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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  Saturn V6 - VUE - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By baskerj - January 29 - 2:00 am

  First off, Im a guy...not a soccer mom. ;) A very nice vehicle. I did not drive the four cylinder, so I have no feedback there. The V6 has a lot of get-up-and-go. Saturn has 8.4s for the 0-60 test. That is extremely modest. I like the exterior look, especially the orange (burnt cienna) at night. The interior is a little lacking. The cup holders are annoyingly low and the arm rests are too close to the body and low. I found a lot of people looking at me as if they had never seen something like it before. Obviously an overstatement, but Ive gotten a lot of good comments on it. If you havent experienced Saturn, try it out. Definitely the way to purchase a vehicle.

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  Great if all options worked! - 2007 Saturn Outlook
  By Jacqui - January 26 - 1:00 am

  My frustrations have been mostly with the DVD system & NAV. After much trouble-the whole system it was replaced by the dealer. It is still not good quality-the DVDs constantly skip & pause with even a slight fingerprint or scratch. I would highly recommend not getting the factory player. Best Buy has models that are far superior in performance and can be leather matched and are still much less expensive. NAV is not close to Garmin quality either. Also, seat memory and mirror position have never worked correctly-but not a huge deal to me. And voice command system doesnt always work or respond. Great car, just dont waste money on these options to avoid major frustration.

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  Good first try at an SUV Saturn - 2002 Saturn VUE
  By lestat4823 - January 25 - 2:00 am

  Very smooth driving 60mph feels more like 30mph. Excells on snow,In fact last year my road was repaved and I had no problem getting to and from my home despite sand/gravel/mud/holes/hills, where other automobiles became hopelessly stuck. AWD works seamlessly. If expecting a Lexus/Mercedes/Volvo you would be let down (but its half the price),remember this SUV was designed to be affordable. I looked at the competition and just had to come back to the Vue because of the well designed roomy interior, alot of thought went into this SUV. The dealership is a joy The VUE is WONDERFUL for the price! The handling is precise the engine is peppy gotta

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  Nice SUV - 2006 Saturn VUE
  By Luv my Vue - January 24 - 7:30 am

  I love my VUE. Plenty of room on the inside. Smooth ride and great power. Only downside is a lot of wind noise and outside noise

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  2007 Saturn ION3 Review - 2007 Saturn ION
  By Danny Heiple - January 24 - 4:06 am

  I purchased this car when my 1991 Dynasty caught fire, I wanted something economical since I was driving 52 miles one way to work, I wanted a moon roof, fog lamps, tilt steering, power windows/locks, cruise, XM radio option and On Star option. This car had it all. It was affordable and came with a reasonable price tag. I have a few minors issues with the alarm system shorting out, Saturn Service Guys are the best.

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  Let the secret out Saturn - 2006 Saturn ION
  By angel - January 23 - 12:36 pm

  It is hard to imagine that Saturn is not advertising this rocket. The day I took delivery and hit the gas my 04 Mustang was a thing of the past. The recaro seats are a must when cornering. I have a long way to go before I break this engine in, and I will love every minute of it. The redline will juice the bloodline. Please do yourself a favor Saturn and tell the public about your car. The car is fast, great lines, and you feel young again.

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  Excellent Buy - 2009 Saturn Sky
  By BLAnthony - January 18 - 10:26 am

  Just got the car this month and so far no problems and it is a blast to drive. I got the red line edition because the power was lacking in the base model. The car will throw you back in your seat when to tromp on the gas. I got the automatic transmission and it shifts smooth. I opted for the midnight blue with tan top & interior, which gave the interior a nice two-tone color. The car is stylin with no complaints there. I would say with the top up visibility is diminished quite a bit but the cabin is quite guiet. The only complaint I can think of is the leg room for taller passengers in the passenger seat. Also another complaint is the lack of storage in the cabin. Great car for the money.

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  Rare Lost Gem - 2008 Saturn Astra
  By BBdriver - January 18 - 7:03 am

  When Saturn decided to import the Astra, the dollar/euro relationship was more favorable. Come 2008 the car couldnt be sold profitably enough, hence the lack of promotion and cancellation of the 2009 model. Generous incentives got me a great European car for the price of a smaller Hyundai! 11 years living in Europe enlightened my automotive outlook. Why couldnt Saturn have built this very car in Spring Hill? This car has a solidity on par with my Mercedes. Actual mileage exceeds EPA rating. Comfortable for my 62" 280lb body. Great handling on a just finished run up PCH to Big Sur. Enjoying my 25 mile commute so much that Im considering taking a job further from home!

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  Happy in Buffalo - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By SnowSurvivor - January 14 - 3:20 am

  I fell in love with this car as soon as I test drove it. It is very responsive and really turns heads when I drive it. I would have liked the trunk to be a little larger so that I could more easlity fit my oversized golf bag in it, but it still fits.

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  The VUE is Great - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By Harold Jones - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Over 20 mpg in mixed driving. Excellent in snow. Handles like a car. Fold down seats are great. Power is outstanding. You wont be disappointed. Brakes almost as good as four wheel disks.