The Saturn Outlook is a full-sizecrossover SUV that debuted at the New York International Auto Show, and was based on the GM Lambda platform, which it shared with the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. The Outlook went on sale in 2006 as a 2007 model. The Outlook featured the lowest sticker price among GM's Lambda crossover SUVs, slotting below the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. The Chevrolet Traverse would ultimately take the place of the Outlook as the family-oriented model following the introduction of the Traverse for the 2009 model year, and the demise of the Outlook, along with the rest of the Saturn brand in 2010, with the 2010 model year being the final model year for the Outlook. The Saturn Outlook was discontinued after the 2010 model year. Following the withdrawal of a bid by Penske Automotive to acquire Saturn, the Motors Liquidation Company of General Motors announced in September 2009 that it would phase out the Saturn brand by October 31, 2010, when it ceased operations. The GM logos were applied on the front doors of the Outlook; the GM logo had stopped being applied on the Outlook in 2010, but the GM logo was applied on the early 2010 Outlook models.
The Outlook can seat eight in a three-row setting. The front row consists of two bucket seats, and the second row is available as either a 60/40 split-folding three-passenger bench seat or two individual "captain chairs." The third row is a 60/40 split-folding three-passenger bench seat. In the press release accompanying the Outlook's launch, GM emphasized the "industry first" SmartSlide second row. In case of both bench seat or captain chairs, the seat cushion flips forward while the seat is being slid forward, which allows for "compression" of the space used by the seat in the foremost position. If the third seat is folded, this allows for expansion of the cargo area. The system also allows for fore-aft adjustment of the middle seat to change the spacing between the second and third-row seats for more legroom.
Production
The Outlook, along with the other Lambda-based vehicles, was built in the Delta Township Assembly plant near Lansing, Michigan. Production on the Saturn Outlook and its twin the GMC Acadia had both began on May 24, 2006 for the 2007 model year. In December 2006, all production and sales of the Outlook were temporarily stopped due to the engine mounts not having holes drilled to release accumulated water, as well as an issue with potentially faulty rivets in the load floor just forward of the rear hatch. The assembly process was quickly adjusted, and dealerships were told to fix the problems themselves before offering the Outlook for sale again. Sales resumed within days of the notice. Production of the Outlook was halted in late 2009. However, in February 2010 GM resumed production of the Outlook to use up remaining parts prior to the closing of the Saturn division. It is not known how or where they were sold. 3,637 2010 model year Outlooks were built, 2,507 of them were assembled in the calendar year of 2010. Following its discontinuation, the bodyshell of the Outlook was revived as a mid-cycle refresh of the 2013 GMC Acadia. The bodyshell of the 2013 Acadia was mostly unchanged from the Saturn Outlook, GM had only made changes to the 2013 Acadia where necessary.
