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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  Think twice about an ION! - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Jamie M. - October 10 - 2:03 pm

  Got my Ion in 05. I would say this car has good performance, only that would be when it wants to. After having the car for 13 months I began to have troubles with getting my keys out of ignition. This would drain my battery. I took it to saturn they said there is no problem. I accepted that and kept the car. Now I find out after replacing the battery multiple times (which they r expensive batteries) that this is a common problem. My car stalls on me and will not restart for about 15-20 minutes--during which time it is draining my battery. I am so disgusted with this car. Prior to this I drove a 2000 Saturn Coupe..Loved it! My opinion of Saturn has changed for the worse with this car!!!

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  No-brag gem for the practical driver - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Greenwich CT - October 10 - 3:40 am

  My cars: 80 Audi 5000, 82 Olds Ciera, 89 Bronco, 95 Explorer, 2000 Taurus SE, 2003 BMW 325xi, 2006 Saturn Ion 2. We have Mercedes and Toyota vehicles too. Most reliable: Ion. Cheapest: Ion. Best mileage: Ion. Best in all weather conditions: Ion, Taurus, 325. Best base stereo: Ion. Most practical storage features in a sedan: Ion. Cheapest interior: Ion. Least adjustable everything: Ion. Least curb appeal: Ion. Fastest depreciation: Ion. The Ion is a solid, simple, reliable, comfortable enough, safe, low cost American car if what you mostly need from a car is...a car. A friend has a Maserati. Cool. But worth nine of these? Pfff. Buy this and a Solstice and laugh all the way to the bank.

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  First new car, first Saturn, great car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Eric T - October 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. A lot of car for the price. It is very fun to drive and has great pickup and handling. I see a lot of complaints about the styling but it isnt as weird as people are saying. The center-mounted instrument panel is easier to see since I dont have to look through the steering wheel. The auto headlights and anti-lockout are nice features as are the vents for rear passengers. I didnt get the top of the line stereo but it still sounds great with the bass turned up. The engine is remarkably quiet although the 16" tires are not. Fuel economy is already great even though its not at optimum levels yet.

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  From VUE to ION - 2006 Saturn ION
  By JAMES - October 6 - 7:26 pm

  This 2006 Saturn ION is my third Saturn and I feel it is the best yet. The ride is so much nicer than the 2003 VUE I had, but it is no better on gas than the VUE was. The guages were not hard to get used to and I like them. The black paint is something I would change if I could. The black interior is sweet.

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  ION 3 - 2005 Saturn ION
  By skitcat19 - October 4 - 8:10 am

  Driving the vehicle has had its ups and downs. Most comparable to the Cobalt. I feel those are more fun to drive. Twice now when driving the guages went crazy on me and they had to replace the module. Kind of annoying. It has vibrations at higher speeds and went through three window regulators 1 door hinge. The rubber piece for under the back wind shield flew off through some event. And also after the purchase of the vehicle there was broken glass all in the back of my rear seats when you fold them down. Not to happy with my choice but there are always likes and dislikes.

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  ION 3 Sedan 2.4L - 2006 Saturn ION
  By ChrisW - September 28 - 11:26 am

  It took 3 weeks to build my Pacific Blue ION 3-and it was worth the wait. My ION included the Enhanced Performance Package (2.4 liter engine, suspension tweaks, ABS, traction control), leather interior, 6-speaker SAS (Saturn Advanced Sound system) & sunroof. The 170hp engine pulls with power, & the suspension strikes a nice balance between a smooth ride & responsive handling. The comfy front seats slide way back-a 63" passenger remarked on how much leg room he had, & easier to get into than Civic/Mazda3. The SAS audio system sounds decent. There are a few rough edges on the dash, & some areas where bolt/screw covers could have been crafted with a better care. Overall, a fine, fun small car.

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  Excellence - 2003 Saturn ION
  By vladie - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Great Fun! Looks great on the outside and is really comfterble in the inside

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  Damn Bulb - 2003 Saturn ION
  By shortstuff - September 26 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. Road tripped in the first 2,000 and it was awesome. Mileage was stellar. Tunes were cranked....to tune down interior occupants. I only got one complaint. That stupid right turn signal light goes out every 4.5 weeks and fixes the second the dealer looks at it. Other than that, excellent buy.

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  Ions Rock - 2003 Saturn ION
  By TSCBoy - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Lives up to Saturns standard of providing the best value for your automobile purchase dollar. It is cute, zippy and practical.

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  Almost 3 years - 2003 Saturn ION
  By GaryM - September 23 - 1:20 am

  The car has yet to let me down. I have had several trips to the dealer, and almost always got the car back while I waited. The free rental with my service contract made any overnight problems bearable. The tires seem to be about gone. This is a little better than I expected for OEM tires. The 16" low profile tires gave the car the best handling I have has with a small car. The transmission shifts good most of the time, but occasionaly hunts when the acceleration drops off near its shift point. The front seats have a tremendous amount of leg room. However, the rear seat passenger can loose all of their leg room to the front seat. The car is comfortable on long trips.