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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  No problems ever - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By bobv11 - May 16 - 9:34 am

  Fifty thousand miles and never a problem. Gets routine maintenance as directed in the manual. My lifetime average for both city and highway driving is 24.5MPG. Great for a SUV!

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  Zippy and Dependable - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By VueToo - May 14 - 2:56 pm

  Bought my 250hp,V6, 2007 Vue (with the Honda engine) in late 2006. I bought it with airbags, upgraded sound system and all the upgrades. Never requires anything but an oil change and it runs perfectly. Great cargo space and very zippy on the road. Best SUV Ive owned. Too bad they put a GM engine in the new Vue. The Chevy Traverse is similar to my old 2007 Vue, but with a $30K base price for the Chevy, Id rather spend a little extra and get the new Mercedes GLK350 SUV for $35K.

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  so far, so cool - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By hammy - May 14 - 2:00 am

  have only had for a few days, but can already tell its a great small SUV. Excellent power, excellent brakes, and loaded with safety features. I especially like the onstar system. Heated seats seem silly until you try them on a cold day.

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  The Sky is the Limit - 2007 Saturn Sky
  By SKYROCKET - May 13 - 2:36 am

  I have waited 7 long months to get mine, but is has been worth every month. It is the most beautiful car on the road today. Way to go Saturn. The fit and finsih are top rate and the ride is wonderful, I am going to Napa next weekend.

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  Best vehicle we have ever owned. - 2006 Saturn Relay
  By Muse4FDR - May 12 - 11:56 pm

  Best vehicle we have ever owned. Very sturdy vehicle. Great handling in emergency situations!

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  What a Great Investment - 2005 Saturn ION
  By shannon - May 12 - 10:33 pm

  Hi....I am very pleased to say that I am really starting to like my new car. Not only is it good on gas and it is very compact. Although my car is not fully loaded it has its great features that did not cost any more money towards the MSRP. If you are just starting out, it is a great investment. If you have a child that is getting their first car, this is the way to go. They have great service amongst the store and warranties.

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  05 Saturn Relay - 2005 Saturn Relay
  By Rich - May 12 - 5:40 pm

  Truck averages 23 mpg, good for a vehilce this size. Has approx 40,000 miles on it now, no problems to report. Mine is loaded. Factory remote start is nice, as is the remote doors.

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  Had it 1 day...feel like we struck gold (so far) - 2008 Saturn VUE
  By zionadams - May 12 - 12:39 pm

  I test drove a lot of cars, over about a one year period. I took them on freeways, up hills, even off-roading in one instance. This car was the winner. We bought an XE with 62k miles on it, thats got all the options of an XR with the smaller 2.4 motor. My sports car freak husband, who is 67" tall, loves it. We are not small people but this car fits our frames fine. Our needs for a good value combined with a solid feel were met, we hope, in the VE. The mileage estimates are 25/30. On the freeway, it does 85 without hesitation. No vibration, no lag in shifting. The engine is quiet, but not just because its small. Its just a quiet vehicle, even the air system is quiet when blowing.

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  Happy owner. - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By HERB - May 10 - 1:30 pm

  Took my new VUE on vacation shortly after purchasing. Excellent gas mileage and handling

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  I love my VUE! - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By robin simmons - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I shopped local dealers and dealers in the bigger cities, after test driving many various makes and models I just happened to stop by the Saturn dealership in Florence, SC. I had never really considered a Saturn before, but when I saw the VUE it really caught my attention, and when I test drove it I was completly sold! Proud Saturn Vue Owner:)