What year did Saturn Vue have the Honda engine?
The Honda-sourced 3.5-liter V6 was offered in the Saturn Vue from 2004 through 2006.
The Saturn Vue, introduced in 2002, offered a range of powertrains over its first-generation run. In the mid-2000s, GM partnered with Honda to supply a 3.5L V6 from Honda’s J-series, which was available as an optional engine to boost performance. Availability varied by trim and market, but the Honda engine is most closely associated with the 2004–2006 Vue models in the United States and Canada. This arrangement ended as GM shifted to its own V6 options in later years.
Timeline and engine details
To map the engine options by year, note that the Honda-sourced V6 appeared in the Vue during the mid-2000s as a performance-enhanced alternative to the base four-cylinder and GM V6 offerings.
- 2004 model year: First year the Saturn Vue offered the Honda-sourced 3.5-liter V6 as an available engine option, alongside the four-cylinder and GM V6 options.
- 2005 model year: The Honda 3.5L V6 remained available in Vue trims that offered the larger engine, continuing the same powertrain lineup.
- 2006 model year: The Honda-built 3.5L V6 persisted as an option in mid-level and higher trims, before the lineup shifted in later years.
In practice, availability depended on the market and configuration, and some later model years saw a shift back toward GM's own V6 options as supply and corporate strategy evolved.
What engine was it, exactly?
The engine used in those Vue models was the Honda 3.5-liter V6 from the J-series family, commonly referenced in conjunction with the Vue as the Honda-sourced V6. It delivered more power than the base four-cylinder while sharing a compact V6 architecture that Honda produced for multiple models at the time.
Context and significance
The 2000s GM-Honda collaboration aimed to combine GM's SUV packaging with Honda's engine development to meet performance and emissions targets. The Vue's Honda V6 is a notable example of cross-brand engine sourcing in the era, reflecting broader industry practices of the time.
Summary
The Saturn Vue used Honda's 3.5-liter V6 for a brief period in the mid-2000s, specifically around the 2004–2006 model years, with limited availability depending on market and trim. The partnership reflected a unique chapter in GM's powertrain history before GM pivoted to its own V6 options in later years.
