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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  Impressed by the ION - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Ralph - January 8 - 8:26 am

  My third Saturn turns out to be every bit as reliable as the other ones. No problems at over 10,000 km right now, everything works as intended. Fuel economy is excellent after break in, 33- 35 mpg, highway/city mixed cycle.

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  BAD PLASTIC CAR! - 2005 Saturn ION
  By cs15 - January 5 - 10:20 am

  I bought my Saturn ION Level 2 a little over a year ago, and about 6 months after owning it, every time I turned around, something else was going wrong with it. The engine bucking, clicking noises when driving, road noise, crappy cd/radio, doors unable to shut after being opened, broken hood latch...did I mention EVERYTHING in this car seems to be made of plastic except for the engine? I will NEVER buy another Saturn again.

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  saturn today - 2004 Saturn ION
  By grover19632003 - January 5 - 2:00 am

  I really like this new ion model my freind has the SL1 and he has enjoyed it also. The ion has a much more sporty look. I usually can not find a car that sits comfortably, but this ion is comfortable. You can not beat the price.I feel that i received alot of car for the low price.

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  my ownership - 2005 Saturn ION
  By frederick le vitre - December 31 - 2:03 pm

  i found the ion to be one of the finest road cars i have ever driven. it handles extremly well at higher speeds and in all weather conditions. i am seriously thinking of purchasing at lease end even though i miss having cruise control.

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  What a lousy car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Pat - December 26 - 10:23 am

  This car was terrible from the beginning. Bad mileage, never had good pickup, had trouble with rear defroster, headlights, drivers window and now power sunroof, along with having to have transmission rebult for around $2,500 after only 54,240 miles - no help from Saturn either - once the warranty is out they just dont care - and I still owe another 17 months on this car. Trust me I will not be buying another Saturn vehicle nor will anyone I can let know about this vehicle. And American manufacturers wonder why their cars dont measure up to import vehicles. Look at what you are making and selling to the American car buyer!

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  HAPPY WITH CAR, BUT... - 2006 Saturn ION
  By squeegie - December 25 - 4:47 pm

  I bought a 2006 Saturn ION 3 with 5 sp manual transmission back in Aug 2010. I love the car when there are no problems, but boy, when there are problems, there are problems! I had to replace the ignition switch cos of a bad sensor. The PassLock system wouldnt let me start the car because of this. It "thought" the car was being stolen so the engine wouldnt start. 2 days ago, the power steering light came on & I lost my power steering. The book said to take it to the dealer, so I did. That is when I found out that there is a recall from GM. Fortunately, my car has less than 100k miles, so the price of the repair was covered under the recall.

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  JG Loves Her Ion! - 2004 Saturn ION
  By J.G. - December 25 - 10:00 am

  What a great car!! Its peppy, performs well, has exceptional fuel economy and is very roomy. The Saturn Ion is also a great value. You get outstanding performance, comfort, and roominess for a moderate price!

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  The price is right - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Kari - December 23 - 2:00 am

  The Ion has cheap cloth seats. My fabric does not even fit properly. I have bubbles in it. In the winter the rearview mirror when ice is on it will takes forever to defrost. I also am having a problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition. The only way to get it out is to pop open the little box underneath the steering column and push a button in. The only thing I wish is that it had more room in the back, but the price was right and I really do like the style.

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  6 month update by John Korner - 2006 Saturn ION
  By John korner - December 20 - 6:33 am

  Over 6 months and 8700 miles have passed since I bought my car. You actually get the MPG on the sticker Its get more fun with every mile driven. If you dont test drive one you will be sorry. Ive owned 5 hondas over the last 20 years. I believe the Ion is one of the best cars Ive owned period. I bought it because of onstar being standard. Having a disabilty that requires the use of a wheelchair cane or ECV its gives me the extra level of security thats priceless. All of those items fix easly in its over sized trunk. Overall I am more then pleased. a 9.5 on a scale of 10.

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  Good Value - 2006 Saturn ION
  By The Copes - December 19 - 8:10 am

  We purchased our ION 3 seven months ago. With the leather & top tier features we still paid less than $18k. My husband uses it for work, putting more than 100 mi/day on it, and it has yet to give us any problems. In my husbands line of work, hes been in 2 accidents not his fault already being on the road so much. One was a side- swipe that didnt damage anything, another was a rear-ending that was inexpensive to fix the back bumper. Weve also taken it on several trips from San Antonio to El Paso (550 miles) and it does fantastic. The gas mileage is great. With the old trade-in and down payment, were paying less than $300 a month. The car is stylish, drives like a 6 cylinder,