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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  I love my ion - 2003 Saturn ION
  By patriciaa - October 15 - 10:00 am

  Ii is great on gas and a lot fo fun to drive. Great pick up and performance. I love the electric steering.

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  Love my car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Gregfgt - October 15 - 10:00 am

  With the fold down rear seats it really easy to pack mu stuff for the cottage

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  Best coupe (and service) for the money! - 2003 Saturn ION
  By pupdaddy123 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun, afforadable, and practical.

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  ION quad coupe - 2005 Saturn ION
  By lon barber - October 7 - 6:00 am

  Well engineered. Easy oil changes with oil filter on top of engine . Quick change headlights ; pull 2 pins & headlight assembly comes out . Battery is mounted in trunk for more even weight distribution & easy jump starting of other vehicles.

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  Digging sporty ION sedan - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Mountain Driver - October 2 - 2:00 am

  The online reviews are all wrong. This car is fun to drive. Corners great with the 16" wheels & electric steering in the mountains. I live at 10,000 ft. altitude and notice no power loss, even with 2 passengers. The styling inside & out makes it different than the others which is great; who wants to be a clone? I am getting 29 mpg. Can you get a Honda, Nissan or Subaru at this price, with these options at 0-1.9% loan interest? I doubt it. The silver roof rails on the white car with the killer rims gets looks.

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  its the best - 2004 Saturn ION
  By javan - September 27 - 2:00 am

  its the best car i ever had and the only car i would ever want. the people at saturn were great i look forward to buying another car from them.

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  Quite Pleased - 2007 Saturn ION
  By Devon - September 25 - 5:56 am

  I bought this car as my first new car @ age 23 and have never had an issue. The first winter (in Maine) the tires were fairly new but it did give me some trouble on hills and with stopping. Ive liked a challenge but the 2nd winter I got studded snow tires mounted and the car went like a tank. 6-8 in of snow on a non-plowed highway and I was braving through without a care. Practically plowing myself. I did have an issue with snow building up in the wheel wells but who wouldnt. Overall, car has been great. Good fuel econ and nice sporty car for summer.

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  I say, I say "Saturn" - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Jim Miller - September 24 - 8:50 pm

  I took my 1994 Saturn SL2 to 200,000 miles with less that $150 in non-maintenance type repairs. My new ION 2 seems to be even better engineered and cost $1,500 less than my SL2 over 11 years ago. The dash configuration does take some getting used to but is far superior than the old one. The exterior has a classy look to it, stacking up very well in the parking lot to sedans with much higher sticker prices. This is our familys third new Saturn and definitely not the last.

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  ION 3 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By FONTENOT - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I am hoping to get as good of reliability with this Saturn as the previous ones. My last Saturn had 260,000 miles before I sold it. The automatic transmission takes getting used to. The RPMs decline when the speedometer is increasing. I think this means I am utilizing the best gas mileage possible.There is no lack of zoom with this phenomemon.

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  Great Value - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Paul - September 15 - 7:03 pm

  Coming from a line of luxury German Brands, a Saturn was purely and economic move that I honestly resented. I bought it for looks and price, but love it for the way it treats me. In the nearly 75k miles in nearly three years, it has not needed service at all other than normal maintainance and a persistent squeak from the rear seat, despite the heavy footed daily commute I put it through. The dent resistant panels have keep looking virtually brand new despite spending most of its time in a cramped busy garage. There are more comfortable, faster, and maybe better looking cars out there, but not at this price and reliability.