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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  I LOVE MY NEW QUAD COUPE - 2003 Saturn ION
  By CME - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I knew when I went to the dealer what I wanted... but I was even more inclined to buy with the no-hassle, helpful salesman. I LOVE my new car. It is sporty, easy to handle, and just plain fun. THE turning radius is AMAZING. The kids love the rear access doors... and the trunk space is HUGE. I disagree with the "official rating."

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  Best Commuter Ive Owned - 2006 Saturn ION
  By pstrkrk - June 3 - 4:10 pm

  I bought this car after considering several cars. It came down to the Civic or the ION. I liked the IONs ride better and the price was significantly lower than the Civic. I drive over 90miles/day to work so comfort and efficiency are important and I regularly get 40mpg in this car. I rarely drive in town but when I do it drops to about 30mpg. Ride is nice, steering precise and predictable. Driving is seamless and comfortable even though I am quite large and this is a small car. No problems to report in the first 12,000 miles.

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  disappointed - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Mrs. Elder - May 31 - 10:00 am

  The transmission is lacking power & performance. A possible bearing in the frontend is knocking. The body doesnt match up like it should. Something in the doors is scratching the glass. The dealership has looked at & tried to repair these things, but wants someone from the manufacturer to look at it. This may be in the first week or two of September.

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  gotta give it credit - 2005 Saturn ION
  By nathan - May 31 - 7:56 am

  iv gotta give this car good props i picked it up for $5,500 and didnt like it one bit after driving it for awhile it grew on me i,v never had any problems with any saturn i,v ever owned (3) and my ion is no exception the dealer told me about common problems with ions and i have not had one off them happen to me i,v grown to really like my ion and have put 18 inch wheels on it and it does look good i,m happy i bought this car its no jewl but for the money my saturn ion was a great deal and a great car

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  great choice for a first time buyer - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Elizabeth Stuckey - May 27 - 5:00 am

  This a great car.The dealership was great to work with,the cost is reasonable,and the style of the car is sporty.Its is very realable and fuel effecient.The first new car I have ever bought and I will definilty get another one in 4 years.

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  Unhappy - 2005 Saturn ION
  By unhappy - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Loved the look of the car when I bought it however once it started getting cold the car wouldnt start, had to try it then wait ten min. Then it would start. Recently the clutch went out after only 65,000. Unbelievable

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  A Great Car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By KimmieLynne - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Bright Blue 2004 quad coupe 2 after extensive shopping and the fact of the matter is that after test driving the Corolla, Neon SXT and about a million other cars, this is the one that stood out. Its fun to drive, sporty looking, safe, gets a lot of attention out on the road and best of all didnt cost an arm and a leg to get one that is well equipt. The buying experience was great too, no pressure or arguing and straight forward sales people.

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  Complications - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Jane - May 7 - 10:16 pm

  Good car at first, then some problems started to arise. Check engine light sporadically comes on and off. Window went off track. Leaking from sunroof into the interior light fixture, but that stopped after a week or two on its own. On one occasion (about five months after purchase) the car didnt start up.

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  2007 Saturn ION - 2007 Saturn ION
  By mannagift - May 5 - 9:00 am

  We absolutely love this car. No, it doesnt drive or ride as well as our Cadilac, but itt sure gets a lot better mileage. 44MPG on the road. and 35 around town. Good comfortable car for the money. And we can tow it behind the motorhome. My wife drives it to and from her work for pennies a day. We love It!

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  Best Saturn Car Yet! - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Camtrak - April 30 - 2:00 am

  The ION3 is a fantastic automobile and a great value for the price. I have owned two previous Saturn cars and although I liked them very much, the ION is the best car Saturn has created yet. I love this car!