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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  Worst Car of My Life - 2007 Saturn Outlook
  By dieselfan - September 3 - 9:04 pm

  This was without question the worst automobile I have ever purchased in my life. (That includes a Chrysler product purchased in the mid 1980s!) Although roomy, attractive, and fun to drive, the vehicle fell apart from the beginning. Purchasing this vehicle was a decision I will regret the rest of my life. Almost immediately after purchasing the vehicle, it began to have problems. Warning lights, tailgate lock, audio system, transmission, power windows--you name it, it broke. Finally, the transmission completely failed shortly after warranty ran out. I didnt have the $4500 to have it repaired and I let the vehicle get repossessed. I will never buy another GM product in my life.

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  I Would Buy It Again - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By Eugene Dunning - September 3 - 8:00 pm

  The styling, performance and price of this vehicle is outstanding. I have always liked to drive a car that turns heads, and this one certainly does. I purchased the chrome hub cabs which makes the car look even nicer and no one can believe they are hub caps and not wheels. This car rides smoothly and handles exceptionally well.

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  Very Good so far - 2004 Saturn VUE
  By Stan - September 3 - 6:13 pm

  We traded off our 1998 Chevrolet Blazer for this new Vue. The Vue handles far better on the icy roads than the Blazer ever did. The zip that the Vue has also far exceeds that of the Blazer. Shortly after getting our view we took a long trip. The Vue was extremely comfortable and pleasant to drive the entire trip. The Vue climbed hills like they were not even hills and we went for a scenic drive into the mountains to test it too. We wish the glass panel on the rear opened like the Blazers did, as that made getting into that area much easier. That is the only drawback so far.

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  Fuggetta Bouttit - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By its me - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Its allright at first, but then evrything starts falling apart, repair prices rise quickly, it was a horrible investment for us.

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  vue 4cyl one year later - 2003 Saturn VUE
  By KME - September 2 - 10:00 am

  no problems, great gas mileage, quiet engine, fun to drive (I have the 5-speed). The VUE handled very well this past winter in the snow ( I also have the ABS w/traction control). The VUE rides more like a car, not a truck.

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  Very versitile - 2005 Saturn VUE
  By Mike - August 31 - 8:30 pm

  This is my second VUE. Both manual for the mileage & reliability. I dont really like automatic transmissions. After 60,000 miles I planon keeping this for a long time. Traded 2003 as couldnt pass up on sweet factory incentives. Nice delivery vehicle for small business. Would like to have e-85 ethanol fuel capability or hydrogen in future.

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  Our 5th Saturn - 2007 Saturn VUE
  By Rob Thompson - August 30 - 9:50 am

  This is our 5th Saturn and our 1st. SUV. Im impressed with the comfort of the VUE. Having had 2 of the smaller Saturns and 2 of the L series larger Saturns. I thought that the ride would be rougher but have found it to be even better than the sedans. I really enjoy driving this vehicle and the handling is great. I look forward to many happy driving miles in the VUE.

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  Its worth it! - 2008 Saturn VUE
  By 08 Vue - August 28 - 6:50 pm

  I spent four months researching smaller SUVs. I actually ordered a CR-V in May, but it hadnt arrived when I accidentally found myself on a Saturn lot. Perfect car. Features are over the top. I chose the 4 cy so I cant complain about it. I found the car I was looking for. Great buy. Go get it.

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  Great Deal - 2008 Saturn VUE
  By Great Deal - August 28 - 6:33 pm

  This is our second Saturn. We previously had a Relay. Although it was reliable it had many small nagging issues. We are hoping that the VUE will be a step up from the Relay. The 4 cylinder provides ample power and the gas mileage is around 22 mpg. We expect this to get better as the vehicle breaks in. Time will tell if this was a good choice. At the price we paid, it seems we cant go wrong. The only option we ordered was the Prefered package.

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  First Time American Car Buyer - 2008 Saturn Outlook
  By carfanatic - August 28 - 5:06 pm

  This is my first ever American car. I have been accustom to high end European cars as I enjoyed their speed and performance. I decided to add the Saturn to my list and I have to admit, the ride is smooth, quiet and very comfortable. It has all the bells and wistles I need and more space than I can use. There is a delay in acceleration which is tolerable for now. The fuel consumption is good compared to my RR which I am giving up. After a month of driving the Outlook, I now find my 5 series and 996 a little too rough to drive. I feel a road trip coming up this summer!