The Saturn Relay was the only minivan Saturn ever sold. It was a rebadged version of the Buick Terraza, the Chevrolet Uplander and the Pontiac Montana SV6, all built at Doraville in Georgia, and it was offered for three model years, from 2005 to 2007.
Saturn Relay at a glance
| Production | 2005–2007 model years |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Doraville, Georgia |
| Sister cars | Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 |
| Engine, 2005 | 3.5 L LX9 V6, 200 hp |
| Engine from 2006 | 3.9 L LZ9 V6, 240 hp, optional |
| 2007 engines | 3.9 L V6 only |
| Trim levels | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Seating | up to seven |
| Starting price | US$22,850 |
| Economy | 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway |
| Replaced by | Saturn Outlook for 2007 |
Written from the English Wikipedia article on the Relay.
History of the Saturn Relay
2005: a minivan for Saturn
The Relay joined Saturn’s range for 2005 together with the other GM minivans on the same platform. It came with a 3.5-litre LX9 V6 of 200 hp and 220 lb-ft, which gave acceleration to 60 mph in the nine-second range. The starting price was US$22,850 and there were three trim levels, with the Relay 3 available in front- and all-wheel drive. It carried up to seven people using folding or removable captain’s chairs in the second row and a 50/50 split third-row bench that folded flat but not into the floor. OnStar and a rear DVD entertainment system were standard on every Relay, a navigation system was optional, and side airbags were extra.
2006–2007: bigger engine, fewer options
For 2006 the 3.9-litre LZ9 V6 of 240 hp and 240 lb-ft was added as an option on the front-wheel-drive Relay 3, bringing quicker acceleration and better response than the 3.5. The wheels gained six lugs instead of five, the Relay 3 could be ordered with a navigation radio, and first-row side airbags, traction control and a power sliding passenger door became standard; second-row side airbags came with captain’s chairs. GM badges appeared on the front doors in 2006 and were gone again for 2007. For the final year the 3.5-litre engine was dropped, leaving the 3.9 as the base unit, with flex-fuel capability optional for fleets only. The all-wheel-drive option went with it, because the system could not handle the torque of the larger engine. A Relay 1 base trim was added, the Relay 3 gained dual-zone manual climate control, and all cars received redesigned 17-inch wheels and StabiliTrak stability control.
The end
The last Relay was built on 17 November 2006, and the model was replaced for 2007 by the Saturn Outlook, an eight-seat crossover on the Lambda platform, which was a more modern answer to the same family transport question. The Doraville plant closed in September 2008.
Design and features
- Seven seats: captain’s chairs in the middle row and a folding third-row bench.
- Standard equipment: OnStar and a rear DVD system on every trim.
- Two V6 engines: the 3.5-litre from launch and the 3.9-litre added for 2006.
- Safety: three Good and two Acceptable ratings in IIHS crash tests.
Saturn Relay versions
- Relay 1: the base trim, added for 2007.
- Relay 2: the middle trim.
- Relay 3: the top trim, available with front- or all-wheel drive.
- 3.9-litre cars: from 2006 an optional engine, and the only one left in 2007.
- All-wheel drive: offered until 2006 and dropped with the 3.9-litre engine.
The Relay was replaced by the Saturn Outlook, and the Vue was the smaller SUV in the range. More cars are in the Saturn collection.
Sources
- Saturn Relay, English Wikipedia: engines, trims, equipment, changes, production
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