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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  HAPPY WITH CAR, BUT... - 2006 Saturn ION
  By squeegie - December 25 - 4:47 pm

  I bought a 2006 Saturn ION 3 with 5 sp manual transmission back in Aug 2010. I love the car when there are no problems, but boy, when there are problems, there are problems! I had to replace the ignition switch cos of a bad sensor. The PassLock system wouldnt let me start the car because of this. It "thought" the car was being stolen so the engine wouldnt start. 2 days ago, the power steering light came on & I lost my power steering. The book said to take it to the dealer, so I did. That is when I found out that there is a recall from GM. Fortunately, my car has less than 100k miles, so the price of the repair was covered under the recall.

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  JG Loves Her Ion! - 2004 Saturn ION
  By J.G. - December 25 - 10:00 am

  What a great car!! Its peppy, performs well, has exceptional fuel economy and is very roomy. The Saturn Ion is also a great value. You get outstanding performance, comfort, and roominess for a moderate price!

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  This is an awful car - 2009 Saturn Aura
  By alces1976 - December 25 - 9:03 am

  I have not had a good experience with this car, or this company. I have always owned a GM car, this being my first (and last) Saturn. The car hasnt worked right in the year Ive had it with a multitude of electrical problems and common defects. The company has been impossible to work with, and overall I would have rather switched to a Pinto over this mess of a car. Watch yourself if youre looking at this car!!!

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  Dont ignore these reviews - TRANSMISSION HELL - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By lilpinkzombie - December 25 - 5:01 am

  I love my car, that is no secret. Everyone who knows me... knows I love my 2003 Saturn Vue. I purchased it for way over its value because I needed a reliable vehicle and I was not looking too hot in the credit realm. Within two weeks, the transmission went out. I called the dealership, they had to fix within the 45 day guarantee. They gave it back and it just hasnt been the same since. I have also dealt with the module going out and other various transmission issues. As much as I love my car, there is no way anyone can own a Saturn and not spend more on repairs than the actual value of the vehicle. Period.

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Saturn Outlook
  By jrickenbrode - December 25 - 12:33 am

  I bought my Outlook in 2088, it only had 16 miles on it. Today it turned over 111.000 miles. This has been the most reliable vehicle. I do a lot of driving and I have never had to have this in the shop beside for regular maintenance. Love this vehicle!

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  A great hybrid value - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By Love That Hybrid - December 23 - 6:56 pm

  Right off the dealer lot, I got 31.9 MPG. With each tank of gas, the mileage has improved to where I am consistently getting 33 MPG beating the EPA ratings. The key to getting the mileage is adjusting your driving techniques to achieve the recommended hybrid fuel economy. The more the "ECO" light is on the better mileage you get. I love the car and am so glad I bought one!

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  The price is right - 2003 Saturn ION
  By Kari - December 23 - 2:00 am

  The Ion has cheap cloth seats. My fabric does not even fit properly. I have bubbles in it. In the winter the rearview mirror when ice is on it will takes forever to defrost. I also am having a problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition. The only way to get it out is to pop open the little box underneath the steering column and push a button in. The only thing I wish is that it had more room in the back, but the price was right and I really do like the style.

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  My VUE is a lemon - 2008 Saturn VUE
  By paul b - December 22 - 8:00 am

  I like driving the car. It has pep and is comfortable. The 40 feet turning radius makes it hard to park and turn around. The V-6 burns more gas around town than I like. I sure wish they had an engine size midway between the 4 cyl and the V6, about 3000cc. On cold mornings the car will not start correctly; it "searches" for an idle speed which it cant find. It will not accelerate until it is warmed up. The dealer and Saturn engineers cannot find the problem. It is 33 days in the shop and remains there. They keep throwing more new parts at it, but the problem persists. It meets the Virginia criteria for a lemon. GM says no other Vues have reported this problem. Its now a sour experience.

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  Great Vue - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By Phil - December 22 - 7:53 am

  This vehicle blends performance, style, and great gas mileage. We easily exceed EPA mpg figures with realistic driving patterns. This car is great for long distance trips, and is the most comfortable and enjoyable-to-drive vehicle I have owned to date.

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  Very Pleased - 2009 Saturn VUE
  By Happy So Far - December 20 - 9:10 pm

  For price, feel as though VUE offers fantastic value. Possesses numerous amenities which adds to quality of driving. 4 cylinder has lots of pep and enough power. Been getting 28.5 MPG mostly highway and still breaking in. Stability Track & ABS efficient- did not skid out when I had to jam on brakes. Car very fun to drive, great mover and does not feel light like a tin can . Feel safe when driving. Owned other crossovers, tested competition, and found VUE to offer most gadgets, style, value and performance. Very pleased so far w/ first Saturn. Must say, great experience with dealership and they offer comp car washes and donuts.