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:

• 

  Cant Believe I Bought This Car - 2007 Saturn ION
  By jchron - June 4 - 6:16 am

  We bought this car new, when gas prices shot way up. I had always heard how great Saturns were and how wonderful the service was. I was also impressed with the owner loyalty. My only question is "How could anyone love this car?" It is sluggish, extremely uncomfortable, and the interior parts are the cheapest I have seen in any automobile. The seats stain if you spill a drop of water on them. Cheap, cheap fabric. The car is noisy on the highway. This is the first and last GM product I will own, what a piece of junk. The backseat is useless with zero headroom and legroom. Very disappointed, could have bought a Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla for the same dollars.

• 

  Unsatisfied - 2005 Saturn ION
  By danielle89 - May 8 - 6:52 pm

  I bought this car as a last resort after I totaled my previous vehicle. First I had problems with the wheels and had to replace all four wheels and tires. Then I started to have a problem starting the car in the cold. The only thing I have found to work is heating the key with a lighter, sticking it in the ignition and moving it up and down a few times to warm up the pins which are frozen by the grease apparently and then start. This is pathetic and white trash. I have heard MANY people have had this problem. Also heard one guy took it in to Saturn, spent thousands of dollars and they couldnt even figure it out. Saturn needs to obviously due a recall, this is pathetic.

• 

  Have Never Been So Disappointed - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By Ednava58 - April 20 - 2:00 pm

  I wish I never bought the 2002 Saturn VUE. When I first test drove it, it had no heat and it was in 12/02, before purchasing the car they promised to fix it. Well the dealer had my car more than I did and it became a joke at work and with friends. I would always hear, oh it is in the shop AGAIN. I told them I had transmission problems, of course they say there was nothing wrong. Well in 2008 I was still having problems with the transmission and the service manager checked my VIN and found out that I was ONE number away from getting a new transmission, but no luck. I lost all power one day entering on the highway, oh so many things went wrong with this thing they call a VUE.

• 

  Saturn losing its charm. - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By David Bonanno - April 19 - 2:00 am

  After a wonderful dealer experience with my first Saturn several years ago, my Vue experience was akin to the same old typical b.s.you expect elsewhere. This manual is difficult to shift and noone can seem to fix it. The size is great and its wonderful on the highway, but I wouldnt do it again.

• 

  10000 Mile Alternators - 2006 Saturn ION
  By stony - March 27 - 3:26 am

  Ive only got 10000 miles on my car and have already replaced the alternator. I bought it because I know Saturns are very safe, but this thing is so slow and *ugh* Im over it. This car is not very comfortable, has poor visibility, slow acceleration, poor turning radius, is not agile and when driven after driving a Honda Civic (even the base model) its slow-ness becomes extremely annoying.

• 

  First and Last - 2006 Saturn ION
  By jnelson - March 14 - 9:36 am

  These cars are real junk. I just finished replacing the brake rotors that Saturn had turned down supposedly three times. Terrible service. Definitely my one and only GM purchase.

• 

  Do not but a saturn vue - 2008 Saturn VUE
  By Janice - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for less than a year. With in that time it has been in the shop more than I can count. I have put over $2,000 in repairs with in the past 6 months. All of the parts that were needed had to be purchased from the dealer as they dont sell after marker parts as it is too new and they "ASSUME" you wouldnt need to replace parts. The main problems are in the front end. I have replaced both sway bars,axle boot, muffler ($610), battery, rear wiper, not just the blade as you MUST buy the entire wiper as well as they dont sell just the blade. It looks like a very sharp vehicle but mechanically it is bad news.

• 

  LEMON not by their call - 2004 Saturn ION
  By AngrySaturnBuyer - March 1 - 2:00 am

  After i had my car for two weeks the vehicle would turn off by itself while i was driving. This had happned *six* times including once on the highway. The car was sent back to the dealership twice, where it was there for three weeks. They put EIGHT HUNDRED miles on my new car and sent the vehicle back with trash and filth. I missed the lemon law by the skin of my teeth. I was accused of lying about my vehicle and treated like dirt. So much for buying a new car and then feeling like you have a death trap! Not only that but the car has also been recalled and has also had to go back for a fuse issue.

• 

  1st Saturn-Last GM vehicle - 2006 Saturn ION
  By jack - February 12 - 7:33 pm

  Problems so far: Key often gets stuck in ignition, check engine comes on for no reason, front transmission mount broke, cap on canister type oil filter leaks, suspension is clunky and soft. Slow to get up to speed, cheap interior materials, weather stripping around windshield comes loose, power steering feels weird. Gets good gas mileage & A/C is cold. This is the American version of the Yugo, a real piece of crap! Current mileage is 63,000, I doubt if it makes it to 100,000. My other cars are all old Fords. Now I know why.

• 

  Do not buy a Vue - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By Hfuller - February 5 - 7:23 pm

  Purchasing my 06 Saturn vue was the worst mistake I have ever made. Since purchase I have had my vue in the shop a total of 6 times for the same problem-clunking noises in the front and back tires. A total of around $8000.00 in cost. Since it is out of warranty, Saturn corporate refuses to lend any assistance. Struts have been replaced twice ($800), wheel differential has been replaced twic (total of $5000), wheel bearing replaced, rotors replaced-it goes on and on. Saturn corporate will no longer return our calls. It has been a nightmare-I am going to go broke driving this car. Please-do not purchase a Saturn vue-