Overview & Reviews

The Saturn Ion was the brand's entry-level car from 2003-'07. Aimed at younger buyers, the Ion got what Saturn considered unique styling and design features, and a strong 2.2-liter engine. We never thought very highly of it, however, and took issue with its poor interior quality, unimpressive driving dynamics and bizarre styling inside and out. The Ion gave way to the vastly superior Astra hatchback.

Most Recent Saturn Ion

The Ion launched in 2003 as a replacement for the now-defunct S-Series. Throughout its lifespan, Saturn was vigilant about making minor improvements (particularly for 2005) to the quality of the ride, interior and overall refinement, so we suggest more recent model years if you've really got your heart set on a used Ion (although we hope you don't).

The front-wheel-drive Saturn Ion always came in two body styles: a four-door sedan and the "Quad Coupe." The Quad Coupe was styled like a two-door coupe but actually had two rearward-opening doors similar in style to an extended-cab pickup. For each body style, there were three primary trim levels: a base 1 (dropped for '06), 2 and 3.

All trims came standard with a 145-horsepower 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. For '06 and later, the Ion 3 sedan gained an optional 2.4-liter four-cylinder with variable valve timing, which was good for 175 hp. It was part of an Enhanced Performance Package -- only available with the Ion 3 -- that also included antilock brakes, traction control and a sport-tuned suspension. A five-speed manual transmission came standard on these main trims, but most used Ions you'll come across will come with the optional four-speed automatic or an earlier continuously variable automatic transmission.

There was an additional performance trim for the Quad Coupe called the Saturn Ion Red Line. It was powered by a supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which bumped power up to 205 hp. The Ion Red Line came exclusively with a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission, 17-inch wheels, upgraded disc brakes and a track-tuned suspension package.

One of the Ion's few strong points was its amount of cargo room in all trims. The front passenger seat folded flat, and trunk space was among the largest in the segment. The base Ions came pretty bare-bones, without standard air-conditioning or power mirrors and windows. You had to step up to the Ion 3 for these features, as well as 16-inch wheels and tires, cruise control and an upgraded CD/MP3 audio system. Given the Ion's significant depreciation, we suggest keeping your search to the Ion 3.

In road tests and comparison tests, our reviewers found the Saturn Ion to be among the lower performers in the entry-level sedan and coupe classes. Despite the strong engine, the Ion lacked liveliness, and overall performance was conservative at best. The steering was overly heavy. Even with the continuous interior improvements made throughout its lifespan, the seats were uncomfortable and offered little support. Overall, we suggest looking elsewhere for an economy car.

User Reviews:

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  ION 3, 2003 4 door sedan. - 2004 Saturn ION
  By JRSJR - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Fine as a tow vehicle behind my motorhome. MPG city= 28, MPG highway at 70mph= 33.

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  Saturn Ion 2 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By OKOKO - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. Great highway gas mileage (34).Great leg room for 62" driver. My face must be at least 20-24" from the airbag.

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  saturn 2004 ion - 2004 Saturn ION
  By motherdestiny - December 3 - 2:00 am

  great car..... i love it... everybody stops and stares!

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  Another great Saturn - 2004 Saturn ION
  By RACHAEL - November 29 - 10:00 am

  This makes the third Saturn in my family, I learned to drive on a 94 SL...came back to Saturn and have NO regrets! This car is great! Ive only had it for a month but already 1500miles. Performance is great, seats are comfortable, feels like a much more expensive car than it is. People smirk when I tell them I have a Saturn, until they see it or ride in it!

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  BEST OF THE BEST - 2004 Saturn ION
  By BEANIEMAN - November 22 - 10:00 am

  SATURN IS THE BEST FOR DRIVING EXPERIENCE...FOR GAS, (MPG) AND AUTO INSURANCE..ITS RATED AS ONE OF THE LOWEST TO INSURE BECAUSE OF SAFETLY AND POLAMER PANELS THROUGHOUT

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  Economy - 2007 Saturn ION
  By ed - November 19 - 10:30 pm

  I researched compadible vechicles, and either the price for what I needed and the fit for size and comfort was not met by these other options. This vehicles runs great, handles nicely and even though it is not a stick, the 2.2l engine still gave me 34.6 miles per gallon for highway driving on its first road trip. This is impressive considering it is larger than the Saturn SL2 that I could squeeze as much as 40 miles to the gallon under certain conditions, but was to small for taller passangers. I will keep an eye on it to see what overall performance will be in the future, having owned a Saturn in the past, I believe it will be impressive.

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  The car - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Corey - November 17 - 8:53 am

  This car is the best thing out there right now, and im not just talking about in its price range. If youre into comfort and design in a car, this cars dual suicide doors make packing friends or cargo a breeze while compartments, switches, gauges and adapters are all placed around the driver where they should be. If youre into performance, this again is the pick of the litter. You can beat Porsches, BMWs, G35s, and every other car claiming to be a performance machine.

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  2005 ION3 Sedan - Auto - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Stan Thompson - November 14 - 4:50 am

  The car has taut handling, is tight and rattle-free, and I like the clear line- of-sight to the center instrument console. The car is great in traffic and very responsive when accelerating. I took it into the mountains and it handled a 4000 climb with ease. It was a great buying experience and because leather was retro-fitted by the dealer I was allowed to choose from swatches giving me a two-tone interior with perforated leather in the center section with foam 1/4" thicker than standard. I like the revised grille for 2005. Im getting 27+ mpg.

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  Best Choice Ive ever made - 2005 Saturn ION
  By kittybugboo - November 12 - 5:50 pm

  I have owned my Saturn for 3 weeks now and I love it! Its very stylish, and fun to drive. I have 2 children and they fit in the back seat very well. The interior is roomy and comfortable. I get great gas mileage and would recommend this car to anyone. The buying experience was painless and great! This is one company who know how to please the consumer.

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  Did well with my second Saturn - 2006 Saturn ION
  By MIKE - November 11 - 10:56 pm

  I had a difficult choice to make for an automobile that was good on gas and comfortable to drive. I found it in the Saturn ion 2. The interior is a good size with all the items that I need to haul around. The mileage is better than expected. The ride is great even on rough roads. The ION rides as if it was heavier than it really is. Changing the oil is a breeze when compared to my previous automobile. I had to jump my wifes car and it was easy to figure out where to place the cables on the ion. The fold down back seat is a real plus when hauling. The visibility is great with the positioning of the dash and the front window position. I am very happy with my purchase, the price sure was right