Though there may be other SUVs with better reliability or fuel economy, the Saturn Outlook is the best used Saturn for its price range. Because this model has experienced several issues in the past, the 2008 edition is the optimal model year.

The Saturn Outlook is an affordable vehicle that’s ready for anything. Whether it’s transporting cargo, carpooling, or just driving around with friends and family, the Outlook has you covered. With its lighter build and surprisingly good performance, the Outlook is the best used Saturn to buy.

If you’re trying to find a good SUV without having to overpay, then you’ve come to the right place. The

car insurance

broker app

Jerry

has created this article so that drivers can find out all they need to know about the Outlook, what makes it the best used Saturn to buy, and how to find affordable

Saturn car insurance costs

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The best used Saturn to buy: 2008 Outlook

Saturn is known for making affordable vehicles, and the Outlook is the best example of this design goal. A modest exterior combined with ample seating and above-average handling make this compact SUV a popular choice for many.

What makes the 2008 Outlook a good used car?

With trim levels, optional packages, and all the other choices that go into a single vehicle, finding the right used car can be overwhelming. Because of that, Jerry has set out to create a system for finding the right vehicle to suit your needs. The categories used for ranking cars in this system are divided into the true cost to own, safety features, reliability, and customization options.

True cost to own: When estimating the cost of a used Saturn, you need to consider after-purchase expenses like insurance, maintenance, and repairs.

Safety features: Used vehicles often mean dated safety equipment, but that doesn’t imply that a vehicle is not safe. The best used Saturn will still be able to protect you and your passengers, just without the modern bells and whistles.

Reliability: Used cars often need more maintenance than a newer vehicle, but the best used Saturn will still be affordable and dependable.

Customization: Oftentimes, buying a used car means giving up the ability to tailor your vehicle to your needs and tastes. However, the best used Saturn will have plenty of body options and trim levels.

MORE:

The top 10 cheapest SUVs to insure

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The true cost of owning a 2008 Saturn Outlook

The true cost of a Saturn Outlook is split into two sub-categories: the purchase price and the cost of operation. The cost of operation includes the payments for the car loan, the depreciation of the vehicle’s value, routine maintenance, and all other recurring costs.

Keep in mind that you will need to have a used Saturn Outlook serviced more often than a new car. This is to be expected and shouldn't be a point of too much concern. More often than not, the expense of the additional repairs is recouped from the lower insurance costs that come with a used vehicle.

Purchase price

The 2008 Saturn Outlook has an average price of $6,000. However, that price may be much higher or lower depending on the vehicle's condition, trim levels, mileage, and many other factors.

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Costs of operation

If you want to keep the costs of operation for a Saturn Outlook low, a great place to start is the auto loan used to purchase the vehicle. You’ll either want a

good credit

score or a large down payment to keep your monthly payments manageable.

As for the depreciation of your car, that is entirely dependent on how often you use your vehicle and how extensive the wear and tear is. More often than not, vehicles lose between 15% and 20% of their value every year.

Finally, there’s the issue of

car maintenance

. Unfortunately, despite their great utility, Saturn Outlooks are not known for their reliability. In fact, the Outlook was taken out of production in 2009 due to frequent breakdowns. However, don’t jump to the conclusion that this problem is a dealbreaker for the vehicle as a whole.

The cheap parts used in its production are a major contributing factor to the Outlook’s performance issues—and this can be a double-edged sword. While the parts used in the Outlook may break sooner than high-quality components, replacing them with

aftermarket parts

will make the frequent repairs much more affordable.

Key Takeaway A bargain-level purchase price and the need for frequent repairs make the 2008 Saturn Outlook a great car for those willing to put the time and effort into it.

Safety features of the 2008 Saturn Outlook

It can be challenging to assess the safety of an older vehicle, especially because safety features improve every year by leaps and bounds. However, being awarded the

Top Safety Pick

in 2008 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is certainly reassuring.

In addition to its award from the IIHS, the 2008 Saturn Outlook has a full suite of safety features:

Driver/passenger airbags

Front/rear head airbags

Front side airbags

4-wheel ABS

4-wheel disc brakes

Auto-on headlights

Child safety locks

Integrated turn signal mirrors

Traction control

Is the 2008 Saturn Outlook a reliable used car?

While it’s no secret that the Outlook—and Saturns on a whole—need more maintenance than most other makes and models, the reliability of a vehicle is also dependent on the driver.

Routine inspections, both at home and by a professional, in conjunction with regular maintenance, can turn even the most problematic vehicle into a car that you can count on every day. An Outlook should be able to reach 100,000 miles without major repairs and as many as 300,000 miles with diligent care.

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

Customization and styling

Up to this point, we’ve focused on money and performance, but the appearance and comfort of a vehicle can be the difference between a functional car and the perfect car. While there are only two trim levels available for the Outlook, the alternative drive style and the sheer number of add-ons make for a lot of possible combinations.

The Outlook XE is the standard model and offers cloth upholstery, power windows and locks, keyless entry, and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system setup.

The Outlook XR takes things to the next level with wood grain interior trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, foglights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass.

Both trims come standard with front-wheel drive but all-wheel drive is available as well.

Additionally, some of the other upgrades available for the Saturn Outlook are:

10-speaker sound system

HID headlamps

Preferred package (power-adjustable driver’s seat and chrome roof rails)

Trailering package (heavy-duty engine cooling system, harness, and hitch)

How to find affordable insurance for a used Saturn

Regardless of whether you choose to purchase a used Outlook, a different Saturn model, or another make of car entirely, you need car insurance to protect your investment. To find the best insurance coverage quickly and at the right price, download the

Jerry

app.

As a

top-rated licensed insurance broker

, the Jerry super app will provide you with the best quotes from a selection of top insurance companies. The process to get these quotes is incredibly simple: download the app, fill out a brief questionnaire, and then wait less than two minutes for your results.

If you already have a car insurance policy, don’t fret—Jerry can help with that too. Once you’ve found a new policy, Jerry will help take care of submitting the necessary paperwork to cancel your old coverage. To make things even easier, Jerry will keep sending you new quotes for car insurance every time you need to renew your current policy.