Three for the Road: Sporty V6 Sedans

[91 s-10baja]

Three for the Road: Sporty V6 Sedans
May 4, 2007 - Story and photos John LeBlanc

On the crowded streets of London, England, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra sedans are a fairly unexceptional sight.

So common are these British family sedans that the London police force takes full advantage of their ubiquity by using them as "Q-cars" (Q for quiet). Fitted with sirens and lights mounted behind their grilles, these unmarked Fords and Vauxhalls are mainly used for clandestine assignments or chasing down unsuspecting London gangsters.

Want your own Canadian Q-car?

One you could pass off to the uninformed as daily family transportation, but a car that would also be able to deliver the driving goods when called upon?

In the form of their base models, Mitsubishi's Galant, Nissan's Altima and Saturn's Aura loyally perform the mundane functions of the model family sedan. Conversely, all three of these front-wheel-drive four-doors are available as souped-up, six-cylinder, quasi-sports sedans that any undercover Thames detective might relish.

But which one is worthy of the expense of the addition of sirens and lights?


THIRD PLACE: 2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

SECOND PLACE: 2007 Saturn Aura XR

FIRST PLACE: 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE


http://straight-six.com/ftlod/3FTR_sporty-V6_sedans.php

[Ghrankenstein]

Nice find 91 S-10. A nice read and a nice comparison. I'm surprised at the Aura outrunning the vaunted VQ-powered Altima; the 3.6L/6T70E is a brilliant combo. I'm also surprised at the choice of the CVT, but I can't argue with somebody else's opinion.

What they said about the Aura further reinforces my suspicion that the G6 GTP and Aura handle in the same manner. Their long wheelbases simply call up a lot of understeer. Once I learn the car, compensating isn't much of a big deal until I try out a front-driver that's dead accurate. I don't know if the Altima is that car or not, but the shorter 9-3 is.

[genjy]

Where the hell is the Galant's manual transmission? The previous generation didn't have available manual, either.

At least Nissan, Mazda, Honda, and VW understand the importance of offering stick shift.


Also: The Altima has CVT because the VQ35 in the Murano and the Maxima come with CVT as well.

[asim]

Not bad, I don't expect the Aura to beat the Altima, although they are both very good and competent vehicles.

[CobaltSScrazy]

erg, i wish GM cars would handle!!! outside of corvette and ss-s/c (which is now dead in 08) ....and CTS....they don't!!!!

CobaltSScrazy

[redimpss5]

I thought they were testing sporty cars?

[CobaltSScrazy]

I wish they'd offer a RedLine AURA w/ a 3.6L DI and 6speed manual combo, I'd sooooooo get that in a heartbeat (chrome rims on XR/RL too!)

CobaltSScrazy

[McG]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

erg, i wish GM cars would handle!!! outside of corvette and ss-s/c (which is now dead in 08) ....and CTS....they don't!!!!

CobaltSScrazy

The Saab 9-3 handles better than the Cobalt SS and the CTS.

[superstreet]

not bad
and i dont like the tail lights of the altima

[Ghrankenstein]

Originally Posted by McG

The Saab 9-3 handles better than the Cobalt SS and the CTS.

The Saab 9-3 is a handler, yes. In the case of the CTS vs. 9-3, it's only a comparison on base cars, and even then the CTS has the edge in terms of managing slip angles and non-handbrake oriented things. A sport package (17" or 18") CTS purely out-handles any 9-3.

I love the 9-3's personality, and its engines are spunkier than those in the CTS, but when it comes to pure chassis dynamics it doesn't come close. I've driven the two cars back-to-back many times, and the 9-3's advantages over the CTS tend to come in the intangibles, such as its unique input language and short-wheelbase agility.

The CTS buries the 9-3 for its balance and steering, and I prefer its driving position. I adore the 9-3, but driving the CTS is a real 9-3 buzz-kill on regular streets.

For me, though, the clincher would be the ability to get a 2007 9-3 in a 6-speed, versus never remotely even seeing a CTS in a manual. Automatic vs. automatic is another CTS advantage, its PAL shifting versus the 9-3's slower Aisin-Warner paddle-shift in comparison. The Hydramatic 6T70E would even things up in a heartbeat, kicking butt as it does in the Aura and G6.

The 9-3's advantage over the CTS is price, though I think it's worthwhile.

[kenman923]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

I wish they'd offer a RedLine AURA w/ a 3.6L DI and 6speed manual combo, I'd sooooooo get that in a heartbeat (chrome rims on XR/RL too!)

CobaltSScrazy

You said it. I would like the same thing. Then it could kick the Altima's butt.

[bone]

The Impala 9C1 would easily handle the three tested vehicles,however,it is not available to the general public,or is it?

[mkaresh]

I'm having a hard time thinking any variant of the Impala will out-handle these cars.

Ghrank: I'm not familiar with any impact of wheelbase on understeer/oversteer. The long wheelbase S-Class and 7-Series have balanced handling.

Weight distribution, certainly.

[Buick61]

Nonetheless, for a first time effort from Saturn, the Aura XR impresses plenty.

Surely the Canadians also had the L-series? This is Saturn's second effort. They billed the L-series as everything from Sport to Luxury whilst trying to move them off dealers lots.

[paul38469]

The problem I see is that GM's "sporty V6 Sedan" SHOULD be a Pontiac. Something is very wrong with the fact that Pontiac is not really a competitor here. The thing is that the G6 does have the same basic mechanicals. It is the unique Pontiac bits (like interior, etc.) that make that car totally out-classed and not a consideration here. GM needs to stop ignoring Pontiac and make it their true performance division, or kill it off. They are just letting Pontiac fall apart. There is some hope with the G8 and Solstice, but they need their entire lineup at least to that level.