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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  Very Nice - 2003 Saturn ION
  By cn - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I love the drive and handling of this car. The gauges took me awhile to get used to, but they are growing on me. the car has planty of room for a small vehichle.

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  2nd Saturn - 2007 Saturn ION
  By jenniferp3 - May 20 - 10:49 pm

  This is the second Saturn that I have owned. I still own the first one. It is 10 years old with 250,000 miles and still going strong. I bought that car young and did not keep up with the maintenance, it has been side swiped, caught on fire and driven cross country twice. Yet, it still lives! I have never put more than a thousand dollars in to it for parts. So of course I bought another one. These are not the most comfortable cars, but for the price thats what you get. My second car has 85,000 miles and is 7 years old and I plan on keeping it for many more years. These are VERY reliable cars

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  Former Corolla/Camry owner... - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Photon - May 17 - 10:00 am

  So far more pep than the Corolla; more room than a Camry, seat comfort is some- what of an issue but not bad at all. Its ALOT of vehicle for a lot less money. Cargo-room is especially nice:) Time will tell if these features(and the ride) hold up.

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  great car - 2005 Saturn ION
  By mikefazz - May 9 - 5:13 am

  this car has made me want to drive everywhere, and its easy to customize

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  I LOVE MY ION! - 2004 Saturn ION
  By VBDOT - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I LIKE THIS CAR A LOT. I GOT IT IN JULY AND SO FAR SO GOOD. ANYTHING BAD IS FROM MY OWN MISTAKE (CIGARETTE HOLE) ALL IN ALL ~ GOOD CAR FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR ~ VERY AFFORDABLE!

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  everything is good except its a lemmon - 2004 Saturn ION
  By 2000miles/month - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car so I dont have to worry, I have been at the dealer 8 times besides oil changes. They cant figure out what is wrong with my brakes. Other than that car is fun to drive, the 5 speed manual is pretty fast.

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  Love it - 2005 Saturn ION
  By athenamor - April 26 - 2:06 am

  After doing tons of research before buying I found that in this price range, this car is one of the safest and most dependable. Perfect for my family of 4. I can fit my big clunky stroller and 2 weeks worth groceries in the trunk with no problems. It hugs curves, and gets good gas mileage. Its compact enough to ease into almost any parking space (even when people park crazy), but not so small that we feel cramped. I love the latch system for carseats, easy to get to. Love the CD player, though its weird not to have a tape deck. Though it has some unique features on the exterior, it still looks a lot like other models at a glance. One night leaving a store, I tried to unlock someone elses car that was in the same color. It took me a sec to figure out why my key wasnt working. It ended up being a different make/model all together.

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  Big Disappointment - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Frustrated - April 25 - 2:43 pm

  This car has had more issues than I can remember. Purchased new, now 30K miles. Manual transmission with many problems. Hesitates when accelerator is engaged. Stalls frequently when first started each day. Saturn mechanic even admitted to me that the 2005 ION is one of the worst cars Saturn has made and repairs are more frequent on this model. Wont buy from Saturn again.

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  Cant beat it for the money - 2004 Saturn ION
  By hominum - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I dont get the attitude in the reviews Ive read. Yes, there are better subcompacts. Theyre priced higher and their dealers have an attitude to boot - which means even more cost to you. This car delivers all the essentials: great pickup, tight handling, good view of the road, interesting styling. I dont just like, I love the center console. Yeah, its different. Get over it, its also better - the shift to view the guages is lateral, and it never feels like youre taking your eyes off the road by looking down. I got this car at 2.9%, and Im paying 190/month. I bought it hassle-free in one day. Try that at Honda.

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  Good Commuter Car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By commuter_cop - April 21 - 8:26 pm

  Bought for my 68 mile a day commute to work. Great gas mileage, fill it up once a week. Good reliability, bought with just over 48,000 miles on it and had to change the bushings (Which i knew when I bought it) havent had to fix anything until about 90,000 miles when I replaced the rear shocks and new tires and brake pads. Cost about $450 bucks. Is all paid for and will run it into the ground. I love the 2.2 liter Ecotech engine. The center console where the gauges are is awesome. It has served its purpose admirably. Not a great car for a family cause there is little leg room in the back but as a commuter car I couldnt have asked for anything better for the money.