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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  Love my Saturn - 2003 Saturn ION
  By psugrad - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is the first car I purchased. I had been looking for several years for a new car when this came out. Knew exactly what I wanted and found everything in the ION. As always the Saturn staff were excellent. Frequently travel on long business trips and dont have any problem with being in the car for the duration.

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  I love my ION 2 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By BLACKBEAUTYION - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car since 2008 and besides the little problems I love it I have had just the normal maintenance done to it and I think Saturn should have been around still the have great long lasting cars I would have bought another Saturn I loved the whole car line I have talked to other owners who say they have never got the mileage out of the other cars they have owned

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  Getting Better...I guess - 2004 Saturn ION
  By AZgirl - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I had a 2001 SL1 which was Ok but I had a couple of problems. I got a smoking deal on the Ion so I went for it. I have not been satisfied with it so far. I had 4 repairs (radio, 2 different doors, both headlights and turn signals) within the first 3000 miles. Right now it works marvelously but I would not recommend the standard model to anyone. Not a single soul.

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  great car!! - 2004 Saturn ION
  By stevesteve21 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is fantastic. I love the styliling and the handling

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  Amazing - 2005 Saturn ION
  By DavePlaysDrums - October 3 - 1:16 am

  Added the Stage II performance kit. Highly recommended. Well worth the money. This car performs comparable to the RX-8 (the other choice with the quad door configuration) but is more practical as a daily driver. 48,000 miles and still love it every time I get in!

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  You get what you pay for - 2005 Saturn ION
  By city girl - October 2 - 8:50 pm

  This is a cute car for a teenager. It is not made for the highway! When on the highway it swirls a bit because the car is so light weight. When it is a windy day outside, the car swirls because it cannot handle the wind. This car is too light weight, but other than that I do not have too many problems with it. I also have a problem with the defrost. The windows get foggy as soon as you turn the car on.

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  Im gonna miss this car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By captreynolds - October 2 - 10:30 am

  I bought this car 4 years ago with 59K miles already on it. 2 months ago, I totalled it in a rollover. First off, Im completely unscathed--I had a couple minor cuts and a little whiplash. Secondly, in 4 years, I took this car to 147K miles--nearly 90K miles--and I had one major repair around 125K, when my timing belt tensioner went out. I had another repair bill over a grand about 5K miles earlier, but that was for the AC fan, wheel bushings in both front wheels, alignment, a radiator flush, and a tuneup. You know, normal wear and tear. This car ran and ran and ran and ran, with good fuel economy (~26-29 mpg) a smooth ride (though a little noisy) in almost all weather. Would buy again.

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  My Saturn ION 2 - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Ms Toni - September 28 - 5:10 pm

  I love my Saturn ION 2. I have driven over 12,000 miles in 8 months with no problems. I also love the service I receive when I take my car in for scheduled service, the service is great. I really recommend this car.

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  Fun Car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Ron - September 22 - 11:03 am

  I bought my 04 Redline one year after it was manufactured...0% for 72mos..couldnt resist. After the first few weeks when I got used to it, I felt I needed another 25 or more HP. It corners well, pulls really nice in 2nd gear especially... and even in 5th at 50mph without downshifting. It pulls away nicely. Gas mileage drops quickly if youre pushing it a bit...still in the low 20s worst case. No complaints!

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  Great Little Car - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Henry - September 22 - 4:33 am

  Ive had my 2006 Saturn ION-2 for a little over a year, and it has been great. I like the instrument panel, which is in the center of the dash and angled towards you. Its not hard to read at all. Also, OnStar is a great feature to have. While gas mileage is not the best out there, you do get decent power in return. I get almost 26 MPG in a mix of city/hwy driving. I hope to keep this one as long as I can and pay it off.