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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  Problem after Problem - 2006 Saturn ION
  By crpolston - June 20 - 2:50 am

  Ive had this car for 3 1/2 years and unfortunately Ive had nothing but problems in the past years. One is the driver side automatic window has broken twice. Once under warranty and now that it is not under warranty. Also, the check engine light has come on numerous times, stumping the dealership service guys. The MAP sensor has been replaced, the fuel pump has been replaced, the catalytic converter is now having problems, I have so many work up reports it takes up an entire file cabinent! If you want a reliable car do not pick this one.

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  Great car, basic but fun - 2005 Saturn ION
  By L Crew - June 18 - 12:43 pm

  Weve got almost 3K on the car now and it runs great. Great gas mileage and fun to drive the sporty 5 spd. This redesigned car provides a smooth, stable, ride with 15" wheels, and a quiet interior. We can actually carry on a quiet conversation at 70 MPH. Turning radius is also very good for parking and turnarounds. Only problem Ive encountered was a sticky door handle and squeaky clutch pedal which were both repaired satisfactorily at the dealer. Overall a really neat, fun car to drive.

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  Great car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Jman - June 15 - 8:23 am

  I have owned this car over two years and have not had any mechanical problems. I got a great deal at the model year end sale, including leather interior. It has a nice sound system, is fun to drive, and highway gas mileage averages about 30 mpg.

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  Love my new Ion! - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Julie - June 15 - 5:46 am

  I love driving my ION Quad Coupe. I had a Saturn S-series sedan for 5 years, which was also a great car. The ION is fun, but still practical. The rear flip-out doors allow passengers to get in easily, but from the outside the car maintains its sporty look. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a car that is safe and reliable, but still fun to drive.

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  Cute, spunky, inexpensive - 2004 Saturn ION
  By putt putt - June 10 - 2:36 pm

  As an older person, Ive had many different types of cars. Before buying, I test drove different minivans, full size vehicles, 2 door cars, 4door cars, midsize, full size, trucks, etc. I found the ION to have spunk. It feels like it wants to get up and go. Handles well, with very good mileage. It gets 36mpg on the highway. The leather seats are a bit stiff, but thats better for my back problem. Even my husband loves to drive it. Any time you can get him to give up his new 3/4 ton black Avalanche with the biggest motor and Suburban-like ride to drive an electric lime ION, you have to have a fun, cool car. Front opening rear doors make getting in and out of the back seat and getting stuff out so much easier

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  Good: ride& price. Weak: quality - 2005 Saturn ION
  By captainhurt - June 6 - 3:50 am

  Nice ride since 2005 ION(much softer ride, much quieter than any earlier Saturns). Never had a Saturn break down on me leaving me unable to drive, but they do have some quality issues. Historically...battery failure, window motor failed, gasket failures, engine mount failure, steering column failure, exhaust system brackets failed,engine light on 3 times in 1st 3 months of ownership, and a few others.

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  Compares to the Best - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Bubba - May 29 - 10:20 am

  My original choice was not the Saturn but after an intensive month of shopping and visiting the dealers I was disgusted with other dealers sales tactics, and decided to give the Ion a look. The Ion 3 with the 170hp, 2.4L engine in my opinion compares to the Mazda6. There are no dealer games and they got me awesome GMAC financing. This is the first time I feel like I got an absolute steal on a car purchase. The only thing that needed getting used to was the console that is in the center of the dashboard. But if you shop Saturn you get a big bang for the buck and no sleazy dealer tricks.

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  Honest Review - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Mark C - May 28 - 1:43 am

  I just hit 70,000 miles. So far Ive had the ignition problem which is VERY common to the Saturn Ion where you cant get the key out of the ignition. Should have been a recall item. Also all of my fuel injectors needed to be replaced. Another problem I had was with the control module, another common problem with these cars. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty through an online warranty company. So I was not out of pocket too much. Other than this not too bad. Had my brakes checked today and there is plenty of pad left after 70k, I was surprised.

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  Poorly Designed, Mechanically Defective - 2005 Saturn ION
  By amarri - May 15 - 10:23 pm

  I have had nothing but trouble with this vehicle: 4 tow-in and 2 drive-in service calls. Check Engine light glowing steadily, fuel gauge registering zero, rough engine idle (car struggles to remain running), loss of power when operating A/C (A/C fan and headlights dimming), annoyingly squeaking seats, water leaks, and dangerously faulty gearshift knob that breaks off in hand when using. Cheap interior materials and poor instrument cluster visibility. Poor rear-view mirror visibility: many blind spots.

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  Saturn ION - 2005 Saturn ION
  By Terri Nelson - May 15 - 4:53 am

  Enjoy driving it, but I am disapointed in the quality of interior seats. Has some rattling from the inside lights. Overall I am happy with the vehicle