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:

• 

  My Vue - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By aupperle11 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle, it is easy to park, looks great, drives great with plenty of pep when I need it but also reasonable gas mileage around town. I am 59 years old and this is my favorite vehicle of any that I have ever owned. The Saturn policies of customer service also brought me back to them for my second Saturn, the Vue.

• 

  satisfied customer - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By 1st time customer - September 16 - 2:00 am

  a real buying experience that was pleasureable, no games to play going back anc forth with salesman and sales manager to get to a price. Knowleageable salesman and dealership staff is extremely customer oriented and polite every time you visit the dealership before and after the purchase. Vehicle is fun to drive and affordably priced so that the options, that are not outrageously priced, are fun to explore and add to make the vehicle extremely attractive. The ride is much more comfortable that former owned competitive SUV. Very pleased. with the vehicle to this point.

• 

  THE SATURN - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By CHRISTAN - September 16 - 2:00 am

  THE CAR IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND HANDLES GOOD BUT WENT ON A LONG TRIP HAD A FLAT TIRE AND COULDNT FIND THE TIRE ANYWHERE I HAD TO LOOK FOR A SATURN DEALER AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THAT FEELS. THE WHEN I LOWER THE BACK WINDOS TO GET SOME FRESH AIR THE NOISE WAS UNBEREABLE.TOO MUCH NOISE INSIDE THE CAR.

• 

  saturn ion - 2004 Saturn ION
  By simone - September 16 - 2:00 am

  bought it for my daughter, has a a four speed standard trans thats really easy to drive(and fun! )great on gas, handles real well, rear drs swing out opposite front drs,fairly roomy for a small car, and it has an upgraded stereo system. 0% financing for 5 yrs made it a real sweet deal.

• 

  great car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By jgirl - September 16 - 2:00 am

  The saleswoman was wonderful. I owed a lot more on my trade in than it bluebooked for and she got me four hundred!!! dollars more than any other dealership bacause of the condition and the new tires,etc.

• 

  OK - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By John - September 13 - 12:56 pm

  The SUV looks really nice and its a fun SUV to drive. At 54,000, I had to replace the wheel bearings and this was costly. I have also replaced the brakes three times since buying the truck.

• 

  Hope later years fare better - 2005 Saturn Relay
  By jaw0122 - September 13 - 3:23 am

  Service engine light came on during first 24 hours of ownership. Corroded EGR replaced. Disco headlights and dash lights. Generator replaced. Side mouldings peeling off, replaced. Sliding door motor door stuck open, replaced twice. (Still on occassion tries to open while driving if electric opener is left engaged) Peeling paint, repaired. Headlight fogged internally, replaced. Radio randomly changes stations, replaced. Trim around window caused squealing noise so loud you couldnt talk to your passenger, repaired. HVAC fan continues to run after key is turned off, reprogramed. All within the first 6 months of ownership!

• 

  I think its a Lemon - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By Jennifer Peggs - September 12 - 10:00 am

  8 repairs on struts, bearings, and suspension in general, back drivers side window motor broke in under a year of use, now fuel sensor is broken. I bought this car when I was pregnant so that my child would be safe. I just dont know if I have enough gas to get home now. That safe. I made a 20,000 mistake and will pay for it until I can trade it in,which I have tried and have been unsucessful. Regrettably I am a Saturn Vue owner.

• 

  Love my new Ion - 2004 Saturn ION
  By Barbara Orishak - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great handling, economy priced, I moved down from a full size car and I am not disappointed in the Saturn. Dealership was wonderful and continues to be helpful with questions. Handling is easy and fun to drive. Enough bells and whistles to feel like a more expensive car.

• 

  Thrilled and disappointed - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By Steve - September 11 - 5:33 am

  XEV6 has the right stuff to make it nice to drive. Amazing ride and performance but gas mileage not much better than a 1998 DeVille. For my tastes and budget its a CTS at a Chevy price and better looking to boot. Multiadjustable power drivers seat is a must for taller drivers. A/C system is pretty much useless on hot days or if the car has been sitting in the sun for a while. Takes quite a while to cool down, even at the maximum cooling settings. Saturn dealer says this is normal. I guess Im just spoiled from driving Cadillacs for 25 years. Now if Cadillac could make their cars as reliable as the XEV6, theyd really have something.