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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  Excellent car - 2004 Saturn ION
  By JC2003 - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Love it, love it. Traded in a 1990 Pontiac Grandam which I was the original & only owner. Love this car more. Peepy engine. Engine feels more powerful then 140HP. Fun to drive. Roomy interior. Large trunk space. Excellent heating system. Enjoyed the buying experience. I see myself in the future buying another Saturn, possibly the VUE.

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  Good Car - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By rocketron - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I think this is a good car for the money. The v6 is definitly the way to go, great power, and very quiet. Ive been getting just over 20 mpg which is important with 2$/ gal gas.The interior size is great. Much better than competitors.

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  Best SUV ever - 2008 Saturn Outlook
  By Hb - December 16 - 6:36 pm

  Love my Outlook! Its fun to drive and looks fabulous! I was tired of the minivan, so this is perfect! My kids love the double sunroof and DVD. It is the ultimate family vehicle. Saturn service has been great. Owned the Outlook for 1 year and have had no problems. Free oil changes and tire rotation! My only complaint is the mpg. My average is about 18; however, I drive about 80 mph on the freeway 90% of the time! The premium sound thumps! Love it!

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  Still Goin Great - 2006 Saturn ION
  By Carl Camann - December 15 - 9:30 pm

  A follow-up to my 10/07/05 review. Car now with 32K+ miles. Total repairs=$0. Total days out of commission=0. Total warranty work=1 minor brake adjustment. No rattles, minimal tire wear, consistent handling, interior materials holding up well, paint & exterior pieces still bright & shiny. Consistent 30+ mpg on road, low 20s around town. Everything as advertised. Selling dealer (and others used for service) have been tremendous when service and one warrantee item needed. I am as pleased with this car as I have ever been with any vehicle of any brand I have ever owned.

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  I Love My Saturn VUE - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By Ld0724 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  We tried the Ford Escape and the brake lights would not go out after just 2 days. My Saturn Vue has been WONDERFUL. I cannot imagine having any other small SUV. The price was wonderful, the gas mileage is so much better than the Escape, and Saturn has been simply wonderful. I will be a Saturn owner for life. Sometimes it is the little options that are standard that make all the difference in the world. From the Grocery carrier, to the speakers. I love my VUE.

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  fun in a Saturn Vue - 2005 Saturn VUE
  By Robin - December 14 - 6:36 am

  driven 2000 mi the first trip and did everything we exspected / would like to let ppl know about this awesome SUV that has a honda v6 power plant that has alot of get up and go !!

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  Great for a US vehicle - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By FirstAmerican - December 13 - 5:50 am

  First American auto I have owned in 20 years. Great value, style, and engineering. Style caught my eye to start. Interior comfort and layout better than many imports and other GM autos. The 3.5 engine is responsive and tranny works better than I believed it would. Real average mpg runs mid to upper 20s. Pretty good for a V-6.

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  Great car for the money - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By chevydiver - December 11 - 3:33 am

  Has been the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. One year old never back to dealer. Does better on city and combined driving for mileage. Lots of upscale features, leather heated seats, OnStar, auxilary jack on radio, steering wheel controls. Fun to drive.

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  Vue is better than ratings - 2005 Saturn VUE
  By Donna - December 10 - 11:06 pm

  I have driven several SUVs and I find for the money the Vue is right up there. It is said to have sloppy handling but I do not find that to be the case. It handled well on hills and turns even in extreme weather. The interior is more than comfortable for most. My husband is tall and he has plenty of room. Its height from the ground makes it easy for me to get in(I am short) but my husband does not feel like he is climbing out of it. Overall I would definitely buy this again.

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  What A Hoot To Drive! - 2008 Saturn Astra
  By Scott Walper - December 8 - 5:33 pm

  We just stumbled across the Astra at the Saturn dealer while looking at the Vue. After driving the Astra couldnt wait to buy one! Incredibly solid, zippy around town with the 5 speed stick, gets lotsa stares. People in Hondas ask what it that? The doors dont sound like tin when you close them. The remote windows rolldown, one cool feature.