Overview & Reviews

The Saturn brand, which was part of General Motors, has been discontinued as of the 2009 model year. Though popular in its early years, Saturn suffered from poor sales and was shuttered as part of GM's bankruptcy reorganization.

Despite its sad end, Saturn started with a bright future. After losing market share to Japanese imports during the '80s, General Motors launched Saturn, a new division that began selling small, low-priced cars in 1990. The division promoted itself as "different," with Saturn dealers offering no-haggle pricing and friendly customer service.

Saturn made its debut with the S Series line of vehicles. Available in sedan, coupe and wagon configurations, these Saturns differentiated themselves from other GM products with all-new platforms and flexible plastic panels meant to resist denting. Additionally, the brand was granted its own plant, with all Saturns being built at a dedicated facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee. These first Saturns weren't exactly built to burn rubber; they were powered by engines that offered from 85-124 horsepower. The payoff, though, was that these were among the most fuel-efficient vehicles of their day, offering up to 40 miles per gallon (when equipped with a manual transmission).

Just after the brand's conception, GM boasted that Saturn vehicles would benefit from rapid evolution, but in the early years, this wasn't the case. The brand's vehicles saw only one redesign in their first decade of existence. The revamp took place in the mid-'90s, and for the most part, it was only skin deep. Exteriors were spruced up and interior room saw a slight increase.

The Saturn brand enjoyed some success in its earliest years, fueled by buyers who were in love with its unique approach to customer relations that included "no-haggle" pricing. By the turn of the century, though, the novelty had worn off. With dated platforms and a limited range of products, the marque was neglected by GM, and disappointing sales figures showed that buyers had taken note and chosen to spend their dollars elsewhere.

GM responded by ramping up its commitment to the Saturn brand. In 2000, it rolled out the L Series; sharing a platform and an engine with the Opel Vectra (one of GM's European products) the sedan was the opening salvo in GM's ultimately futile fight to resuscitate the struggling brand. An SUV, the Vue, was unveiled, as was a minivan, the Relay. The S Series was replaced by the lamentable Ion, which was available as a sedan and a coupe. GM also added a hybrid to the lineup, with the introduction of the Saturn Vue Green Line.

Later, Saturn included the sporty Sky roadster, the midsize Aura sedan, the compact second-generation Vue crossover and the full-size Outlook crossover. For a brief period, there was also the European-sourced Astra compact hatchback.

Despite the increase in product quality, however, the Saturn brand effectively collapsed in 2009. As part of GM's bankruptcy proceedings, Saturn was offered up for sale. Initially, it was believed that the Penske Corporation would take over Saturn. But the deal fell through at the last minute, thereby spelling the final end for GM's import-fighting experiment.

User Reviews:

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  O K car. - 2003 Saturn ION
  By leo - February 21 - 2:06 pm

  Owned since 8/07. Took some time to adjust to. Gear shifting is awkward compared to a Honda or Toyota. Great turning radius. Chronic ignition switch problem that shows up in winter. Wipers are plastic and are very delicate in cold weather with snow or ice. Fabric is cheap and stains easily. Seats not all that comfortable. Like car a lot but have been let down more than once.

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  After 6 Saturns This will be my last - 2005 Saturn Relay
  By Chris - February 20 - 11:13 pm

  Where to begin,this is my 6th and last Saturn have loved every one prior to this. the doors dont close, wont stay shut havent since the day I bought it,pop open when your driving down the road. When you disable the power doors it chimes incessantly until you either turn the powerdoor back on or remove the fuse. spent 3 weeks in the shop in the first 3 months due to electrical issues had entire interior torn out to finally find problem. Engine service light kept coming on. Front end pops and clicks when turning believe it is a ball joint issue, All plastic interior pieces keep breaking and falling off.this is the biggest piece of junk I have owned since my S-10 which made me swear of Chevy

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  What happened to Saturn - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By kdoody - February 20 - 11:00 pm

