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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  Great car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Joe in sacto - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Great first new car. I went to a couple of dealers (dodge) and hated the experience, when I went to the Saturn dealer it was so easy and the car was perfect. I got 0% financing, $1000 off, an addition $750 off for being a college grad, a free dell computer, and no headaches. Icouldnt ask for more.

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  Great features vs. Not so Great!!! - 2005 Saturn ION
  By what does this mean? - March 20 - 1:46 am

  The horn is very hard to locate in a moving emergency. This was dangerous to me and my vehicle initially. The driver in front of me attempted to back up, claiming afterward that he couldnt see me thru his darkened windows. He damaged the front of my 3 day old car. I had to look away from him to precisely locate the two little horn symbols which werent too loud!! This cost $1200 to repair and five days of rental cars! The car is too low when approaching parking curbs and also when trying to judge turning radius. The radio designations and clock are impossible to view in daylight.

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  Coming Into Its Own - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Carl Camann - March 19 - 12:13 pm

  Very impressive vehicle. Excellent value for money, options ordered include ABS, traction control, side air bags, keyless entry. Great handling, very acceptable fit and finish. MPG as advertised, huge trunk, comfy front seats. Color combo of Berry with grey interior draws favorable responses. Painless buying & financing process. Super dealership. I keep vehicles for a long time (this replaces a 13 year-old Taurus), so plastic panels were important--potential depreciation was not. This vehicle is a significantly more refined car than when it was originally introduced, so dont get scared off by potential bad publicity about the make. Drive one and compare. You may well be surprised.

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  Saturn ION an amazing machine - 2005 Saturn ION
  By tjw1973 - March 13 - 5:56 am

  I traded my 99 Chevy Tracker in for a 2005 ION 3 sedan. I was apprehensive about going from an SUV back to a small car, but the time spent in my new ION has a been a pure pleasure. It is an amazing car with great handling. The car accelerates rapidly. I am constantly finding myself above the speed limit as the car has much more power than I was used to in my previous cars. I actually find myself enjoying driving and want to be on the road in this car for more than just going to work or running errands. I have yet to discover any problems with the cars handling or fit and finish that professional reviewers have complained about. This car is worth every penny and I give it 4/5 stars!

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  So far so good - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Puck - March 11 - 1:06 pm

  Just purchased the 06 and so far were happy with it, for the most part. The sticker said 26/32 for the mileage, and through the first three fill-ups were only getting about 18.8 MPG. Our driving is about 50-50 local and highway travel, so I certainly expected better... Time will tell.

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  My Last Saturn - 2003 Saturn ION
  By EW - March 8 - 4:03 pm

  At the time I got this car - the "college grad" deal made it the most affordable car around. Now all I want to do is get rid of it. It is not a sporty car. It is an economy coupe, and that is it.

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  Love It - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Amee - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive around. It is a small car, but when you drive it, you forget you are in a small car. Nothing can compare to the costumer service you get when you go to a Saturn dealership too. The best part is no haggling. While this if my first Saturn, in all liklihood it will not be my last.

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  bad paint job - 2004 Saturn ION
  By cindy vogel - March 8 - 2:00 am

  my paint job is not to good has some scratches on it saturn says due to ice storm insurance adjuster said bad paint job

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  It Doesnt Look like a saturn... - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Jacqui - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Ion3 at the beginning of december after a bad car accident with a previous saturn...this ion doesnt even look like a saturn to me, or anyone who has seen it. Its fast..built with an acura engine (ecotech).... The interior is the coolest...and ive been told the exterior looks like a cadillac, jetta, and so many more. i love the thing

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  Why did I buy a Saturn? - 2007 Saturn ION
  By C_Houten - February 15 - 7:20 am

  I bought this car brand new in Toronto, and drove it from Toronto to California, up the coast to Oregon, and all the way to Phoenix. I have put 39,000km on it in just over a year. In the first 6 months of owning it I had to have the entire electrical system replaced. 2 months later I had to have to accelerator and brake system replaced. The starter had problems after one year, and once it wouldn’t start at all for quite a few hours. AAA will not unlock this car if your keys are locked inside. They told me that this models electrical system is too delicate. The fuel economy is below average and far below the EPA estimate. Overall I am sure you can tell that I am very disappointed in this car.