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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  Absolutely love this car!!!! - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By lbaldwin - March 10 - 6:57 am

  I bought this car 1 month ago with 40,000. I owned a Saturn Ion 2 and put 100,000 on it and I loved that car. I actually went to the dealership to buy another Ion that they had with 36,000 but when the loan came through he had put it through for the Aura to surprise me. Omgosh I am so glad he did. This is a luxury car without the luxury price. I am soooo happy with this car. And to go along with the other reviews you definately get second looks. And the people at work think I paid a lot more than I did for it. It is far above my old ION.

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  Owner - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By saturn vue - March 8 - 4:16 am

  The design and performance are some of the things we like about the VUE. The 3.5 litter, 5 speed automatic has all the power that you need for passing and take off. The size is perfect for my wife who is 53". Its easy to park and has enough storage storage in back.

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  old mans coupe - 2003 Saturn ION
  By sdue52 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I have a little age on me, but I still like a sporty ride. I just purchased a bright red Saturn Quad Coupe, with tan leather and all the goodies. I like the tight feel of the car. The sport suspension is firm but you got to love the way the car hugs the apex of a curve. The gauge pod is a great idea, and I like it. It is easy to keep you eyes on the road. The car is a blast to drive, and attracts a lot of attention. The most common reaction is "THAT IS A SATURN?"

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  first car - 2003 Saturn ION
  By deligirl - March 7 - 10:00 am

  out of all the cars i test drove while looking for a car, the ion was the most car for not as much money as the others. its luxury and pep make it a great buy.

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  Saturn ION3 Sedan 5-speed - 2003 Saturn ION
  By praecelsus - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Sold my BMW 540i to go back to a Saturn; my first Saturn SL1 ran 170k miles with little non-recurring maintenance. Vehicle is solid, runs quieter than the original SL series. 5 speed transmission much smoother with easier clutch than original SL series. Handling is a little soft, but adequate feel for the road makes it from the tires to the steering wheel. Decent options for sound and safety. Excellent GMAC incentives for current Saturn owners, insurance is low, economy high. Doesnt perform like the 540i, but much easier on the wallet in terms of fuel, maintenance & insurance. It is fun to drive too.

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  I love it!!! - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By R.J.K II - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I find myself parking the Vue and not being able to leave it alone! I love the way it looks inside & out. I love the way it drives. I am a little nervous in turns, but that is mostly because of the media hype of SUVs flipping over. It handles similar to a car with a very smooth ride. I have the V6 AWD, and cannot imagine driving the 4 cylinder. Fuel economy is OK, but I had a Honda Civic before, so theres no comparison, haha. I give it an A+!

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  the vue revue; a great ride! - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By oldbronx surfer - March 7 - 10:00 am

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  Big Surprise - 2008 Saturn Outlook
  By BRLAmom - March 6 - 6:23 pm

  I have driven a minivan and two Suburbans over the last 14 years. We were able to downsize as our oldest is going to college. This vehicle is a wonderful change of pace. I love the size, drive and features. I fill it with kids several times a week and it is very comfortable as well as easy to lay down seats and haul anything from girl scout cookies to landscaping material. We shopped both the Acadia nad the Enclave. Would have bought another Chevy but it has not come out yet. Huge selection at the Saturn dealership with the features we wanted.

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  I am impressed - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By Mike C - March 4 - 8:06 pm

  This car is stable and true to its EPA mileage. True 29 to 32 highway and 22 to 24 in town. While this is not 50 mpg this is a small SUV with nice room inside and good manners all around. The hybrid system is seamless and there is no negative to it that I have found. My hope is to run it for a long time. I have had no problems. Great car nice price.

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  No No No - Youll be sorry if you do - 2008 Saturn Outlook
  By Never again - March 4 - 3:10 pm

  I have been told by the GM that there is a "ghost" in my car - he even went to bat for me with Saturn and they will do nothing - the control panel has constantly got a warning: air bags, tire pressure , ice on the road: none of which are true! The transmission bogs and surges uncontrollably, stereo, dvs, navigation work randomly - wanted to get out of the mini-van phase - BAD IDEA to do this with a Saturn! Onstar has told me to take my car in for service immediately - my air bag could or could not go off anytime. My families safety is far more important - Toyota Ill be back.And to top it off no light in the glove box. DONT WALK RUN FROM THIS NIGHTMARE - LOOKS ARENT EVERYTHING!