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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  Saturn VUE equals junk - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By Mtfloo - March 1 - 7:30 am

  We have had our VUE for 7 years. We had to replace the wheel bearings, $450 each, between 50,000 and 65,000 miles. It now has 107,000 miles and guess what.. we are once again replacing them. What other vehicle has to do this. Also, motor in rear window wiper gone after 60,000 miles, cord to raise the hood has had to be replaced twice. The clutch in the 4 speed was replaced at 40,000 miles, I could go on and on. Those cars are junk! GM was very smart to dump them. Although some work out ok, most dont.

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  Terrible Car - 2006 Saturn ION
  By JC - February 15 - 2:00 am

  The transmission started shifting hard. Took it to a transmission shop and had it looked at, was told every- thing seemed ok. It got worse. Months later, took the car to a different transmission shop, I was told it felt like it was skipping from first to third gear. When taking off, the car stays in first gear and you have to take your foot off the pedal to let it shift into second gear.took it to a Saturn dealer, told the transmission might be going out and it would cost $3,000.00 to fix it. was told to just drive the car until it went completely out instead of spending that kind of money. Now when you put the car in gear, all the interior and exterior lights flicker. fuses are fine. stuck!

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  Cheap and Unreliable - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By Clo - February 13 - 11:46 am

  Fuel gauge problems, replaced brake rotors twice, electrical failure, deffective coolant cap burst on the road, now we have transmission problems. Wish we could replace the car now but we owe almost as much as the trade in value. The day this car comes off warranty is the day we trade it in. We try to buy American, but this car has shaken our confidence in American cars.

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  Surprisingly disappointing - 2009 Saturn Aura
  By Dominic - February 7 - 3:10 pm

  Problems with this car: 1) Transmission hunts, is too quick to downshift, and feels erratic. 2) The seats are very uncomfortable for any distance driving, 3) Seat adjustment is limited, Im 5 10" and felt like I was on top of the headliner, 4) Windshield rake and seat make the rear- view mirror a giant obstacle to see around. Its a blind-spot facing forward. 5) Steering wheel remotes for cruise and radio are too small and hard to use during night-driving. 6) Interior components that scream "Im cheap plastic" combined with lousy fit and finish.

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  4th Transmission now needed - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By Diane - February 3 - 5:20 pm

  I purchased my Vue in 2003--after owning 2 different Saturn Sedans. 6 mos after purchase had to have both rear wheel bearings replaced. Then came the transmission problems. I am about to have the 4th transmission put in in only 96k miles. I am very angry GM will pay only 50% of the $4800 cost. I am disabled and on Social Security Disability and my funds are limited. I feel the trans should be replaced in full since this is the 4th time around for me. If anyone has any one has had any luck.

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  Poor Quality - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By sosad - January 4 - 7:33 am

  I have the 2003 Vue and have had so many problems. I wish Saturn would do something to help us with the transmission problems. For those of us too honest to "accidentally" back into the salt water on the coast it is awfully expensive to replace a transmission ($5,000) when you havent been driving it for very long. I dont believe I will ever choose a Saturn product again. No wonder north american auto manufacturers are losing out to foreign cars. Cant seem to get any help from anyone at Saturn either.

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  Saturn ION 2 - 2004 Saturn ION
  By txbostont - December 30 - 11:56 pm

  The front end of the car makes dull popping sounds when driving over rough surfaces and shimmies as well. Told it was the rotors. Loud interior noise. Seats are the most uncomfortable things I have ever sat in. Cloth is cheap and stains easily. Exterior looks good. Like the body lines of the car. Engine revs up on its on accord. Transmission shifts very rough. Cheap materials used in production of this car.

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  Dissatisfied! - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By KC - December 25 - 11:00 pm

  I purchased my VUE just 2 months ago. My first VUE broke down on the side of the road 4 hours after purchase. I requested another VUE. This one lasted 3 weeks. 2 lights came on on the panel. Since then, the 2nd VUE has been in the shop off and on for 21 days. I feel ripped off. Also the dealership has not really done its part in making me happy. Therefore, I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone, ever! There have been wheel speed sensors, ABS modules, and every connector in between replaced on this VUE, yet to date the same 2 panel lights have come back on. I am so dissatisfied, it is ridiculous! I feel like I have been duped.

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  They bought it back! - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By George R. Geiger - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Got a great deal (Spring sales Event)on a 2.2 4 cylinder 2wd fully loaded VUE. Loved the vehicle. My wife still owns an original Saturn. (Doesnt count for anything at Saturn) 3,000 miles translated into 3 visits to the Saturn Service Department and 3 different rental cars. The vehicle suffered reduced power on 3 different occassions at 3 different rates of speed and road conditions. Saturn couldnt fix it and bought it back under our states Lemon Law telling me I can get a replacement vehicle. That is if I wanted to pay the additional $7,000 more for a comparably equipped Vue. Yeah right!

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  Saturn ION is awful - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Tim - December 1 - 10:23 pm

  Well my car is great......oh wait I have an ION. Lets see, the blinker went when I first got it. Also the little thing called the valve body inside the transmission went bad. Oh you ask what is a valve body? Its the little thing that helps the transmission shift properly. Brain of the tranny. Ive had the valve body looked at 6 times since Ive had it. At first it was fun going back to the dealership but now its not so fun. Also, at 50 grand the left axle went which is ok seeing how the warranty covered it. The lack of testing with this new transmission was evident and I believe they should have sticked with the 4 spd automatic. I wont buy another and the Trade value is AWFUL!