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In case you haven't been paying attention to GM's once-neglected brand that for the past few years has been forced to rely on superior customer service to motivate sales, Saturn is back, this time with a full product revitalization plan, including five new-for-2007 models (Sky, Sky Red Line, Aura, Vue Green Line, and Outlook) and two more coming for '08 (Vue and Astra). Among the new-for-'07s is Saturn's largest and most expensive vehicle ever, the Outlook: a three-row, seven- or eight-passenger...

Outlook's big exterior dimensions translate into a spacious interior. GM got the formula right. This is one vehicle that delivers a comfortable seat for an adult passenger in every position -- from the driver's seat to front passenger to each middle row seat to the third row, I was able to sit comfortably with enough leg, hip and head room for a long ride, and I'm on the big side at over 6' tall.

When her husband suggested looking at the Saturn Outlook, a new crossover vehicle, she thought it was odd because her image of the company was of one that made economy cars. "With all the options, the price was right. We were impressed that the gas mileage was fairly decent for a bigger car," she said. "I can fit all my kids and their friends and all my stuff and still feel like I'm driving a luxury car."

The Saturn member of the Lambda family has perhaps the most conservative styling of the three, but it's quite attractive nonetheless. It has a clean and muscular shape with pronounced flares over the wheel arches and just the right amount of exterior brightwork. Large 18-inch wheels are standard, but the optional polished 19-inchers like those on our tester fill the space below the flares nicely and contribute to a broad stance.

General Motors is struggling to halt declining U.S. sales, but it has a bright spot in the three large crossover vehicles it launched in the past year. The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook each have three rows of seats and look like big sport-utility vehicles, but they are lighter, have a smoother ride and get better gas mileage than SUVs. Made from many of the same parts, all three are selling briskly and have a GM plant in Lansing, Michigan, running at full capacity, a key to prof...

General Motors is struggling to halt declining U.S. sales, but it has a bright spot in the three large crossover vehicles it launched in the past year. The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook each have three rows of seats and look like big sport-utility vehicles, but they are lighter, have a smoother ride and get better gas mileage than SUVs. Made from many of the same parts, all three are selling briskly and have a GM plant in Lansing, Michigan, running at full capacity, a key to profi...

GM's Delta Township plant is now operating around the clock to keep up with demand for their popular crossover SUVs. The plant added a third shift last week, bringing in more than 500 temporary workers. A plant spokesperson says workers will be cranking out vehicles 24/7.

Not planning on off-roading or towing? Then "you should probably concentrate on car-based SUVs," advises Gabriel Shenhar, program leader for Consumer Reports' Auto Test Division, who said these so-called crossovers, such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota Highlander, Saturn Outlook, and even BMW X5, will do just fine for most SUV shoppers. They offer ease of seating access, top-notch handling, and roomy interiors.

Mark Patinkin from the Providence Journal: I bought a Ford Expedition, which was too big. So I in 1999, I got a Dodge Durango, a slightly smaller 3-seat SUV. That carried me until two years ago, when, still needing three seats for baseball bags and packs of teens, I got another SUV, a Saturn Outlook. I discovered that Saturn had not worked out as a separate entity, and the Outlook was now being made in a regular GM factory alongside its GMC sibling, the Acadia. But to me, the Outlook proves Detr...

My first reaction to the vehicle was how pleasantly styled it is. While it resembles its corporate cousin over at GMC, it differs from most offerings in this segment by not adopting the “rough and ready” look of most SUVs. Rather, it is cleanly designed people mover that favors stylish practicality over overtly masculine bulges that hint at ostensible off-road prowess.

Consumer Reports calls the new Saturn Outlook the best American SUV the publication's ever tested. The new Saturn Outlook is one of the top vehicles to come out of General Motors in years, says Consumer Reports' Jon Linkov. "It drives and handles well, like a midsized SUV, but it's as spacious as a large full-sized one," he said. The Outlook seats eight people with a third row that fits 3 adults comfortably. The second row folds forward in one simple step, making it easy to get into the third ro...

I have to admit that I picked up the Outlook with trepidation, and ended up returning it reluctantly. Overall, GM has done an extremely impressive job on this Saturn, with a well-finished interior, strong engine, comfortable seats and good cargo space. A cross-country trek? Bring it on.

Among safety features besides the stability-control system and four-wheel anti-lock brakes, the vehicles come with a tire-pressure monitoring system and six standard air bags: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two roof rail air bags that cover all three rows of seating.

While Saturn is building strong ties with its European cousin Opel, it has also borrowed from sister GM brands Buick and GMC for the Outlook's foundation. This full-sized model, with seating for up to eight, shares its platform and other components with the new Enclave and Acadia. Shoppers looking for a vehicle in this category typically have roominess among the must-haves on their wish list. The Outlook will score well here. From the moment you first open the doors, the space inside is impressi...