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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  6 Satisfied Years with the ION - 2003 Saturn ION
  By mcgregwood - September 15 - 3:56 pm

  I must say that this car was fun to drive. It handled better than any car I drove, even my new 2009 Cobalt. I really liked having the dash in the middle, you just have to get used to it. Of course I had little problems here and there, nothing major. I shouldnt have bought a new model of car the first year it came out. I should have waited till 2004 to buy the ION after all the little kinks where worked out. Overall I was pretty satisfied with the ION. Only broke down on my once in 6 years. The car still looked great when I traded it in last week. I love the fact that Saturns dont rust. I would recommend this car to anyone, but its better to buy a 2004 or newer model.

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  Greatest car, compared to an ACURA - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Mike27MD - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought an ACURA RSX and in an unfortunate accident it was totalled. After I went car shopping again and almost bought the RSX. I shopped around everywhere...and on the way home testdrove the ION. Wow, what a ride! It was smooth, quiet, and the horsepower was great. I wasnt able to get the leather interior and souped up sound system with the ACURA, but for under $20K, I bought the ION3 with every option available. What a bargain! Whoever stated the seat was uncomfortable must have been a large, or miserable guy, because I am 510, 170, and I have an AMPLE amount of room to move my legs.

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  Love my Saturn ION - 2003 Saturn ION
  By christya - September 9 - 10:00 am

  They have done it right this time not that the SL2 was a bad car, but the new ION is just fun to drive lots of get up and go, and just a little bit of funky with out going over board. Keep your eye on the ION

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  Saturn ION - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Ryantupac - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I think it is an all around good car.

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  Solid Commuter - 2006 Saturn ION
  By berne1 - August 29 - 8:23 am

  I bought this car strictly on price. Got a 24 mo lease w/17K miles per year for $222. I was expecting to be underwhelmed, but I found this vehicle to be a pleasant surprise. I got the 5- speed because I prefer a stick, and got an addl $250 rebate. This car would not be fun with an automatic. The engine pulls strong in the powerband. The interior is quieter than I expected. It only took a few days to get used to the center-mounted gauges. I dont know that Id put them there, but they work just fine. The only time it seems weird is at night, when there is no light from the gauges directly in front of you.

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  My Car Rocks! - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Talitha - August 27 - 4:16 am

  I have had my Saturn Ion since October of 2005 and it is awesome. It looks great, it takes very little up keep and I am very happy with my purchase. This is my second upgrade, the first was also a Saturn and when I get another it will be a SUV by Saturn. I love their cars!

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  05 ION - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Thomas - August 24 - 7:03 pm

  This is the second Saturn that Ive owned. The ION has what the market needs. Mid range in price, and a new look and feel compared to the SL2 that I had for the last three years. It has good power, even on hills. Fuel mileage is great, considering the cost of gas, and is coming in at 29 mpg (city)

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  Dont Buy This Car! - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Christopher N - August 22 - 2:00 am

  As far as I am concerned this car is the worst car Saturn has ever put out. Being a returning customer of Saturn, I expected a good quality car. However since we have brought it home it has been back to the dealership several times. Though there has not been any major mechanical problems yet, there have been a lot of annoying little things go wrong. For example lights burning out, steering wheel grinding, key getting stuck in the ignition three times, panels fell off on the inside, and the hood release broke. Not to mention the gas mileage has gone down. In my opinion a new car should not act this way. This experience has sworn me off to Saturns forever.

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  06 Blue Ion3 - 2006 Saturn ION
  By 06BlueIon - August 18 - 10:33 am

  I bought this Ion new, a little over two years ago. For my first brand new car I was very pleased with my purchase and remain pleased as the miles add up. Utilizing a 5 speed manual and the 2.4L engine this car can handle itself with ease on the highway and throughout the city, I also average about 34mpg with a 50/50 mix of city/highway driving. The vehicle has been relatively trouble free with only 3 minor warranty claims. Besides that, Ive just kept up with regular maintenance. Excellent car overall that doesnt deserve the amount of negative reviews it receives. ery happy with my Ion!

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  Test drive of the Saturn Ion - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Mike25 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  To make a long story short, the ride was nice. The car handled very smoothly with adequate power for its class, without being too noisy. But the car fails miserably on comfort. The cockpit of this "roomier" Saturn can best be described as claustrophobic. The center console felt like it was digging into my right leg the whole time. It actually felt painful after my 3 minute test drive. I am 6 feet tall, but even the salesperson, who looked to be about 58" said he had a problem with it. How could Saturn produce a new model with such an obious shortcoming? Did anyone look at this thing before it was put on the market?