Teresa’s View
What if a car company asked your family to design a vehicle? What would it look like? If you have a big crew, it probably would start with room for seven, be priced under $25K and come chock-full of family friendly, innovative features.
Saturn asked and look what they made — the all-new 2005 Saturn Relay minivan.
The base model, called the Relay 2, comes in front-wheel-drive and includes air conditioning, an eight-speaker sound system with a CD/MP3 player, a DVD entertainment system, OnStar, cruise control and power windows and door locks. The up-scale Relay 3 includes rear air conditioning — a total must-have — and is offered in a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. All three versions come with an automatic transmission plus cool features such as the rail system on the ceiling that allows owners to customize the gadgets, adding and rearranging as needed.
You don’t even have to call it a minivan. Saturn says the handsome Relay is a crossover sports van. To enhance the illusion, the front-end looks like an SUV. No, really. Put your hand over the body of the Relay in the photo above. See? It looks like a sport-ute. Now cover the photo from the front door forward; it’s a minivan. Of course, it’s a trick. Giving the Relay an SUV face doesn’t make it a sport-ute any more than putting my face on a photo of Pamela Anderson makes me, um, blond.
Best of all, the Relay gives Saturn owners something they’ve really wanted — the chance to remain in the comfort of their Saturn family. Burgeoning households no longer have to leave the flock to accommodate their brood.
So, the new Relay is perfect, right? Not quite. Power is not up to specs when compared to minivan leaders, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, although it barely beats the Chrysler Town and Country. The 3.5-liter V-6 is adequate, but bogs down when the Relay is fully loaded with kids and gear.
Safety Features: Anti-lock brakes and 24-hour roadside assistance is standard. But, what’s this? No available side curtain airbags? Serious demerits.
Favorite Feature: Every Relay is enrolled in the Vehicle Exchange Program.
If you aren’t completely satisfied with your new Relay, you’ll have 30 days or within 1,500 miles of delivery, whichever comes first, to exchange it for another 2005 Saturn, minus wear and tear.
The Grocery Sack Test: An optional tidy covered storage area is built into the cargo floor and can hold whatever wet and wonderful things your children need to bring home. However, the added inches create a high liftover, making it difficult to sit on the tailgate to put on soccer shoes.
Bummer: Saturn hosts events all over the country. Unfortunately, not one event is scheduled in Washington, Oregon or Idaho this year. I’m not feeling the love.
Who’s Your Daddy?: Saturn is a member of the General Motors family.
So, Where Are Ya From?: Spring Hill, Tenn.