2004 Saturn Ion consumer reviews

I really loved this car! The center console was a blessing for hiding EZPass and CDs, and the automatic tint rearview mirror I had was awesome at night with glare! The seats were pretty comfortable, no one ever complained on our 8 hour road trip. Most people were able to fall asleep while riding in it comfortably. If you were tall though, the back seat is not the place for you. *Pros: Comfortable seating (except for knees in the back seat), lots of head room, plenty of shoulder room, pretty easy to get into. *Cons: I also had a problem with leaky windows on rainy days sometimes, and there was a slight rattle somewhere in the dashboard. Now...the most important thing. This car is SAFE. I was hit at a high rate of speed in the driverside doors last week, and the car was claimed totalled due to the amount of damage. The driver sustained a scraped hand, and that's it. The titanium bars in the doors kept the door from fully crushing into the car, which kept the driver from getting hurt. The dashboard was crushed inward, but no parts flew out or caused extra debris. In the end, this car was the best car I've ever had, as it did it's job in keeping the people inside SAFE.

I owned a Saturn SC2 prior to this car, and I LOVED it. Hands down best car I have ever owned. So when I decided to start a family I picked the Ion, because it was a little sportier than the L series ( and my parents drive an L series so I wanted something different.) The interior is put together very poorly. I too hear strange rattles and the fabric does stain very easily. The interior looks awful and I almost never drink or eat in my car. The windows also leak. This makes me not want to own another Saturn. The gas mileage is so-so

I've owned this car since Feb 03, when I bought it new. It's an ION2 with the 5spd auto. It's not a bad car, but it doesn't stand out from the competition in any way other than the plastic side panels. The engine is powerful and smooth and has been reliable. The transmission is smooth, but the engine/tranny combo deliver worse fuel economy than the next size up (heavier) L-series with the same engine and 4-speed auto (1 less gear). The interior is a bit cramped and the seats aren't very comfortable. The fabric stains VERY easily. It's a little on the noisy side as well, with a few noisy vibrations I haven't been able to pin down. I've had all of the known problems (warped rotors after 9k miles, DRL going on, ingnition not working properly when the temps drop below freezing), but nothing major. If you've followed the life cycle of the ION, you've noted that it has been a work in progress with issues being addressed each year. The current ION is probably a competitive car, and if I owned an 06/07 ION, I might be willing to recommend it to a friend, but not the 03.

This Is My Second SATURN Car. This Car Is The Nicest SATURN I'll Ever Own. It Drives Very Sporty & Refined. Its A ION3 The Top Of The Line. It Sliver & Has A Spoiler & Every One Who Sees It. Ask Me What Kind Of Car Is That Or I Never Seen A Saturn Like That Before. I Love This Car. I Have An Automatic & The Gas Milage Is Very Good On It. I Will Always Stay In SATURN's family. U Will Never See Me Drive A HONDA OR TOYOTA. -SATURN FAN 4 LYFE