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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  Honda Engine great, Rest of car JUNK!! - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By rugby209 - April 5 - 10:30 pm

  Ive had 3 Saturns, this one being the most recent and this will be the last time I buy Saturns again. I originally looked at the reviews and everyone said it was a great SUV with a Honda engine and transmission. The reviews were right about the transmission and engine but everything else is flawed. Its been in the shop 11 times since weve owned it. Steering column broke, left front ABS sensor broke, when its cold out it makes horrible grinding noise when you hit bumps (which the dealer said was normal), hazard light fell into dash etc, etc. I should have bought a REAL Honda.

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  Worst car ever!!! - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By got2bekylee - March 16 - 6:38 am

  We got the Saturn in November of 2012 with 78000 miles on it. The transmission went out in January of 2013 with 81000 miles on it. This car is by far the worst car i have ever owned. It was nothing but stress for me. I ignored all the reviews and still go the car. Worst mistake ever. I will never buy another car from GM again..

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  Awful Car! - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By thatguy82 - March 6 - 4:46 am

  I traded in an 05 Ion for a brand new Vue in the Spring of 07. Initially I was happy with the purchase. It looked good and had a lot of cool features for the money (The convenience package included power heated seats, moonroof and steering wheel mounted controls). Well this happiness didnt last. The ignition was bad, the keys would get stuck and it became impossible to start on several occasions, in fact the service guys at the GM dealership could not get it started when it was brought in for oil changes. the heated seats stopped working, the power windows slip down and rattle, the ball bearings and brakes went bad and the rear lift gate began to rust and bubble under the chrome emblem.

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  expensive to keep on the road - 2006 Saturn ION
  By mark - March 3 - 11:00 pm

  Like other reviews here, lots of mechanical problems. At 80,000 I am on my second engine, third ignition switch third set of shifting cables. replaced wheel bearings, stabilizers, and several other front end parts. Would love to trade it, but owe more than its worth. Looks decent, drives decent when its not in the shop. Unfortunately just a cheaply built car. I know people with older saturns that had decent experiences, but my feeling is this is a good car to stay away from

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  The O.K. Saturn - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By ghmm - January 6 - 10:00 am

  The car has been in the shop for some just misc. items. The tabs in the handles keep coming out. The strut joint in the driverside front has been replaced and needs to be replaced again (design flaw). Service engine soon light came on @ 16000 mi. and they said it was my gas cap but I think its something else. The antenna also keeps coming loose.

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  2006 Saturn ION - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Wanting Answers - December 24 - 11:13 am

  I bouught the car used with 36000 mi on it, and Initally it was fine, then at about 60000 mi it all was like a bad dream, the engine light, no one knows what to do about this, the computer has been reset 4 times, when it comes on the car wont accelerate, it jerks like tranny is going out, I finally parked it for a while and my Daughter needed a car to drive and that lasted about a week and then the same thing started happening again, really think GM needs to step up, In the shop again 900 to reset the computer, replace throttle Body , and 2 rotors.... Geeze this wears me out just reliving it. This Car is Garbage period, STAY AWAY, I need a HUG, No trade value, Owe more than its worth, HELP!!

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  2007 Saturn Aura owner - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By ssbowtie - December 16 - 11:56 pm

  I have 07 Aura XR with 88,000 miles on it and transmission went. GM said nothing they can do 5 year/100,000 warranty is up. In shop now for 2 days bring diagnosed. I will never buy another GM vehicle as long as I live. Probably will have to sue for replacement and that GM known defect

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  Trouble since day 1 - 2007 Saturn Outlook
  By R. Stradford - December 5 - 5:20 pm

  I have an 2007 Outlook and it is bad. Since the first month the car makes some sort of noise that they can not fix. The things in the inside keep breaking. Mirror, dashboard compartment, CD player. I must have a lemon car or something. I may not ever buy another Saturn again in my life. This has been the worst year as a car owner since I have been old enough to buy a car.

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  Bad VUE - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By J Perkins - November 29 - 10:00 am

  My brand new $26K VUE broke down at 32 days old.The dealership and Saturn Engineers were unable to determine what happened. This happened 2x. After the third round of breakdowns, and scared to drive the car,The dealership told us to call Saturn Corp Cust Svc & Ill jump to my point: Saturn Corp HAS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. All responses were inflexible and never answered my concerns.The point is:beware buying a Saturn- IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR,YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I CAN SAY I canÂ’t imagine any manufacturer treating their customer with less value, so BUY ANOTHER BRAND THAN SATURN. Dont risk having my experience!

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  I was sold a Lemon! - 2007 Saturn Sky
  By teresa - November 25 - 11:53 pm

  I bought a Red Line Saturn Sky last May. I ordered my car thinking I was getting a great car with alot of performance, WRONG! I have had this car in the shop 7 times out of 9 months. First it was the fuel pump, then my battery, telephone wont work correctly, and I cant pick and hold radio stations and now its hesitating when I accelerate. I have had nothing but problems with it. When I took it to get fixed, the dealership scratched my car and had to get it repainted. I paid Cash for this car, and if I had financed it-they could have the Lemon back! The company wont stand behind their name or buy this back from me. I have bought 3 brand new cars from Saturn! Not ever again. Teresa