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:

• 

  A very satisfied owner of an ION 3 - 2007 Saturn ION
  By John Huddleston - September 7 - 2:20 pm

  I purchached an ION 3 /enhanced performance package and this car has everything I need. The center mounted console takes some getting used to, but it really looks cool once you get used to it. A+

• 

  I love my new Ion! - 2003 Saturn ION
  By ilovemysaturn - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Very good car...looks great, drives well. Excellent deal for a young family.

• 

  A few annoying quirks - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Jill B. - August 25 - 10:00 am

  The drivers seat is too wide, so I move around in turns. No adjustable seat tilt, so my thighs are not supported. The clutch safety switch clicks. Hopefully the seat will mold to me like my SL1 did. Most FM stations have static. Brought it back twice, and have been told its working properly. Im still trying to get this solved. If I cant, I dont know what to do. Very roomy, much bigger than the SL. The tightest turning circle I have ever seen. Powerful engine, huge trunk with storage underneath. I like the central gauges, not their illumination/contrast at night. Lots of features for the money. Place for sunglasses, but not CD or tape case.

• 

  The 2005 ION, one fine automobile - 2005 Saturn ION
  By normanhickenbottom - August 15 - 11:40 pm

  This is the 3rd Saturn I have owned along with Buicks, Pontiac, Mercury and an Aurora. This new Saturn just seems to do everthing so well. Smooth, quiet, beautiful inside and out. Finest car for the price available today. I tried out Toyota, Honda, Focus, Cobalt and Nissan. Also the Mazda 3 Nothing to compare to the Saturn for all around value for the price.

• 

  Saturn ION 2 - 2003 Saturn ION
  By sweetpea10995 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. The service I have received has been great and Saturn always follows up on its customers.

• 

  Would buy another - 2003 Saturn ION
  By azgirl - August 12 - 6:36 pm

  I like my Ion. Six years after purchasing, its a great value. I dont drive it hard. Maybe if I drove it more, it would have more issues. Six years and less than 37K miles, the only issues Ive had are a drivers side power window issue (fixed under warranty), and I now need new bushings. Love the interior and exterior styling and would buy another if they were still in production.

• 

  The Green Machine - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Brittany - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I knew Id need a car that would do well traveling the interstate and not cost me a fortune in gas. Ive gotten that. Ive had problems with the key getting stuck in the ignition as well, & some electrical problems that seem to fix themselves. My mechanic cant ever find anything wrong with it, but as soon as we leave, itll misbehave again, but just as quick as it started it will stop. The door sensor was triggering the door being open, which made my alarm go off at random & my dome light go on and off which would kill my battery, so for about a week I had to unplug my battery when I parked. Then it just started working again. It has 85k miles & is still running great under the hood though.

• 

  Better than my SL - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Crulamin - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 95 SL for the ION-2. I was told that that was the last 03 in stock. The car was similarly equipped as my SL with manual trans, so it drove a lot like my SL (which is a good thing to me). Good cornering, ride, etc. Power everything. The engine is quick and launches you pretty good like a turbo, even in 4th. Aside from waiting for the dealer to fix some cosmetic details, the car is perfect. I would recommend it to anyone looking to replace their S-series. :)

• 

  the best car ever - 2004 Saturn ION
  By xiomara - August 8 - 2:00 am

  i love the color and that saturn of reading made a mircile out of me i love the car and my payments and the way it drives

• 

  My first Saturn - 2006 Saturn ION
  By John korner - August 6 - 5:10 pm

  This is my first new car in 15 years and my first new Saturn. I am a gear head. I bought a silver ION 2 sedan with automatic transmission. I had been looking at this car for 3 years. I needed a car that would fit my wheel chair in the back seat without taking it apart. The trunk is large. the fold down seats are nice. Having OnStar as standard was the deciding factor. Loud good sounding sound systems sells cars and the base one in this car sounds as good as the infinity system in my 2000 Dodge.