Photo © Jason Fogelson
The plastic is gone -- Aura doesn't have the polymer panel construction that marked previous Saturn sedans. Saturn cited "lower perceived quality" as one reason for going to more conventional materials. Polymer body panels need bigger gaps and seams because of expansion and contraction from heat and cold. Buyers have become very savvy about body tolerances, and steel body parts can be fitted much more precisely than polymer. So, even though Saturn owners have been thrilled with their cars' ability to shed dents, Saturn's new lineup is polymer-panel free.