  My 2nd Saturn, had an SL1 for 7 years with only a problem in the 6th year. The shift line to the transmission broke. My Vue, which I generally like has now made it the the shop for the same problem in 2 years. I bought it new in Dec 2005 and a year later I was leaving work in a blizzard and tried to start my car and it turned over once and then nothing. They said it was electrical or something to do with the battery, but it just happened to me again the other night in 10 degree whether in Huntsvill, AL. They have no idea what to do to fix it. I have other issues, like it feels like when driving on a hwy the wind is going to rip my doors off and the heat is gone in the driver seat.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Johanna - February 20 - 12:33 pm

  When I drove off in my new Saturn, I was very impressed with the handling. Pulling into certain parking areas, the Saturn make manuvers very easy. Very reliable. It took a week or so to get used to the instrument panel, being in the center of the dash, but once you get used to it, its actually a great feature. Very quiet running. It is just an overall great vehicle at a great price.

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  Not Safe for any Family! - 2005 Saturn Relay
  By CS79 - February 19 - 9:00 am

  Ive had this van for 3 years and its been nothing but a headache. It was in the shop 2 days after purchase for a auto sliding door malfunction. The headlights have malfunctioned in the middle of the night on a car trip out of state. We were stranded until daylight until we could drive it to the nearest dealership, and it took them a week to fix it!!! Worst of all are the breaks. The brakes malfunction from time to time, and the ABS light comes on. Ive had it in the dealerships shop 8 times just for this problem, and they wont fix it! They keep telling me they cant get an error code. All together Ive had it in the shop 20 times in 3 years. Dont buy this van!

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  Needs - 2008 Saturn Astra
  By astra - February 19 - 8:56 am

  This could have been a nice car, but like so many other small cars its a DOG with NO option to get much needed HP and Torque. Just sold mine because I just cannot deal with the lack of power any longer.

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  Curts Sky - 2007 Saturn Sky
  By curt robinson - February 18 - 12:26 am

  I originally purchased the car for my wife but she didnt like red. I liked mine so well that I got her the bluestone for Christmas. These cars are a blast. Both are the 2.4 auto-trans. I have put a header, Borla dual outlet exhaust, cold air intake, oversized throttle body, ecm upgrade, rebar, mud flaps, chrome mirror covers, little chrome locks and seatbelt guides. My wifes has a flowmaster dual outlet exhaust (sounds and looks better than the borla) and everthing i put on mine except the ecm and the header. Im going to do those befor the year is up. With these upgrades the car is really wild and fast. I want to take on a red line one day to see how they compare.

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  2007 Aura, looking back - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By texvette - February 16 - 7:16 am

  The Aura was purchased to commute in and be towed behind our motorhome. The vehicle has excellent acceleration and outstanding road manners. The placement of the controls is well arranged and easily accessible. The caution of buying the first of a model year, albeit earning the Car of the Year Award, certainly holds true in the case of the XR. The large number of problems in almost every system of the vehicle is indicative of getting the care to market before a full shakedown. The issues range from poor rocker panel design to fuel economy much less than competitors. There is no question that these will all be solved in subsequent model years, as is the trend with US Automakers.

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  Loving it So Far - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By clayg420 - February 15 - 10:00 am

  I was pretty much set on an Escape-my sister has one and I liked it well enough. Then I read an article on Honda motor in the Vue. Then I went and drove one. Wow, much more car than the Escape and I could get one about the same price. Wanted the Red Line because of articles, but in reality thought it added nothing. Guess I dont drive quite as wild as reviewers. Everbody comments it is much nicer than they had imagined. It rides great, comfortable over our bad Nashville streets, fast enough to merge with confidence. I think the interior is getting a bad rap for previous years. I will say the tan looks much better than the grey.

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  my vue of the vue - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By sumo - February 15 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this for towing a camper and so far it has performed excel. it acts as if there is no top end ,for a 3.0 Im pulling 2400 lbs. & it has not complained once.on the flats or thru the green mtns.it gets a smoother ride loaded down