I drive a pickup and a van but I have a friend apparently struggling to locate parts for a Saturn Vue. I’m not sure of the year but he has at least two of them. He swears that ONLY Saturn Vue parts will fit — but I just noticed that the name of this forum includes the Chevy Captiva Sport and the Pontiac Torrent.
So how much «the same» are they all? Identical or just similar?
21 příspěvků · Připojeno 2017
It is more accurate to say a Chevy Captiva Sport is a re-badged Saturn Vue, but that is not completely true, either. Saturn Vue and Pontiac Torrent were built at same time, on the same platform. However, like any of GM’s «sibling» vehicles of that era, there are parts that are common and parts that were designed to make each brand unique. Since both brands are now extinct, I suspect there are certain parts that are more challenging to find.
The Captiva Sports came along later, in 2012, I think — long after the demise of Pontiac and Saturn. It was a «fleet only» vehicle, not marketed or sold to individuals, other than on the used market. This allowed GM to meet high demand for small SUVs in the North American fleet (rental car) market, utilizing available manufacturing facilities in Mexico, and likely with existing tooling. You can tell at a quick glance that the body/chassis/interior is extremely close to that of the latest models of Saturn Vue, but the powertrain of the Captiva has more in common with the Chevy Equinox from the same time period (2012-2014).
Phil P
Indiana
2013 Captiva Sport LTZ
174 příspěvků · Připojeno 2015
Hi @Poodle Head Mikey .
Welcome to our forum!
I concur with @Phil Price.
Our ’12 — ’15 Chevrolet Captiva Sport (not to be confused with the «Chevrolet Captiva» that is sold elsewhere) is a rebadged & ever-so-slightly upgraded ’08 — ’10 Saturn Vue.
Other than the badging differences, the drive train has more in common with the ’10 — ’17 Chevrolet Equinox. Same 2.4l ecotec engine as the Equinox, but a slightly different transmission as @Phil Price noted. I believe the 2.4l ’08 — ’10 Vue had 4 speed transmissions (although the v6 Vue had a 6 speed transmission). and our Captiva Sport has a 6 speed transmission.
Some minor interior differences I’ve noted.
1) Captiva Sport has an electric parking brake, the Vue had a manual brake handle (actually, I wish ours did too!).
2) The dash illumination color is «Chevy green» (common on most Chevrolet vehicles), whereas the dash illumination color for the Vue was red / amber. As a former Pontiac owner, I prefer the red / amber. but it isn’t a deal breaker for me.
3) The later years (’13 — ’15) Captiva Sport LTZ (optional on the LT) had an option for an upgraded MyLink touch-screen radio. It’s rounded corners shape made for a new center A/C vent fascia to accommodate the radio change. Honestly, if I didn’t mention it, you probably wouldn’t notice it. UNTIL, you wanted to upgrade your head-unit as it needs a slightly different adapter. Here are some pics to show the slight difference.
Captiva Sport with base radio
http://bit.ly/2G4cX4Z
Captiva Sport ’13 — ’15 with upgraded radio
http://bit.ly/2G6JQxG
The upgraded radio for the ’08 — ’10 Saturn Vue, retained the squared corners as the base radio.
http://bit.ly/2G8kYpj
http://bit.ly/2G8kYpj
I’m sure there are parts differences between the 2 vehicles. and certainly accounting for the modifications to technological updates that have happened since Saturn’s demise. But the similarities far outweigh the differences.
Finally, the ’05 — ’09 Pontiac Torrent isn’t similar to our Captiva Sport vehicle. It actually has more in common with the previous (first) generation Chevrolet Equinox (’05 — ’09). The first-generation ’02 — ’07 Vue had the plastic side panels panels and was assembled in Spring Hill, Tennessee. the first-generation Equinox & Torrent were built in Canada. As @Phil Price pointed out, the ’08 — ’10 Vue was assembled in Mexico. as is (was) our ’12 — ’15 Captiva Sport.
BTW, there is a Saturn exclusive forum. with a section for the ’02 — ’07. and ’08 — ’10 Vue.
http://www.saturnfans.com
@Poodle Head Mikey .
