they had an all black interior on the LTZ (they do on the lower levels) - it would look great with my black metallic exterior! I stepped out of the 2002 Grand Prix GTP - the LTZ is superior in ride, acceleration, handling. The quietness of the interior is amazing over the GTP. GM always impresses me as I move into each new car how improved it is over my previous (89 Chev Cavalier z24, 94 Grand Prix GTP, 2002 Grand Prix GTP).

The best thing is now when I step out of my Malibu and into a friends A4 I no longer think my car is a piece of junk - A4 is still better - as it should be for the $$ - but not leaps and bound better!

Good luck with you choice!

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by Minnesota Nice

I think the side profile of the Aura is far sexier than the Malibu. The Malibu looks bloated, especially by the rear doors. Everything else goes to the Malibu though.

I concur.

[Pedal 2 Metal]

Get the freakin Malibu. The first time I saw it I thought it was a Lexus

[caddycruiser]

I've done comparos of both and like both, and having an '08 Malibu, it really does just have a whole something about it in the look, details, etc. that is higher rung than the Aura. That's not to say that the Aura is subpar, but the V2 Aura (a.k.a. Malibu) is more expressive, has nicer materials with a much more expressive design in ways, etc.

Going with either is a great choice, and I just had the XR vs. LTZ debate myself, thinking ahead. Thought I'd go XR just to be a bit different from already having a Malibu, but then couldn't get over the look, interior, dealership closeness, etc. with the Malibu. It comes off as such "wow!" car in a way, somehow, the Aura just doesn't despite being very nice.

Of course, go ask on SaturnFans or a board like that, and you know the answer you'll get, for obvious reasons, as they try to pick apart a detail here and a detail there of the Malibu. Still, have to go with the 'Bu on this one...it just pulls me more, making me want to stare and right the check. Hah!

[TechnoAura]

As an owner of a 2007 Aura XE, I think I prefer the Malibu's interior as well as the exterior. For example, in a side by side comparison of a loaded Malibu LTZ vs a loaded Aura XR, I like the interior and exterior of the Malibu. I still really like the design of the Aura but I think GM has taken a great car and made it better when they produced the Malibu.

[Firebird00]

I hate the brown interior in the Malibu, however the Malibu beats the Aura in every way imaginable to me. No way I'd buy a freakin' Saturn before a Chevy or Pontiac.

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by TechnoAura

....I think GM has taken a great car and made it better when they produced the Malibu.

Agreed

[rmodys]

Does anyone have the length of the Malibu in inches offhand? Just wondering, it looks pretty big in the picture above.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by rmodys

Does anyone have the length of the Malibu in inches offhand? Just wondering, it looks pretty big in the picture above.

It is long and lean, well, still in a compact way. Putting these newer EP-I's on the originally "extended" platform used for the Malibu Maxx and G6 did make a difference, and a good one.

Malibu
Wheel Base: 112.3"
Length: 191.8"

Aura
Wheel Base: 112.3"
Length: 190.9"

So, basically, the same except for another inch on the Bu's bumpers. The Aura does, somehow, look shorter visibly I think because of the shape and short length of the trunk, compared to the more boxed out Bu's.

[Wolfman01]

I'm smitten to the Malibu. I've driven the Aura, and it's a nice car to be sure. The 'Bu however, just seems to be a cut above. I wanted one over the Impala, but since GM chose not to offer a flex fuel model, it lost to the Implala over that one reason alone. GM hit a home run with the Malibu.