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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  saturns rule - 2004 Saturn ION
  By srs - November 4 - 2:00 am

  great gas mileage. sporty look w/o the price

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  GO ION! - 2004 Saturn ION
  By BBad - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Love the car its fun to drive, unique style and its just fun.

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  Saturn ION 1 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By pivo - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has alot of pep. It handles surprisingly well on wet roads, and so far has gone great on a small amount of snow. I drive this car about five hours a day on my courier job, and have experienced only a little fatigue from the so-called "flat" seats. The buying experience at the dealer was refreshing. I can honestly say that I not only love driving my Saturn, but also love to look at it. It looks very modern and fresh, especially in the silver nickel color. For a cheap, economical car, I think its a great deal.

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  Decent Car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Jeffrey Harvey - November 4 - 2:00 am

  We looked around at a number of dealerships before going to Saturn. From the moment we walked in the door we were impressed with the Ion. For the price, we found the Ion to be more stylish than the Ford Focus, Kia or Mazda vehicles we looked at.

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  4 x Saturn Buyer - 2004 Saturn ION
  By dialof - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I love owning a Saturn and this is my 4th. I went from leasing a 2001 L200 to buying a fully loaded 2004 ION3 (leather, sunroof, 6-CD changer, alloy wheels, etc). Got a great deal with NO HAGGLE and no game playing. The ride is great, fast and tight. Driving 60mph feels like 30mph (its so fast it can get away from you). Great mileage- 32/27. Its a keeper. :o)

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  Nothing but problems! - 2007 Saturn ION
  By Simpleplex - November 1 - 2:50 am

  After buying it new, there was a brake problem, warped disk. They fixed it. Then, at about 35,000 mi. the radio stopped working properly. The engine light came on. Saturn said engine light was caused by bad injector, replaced and problem still there. Some dummy lights would stay on and go off. Had to replace bearings. A lot of ride and engine noise, and front wheel noise, and brake vibration because disk is warped again. Seems to be some transmission problem with hard shift into first gear. So basically, a terrible car with too many problems at such low miles.

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  Great car for the money - 2003 Saturn ION
  By PR - October 31 - 11:20 pm

  When I decided to purchase a new car, I wanted an a nice, reliable and somewhat inexpensive one. In a nut shell, I didnt want a car payment. After looking for several months, I ended up with a previously owned Saturn Ion (it was 1.5 yrs old.) Its cute, reliable and cheap, but best of all it doesnt look or drive like a cheap car. Its a small car that doesnt drive like a small car. It is also a very comfortable ride on long trips, no aching back or sore seat, unlike some of the small Japanese cars Ive traveled in. Finally, the mpg is great. I get 36mpg hwy.

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  Safe, fun, practical, and hot! - 2006 Saturn ION
  By SnowI3unny - October 9 - 12:23 pm

  I LOVE my ION! I had an 04 ION until October 25th of this year when I was involved in a wreck and the entire front end of my car just kinda went...POOF! BUT, I walked away without a scratch..perfectly fine. We were told that they hadnt seen that much damage and the person standing there telling them what happened. These cars are absolutely wonderful. After everything with the wreck was resolved and the other persons insurance got us our check for the 04..we went straight to our dealer and got another ION but an 06. The two do handle much differently took a little bit to get used to, but I love it. And the dent resistant paneling is great for new drivers. Because we all know accidents happen

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  Quad 4 - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Neil D - October 5 - 10:00 am

  We had not originally considered the Ion in our search for a new car, but after we test drove the Quad 4, it was far superior to the Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen in looks, power, roominess and handling. The unique features on the Ion including the center dash gages, the electric assist power steering and the battery in the trunk all made sense. The final decision on our purchase was the zero % financing and the much lower cost for insurance.

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  My second Saturn and I love it!! - 2003 Saturn ION
  By susieqetal - October 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Saturn purchase and I am a true believer now. My first experience was great and the second time out did not let me down. The company is everything they advertise it to be. Their cars are dependable, sturdy, fuel efficient, stylish, and fun to drive.