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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  makes me miss my kia : ( - 2007 Saturn ION
  By ediblearm - March 24 - 9:43 pm

  Bought it used, I didnt even spill anything on it an it an the seats stained! lol The speedometer in the middle is keeping my eyes away off the road to long and I cant see out the back to back it up. Gas is ok. Motor is really quiet. Trunk is huuge! But it took a dump on me the other day. Electric box went out?? Just stopped an acted like I ran outa gas..ugg..but hopefully wont be to expensive to fix. Really cheap inside. Heater ball things fall out.Mirror broken. Way to small console. Ive heard that some wont start every once an a while and ya have to wait 15min b4 restarting it...so Im trading it in as soon as I can for sure

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  Solid Little Car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By ron nelson - March 19 - 9:33 am

  I have no complaints about my Saturn ION 2. Its a solid compact car. I love the exterior design. It handles very well on the road. Excellent gas mileage. Good power. Easy handling . I think its a solid little car. A very good family car. I have the car two years. It runs perfect, no mechanical problems. I would recommend this car highly to anyone looking for a solid car.

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  Great Econo Car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Lou204 - March 18 - 10:00 am

  The car is responsive in every way! I didnt expect to get cabin filtration, two-tone leather, power windows, programmable door locks, auto headlamps, fog lamps, cruise control, speed sensitive wipers, low noise level, low profile tires, premium wheels, spoiler, a large trunk and an auto dimming mirror w/ compass in any vehicle priced under $19,000. The center mounted instrument cluster makes you feel like youre in a European racer. Ive owned my Ion3 for only a month and have driven it over 1600 miles. No matter how I drive, mpg seems to fall between 29.5 and 32.5. Im anxious to see what it will do on a straight highway trip.

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  My Ion - 2003 Saturn ION
  By LD Lope - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Great little Car, excellent gas milage. I love the design

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  03 ION 4 DOOR - 2003 Saturn ION
  By JAYBEA - March 12 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS OUR 4TH SATURN ,NICER DESIGN AND BETTER PICK UP ON THE HIGH WAY THAN OTHERS WE HAVE OWNED.

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  my saturn ion 3 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By hooty50 - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had my saturn ion 3 since 12/30 and i absolutely love the car. It rides like a much bigger car than my satuarn sl 1 that i used to have and is bigger inside and also has a bigger trunk. I would reccomend this car to anyone.

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  Pacific Blue Bliss - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Dave - March 8 - 5:56 am

  Wow...the re-designed ION3 is just the ticket. Love the ride/handling and layout of the interior. The car is really quiet! Having traded in a 95 SL2 I was amazed at the noise reduction.

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  Good Little Car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Kimberly1 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I have been pleased with the performance of the Ion. It has a lot of nice features (big trunk, rear folding seats, speedometer is in the middle, etc). My biggest complaint about the vehicle is that the transmission slips (almost always) when you quicly accelerate while turning-- usually from a standstill while turning left--I do not know why this happens and I would like to know if there are any other Ion owners who have their transmission slip on them now and then. Thanks

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  Ion Quad - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Eaglep4 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I have recently purchased a fully loaded saturn ion leval 3 quad coupe. This vehicle is fun to drive and practical with great crash ratings and good gas millage. The saturn buying experiance is like no other... just drop by a saturn dealer youll see what i mean. And it is made by GM so you cant go wrong.

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  Outstanding Car-Handsdown! - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Saturn ION 3 - March 2 - 4:00 am

  I was a truck/SUV type before buying my new Saturn ION. I have no regrets about my purchase and I am highly pleased with this make/model! I recommend this vehicle to anyone. Great horsepower, fuel efficient, and a smooth comfortable ride. Thank you Saturn!