I hope we helped answer your question.
Please feel free to contribute (or ask further questions) in our forum.
Proud:
2012 Captiva Sport 2LS
Minulost:
Chrysler PT Cruiser z roku 2005
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 quad-cab
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
1988 Pontiac Grand Am SE Quad4
1978 Volkswagon Dasher
Oldsmobile Cutlass z roku 1971
The shuttered Saturn brand is quickly fading from memory, but now GM plans to bring back one former Saturn model to live on in a new incarnation.
But even if you’re a Saturn fan, you won’t be able to buy one—unless you’re a business.
Vue redux
The compact crossover that sold for only two years as the 2008 and 2009 Saturn Vue will return to the U.S. market as the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport—the name under which it’s sold in Mexico, where it’s built, and many other global markets as well.
2008 Saturn VUE Red Line
Saturn was sold only in North America, so when it was time to replace the Vue crossover, General Motors turned to its global lineup of vehicles and re-branded the Captiva as the Vue.
Now the Captiva (nee Vue) is the solution to a happy problem faced by the new, post-bankruptcy GM: more demand for compact crossovers than it can supply.
Problem: too much success
The very successful 2011 Chevrolet Equinox crossover is selling as fast as GM can build it. The company even squeezed extra capacity out of one Canadian plant by trucking body shells 120 miles for final assembly in a second plant, but that still can’t satisfy the demand.
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ
So the company has decided that it will direct the new, stylish Equinox toward retail consumers, who are more likely to tick the boxes for profitable options and high-end luxury models.
Fleet buyers—from small businesses to large corporations—who buy dozens or hundreds of small crossovers at a time will be pointed toward the older (but presumably affordable) Captiva Sport.
Equinox-equivalent engines
Like the 2011 Equinox, the 2012 Captiva Sport will be offered with 2.4-liter four or a 3.0-liter V-6 engines, both direct injected and coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Its gas-mileage figures may equal or be slightly lower than those for the Equinox, which range from 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway for the four to 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the V-6 model fitted with all-wheel-drive.
Three trim levels are planned, following the Chevy practice of LS, LT, and LTZ. Both LT models come with the V-6 as standard equipment. The LTZ model includes all-wheel-drive, as well as leather trim and a 10-speaker sound system.
Pretty nice for a fleet car, hmmm?
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic LT
Clever Chevy
It’s a smart move by GM, frankly. The Captiva is roughly the same size as the Equinox, there’s spare capacity in the Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, plant where it’s built for Latin and South American makrets—and the development work had already been done to enable the former Saturn Vue to meet U.S. safety and emissions regulations.
But the 2012 Captiva Sport will only be offered to fleet buyers at selected Chevrolet dealers. Actual civilian retail buyers won’t be able to order it.
Want to drive a Captiva Sport yourself? Make friends with your local airport rental-lot manufacturer.
Handful of fleet-only models
In the last decade, automakers have offered a handful of models offered only to fleet buyers. Chevrolet itself kept the 1997-2003 Malibu in production as the «Chevrolet Classic» during 2004 and 2005, for rental-car companies and other buyers, after it was replaced for 2004 with a redesigned model.
End of the road for the Ford Crown Victoria
And it briefly did the same with the 2007 Malibu after it was replaced by an all-new 2008 model.
But perhaps the best-known fleet vehicle is the ancient Ford Crown Victoria, the ubiquitous full-size sedan beloved of taxi cab owners, police forces, and other fleet buyers across the country. Last redesigned in 1998, the Ford Crown Victoria has been sold as a fleet-only vehicle since 2008.
Until the closure of Mercury last year, retail buyers could get essentially the same car as a Mercury Grand Marquis. But now, the Crown Vic will live out the rest of its limited lifespan being sold only in bulk to commercial operators.
Leaked: Chevrolet Caprice Police Detective PPV
To fill that gap, Chevy will offer a second fleet-only model, the Caprice rear-wheel drive sedan built in Australia and closely related to the also-discontinued Pontiac G8 sports sedan.
The 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport goes on sale to fleet buyers in the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing hasn’t been announced.
Sledujte GreenCarReports na Facebooku a Twitteru.
