Three Doors

For some reason, automotive journalists have always disliked the Saturn S-series.  Ever since the brand was born in 1991, the little subcompact four-door sedans and two-door coupes have been criticized by the motoring press as being unambitious, poor performers, and downright dull.

Funny thing is, the lack of critical acclaim hasn’t hurt Saturn’s fortunes in the least.  The lineup has expanded to include a larger sedan and wagon and just this year Saturn debuted its first sport-utility vehicle.  It wasn’t that long ago that Saturn built its two-millionth car.  With things so rosy, it was time for Saturn to go back to the drawing board on the car that began its tradition of repeated dissings by the media in the first place.  Enter the new Saturn ION.

The ION replaced the bread-and-butter S-series in 2003, and it wasn’t an easy task.  With the quantum leaps in quality and amenities made by subcompact Hondas and Toyotas in recent years, Saturn had to find a way to remain competitive, add some much-needed sizzle to the lineup, and retain its loyal buyers, all with the same car.  Better yet, it appears that the ION succeeds at each of these goals.  For 2004, the new car gets some interior tweaks and a high performance Red Line version of the coupe.

The first and most obvious improvement over Saturns of old is the design.  The ION has shades of Infiniti and Oldsmobile in its new face, but it doesn’t copy anyone in particular.  The swept-back look of the front end meets a vertical rear-door cutline for an interesting silhouette, and the tail is angular and tall.  The 16″ wheels have an interesting cross-shaped hub.  The three-door coupe has become a Quad Coupe, with a half-door (Saturn calls them “rear-access doors,” or RADs for short) on each side to improve access to the rear seat.  It also has distinctive styling from the sedan.  Plastic body panels attached to a steel spaceframe, a Saturn trademark, are used on both models.  In addition to the striking design, ION takes personalization to new heights.  The roof rail panels which arch over the windows from A-pillar to C-pillar are available in contrasting or matching colors from the factory, and additional panels can be purchased in a variety of patterns and colors and changed like cell-phone faces, according to the ION driver’s mood.  Leopard, Blue Bubble, Silver Braid and Brushed Steel are just the first patterns available for 2003.  Admit it; you’ve always wanted to put leopard spots on your car, just for a while, haven’t you?

There are more removable panels inside the ION.  The trim surrounding the shifter, radio controls, and instrument pod can be swapped out to match the arch-panels outside the car.  Don’t worry about getting bored of an overly quirky pattern; they pop in and out easily.  Further distinguishing the interior, the instrument panel is centrally located.  The Toyota ECHO also uses this gimmick.  It’s not as disorienting as you’d expect; getting used to the gauges being in the center doesn’t take long.  More distracting is the thick A-pillar, which can block forward visibility.  The steering wheel is an unusual affair, with a large round center hub and relatively narrow diameter.  It looks neat but we wish it were wider.  The ION is well-appointed inside, and the CD player is MP3-ready.  XM satellite radio is also available.

Under the hood is an all-new “Ecotec” 2.2 liter four-cylinder.  GM plans to use this small engine in several car lines; it’s currently shared with the four-cylinder Saturn L-Series and the compact Chevy Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire.  With 140 horsepower on tap, it keeps up with traffic easily, but the Saturn is a commuter at heart.  The little all-aluminum sixteen-valve engine is quiet and efficient, and meets Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standards.  A clever noise-reducing innovation that most owners will likely never notice is the mounting of engine accessories such as the alternator and air conditioning compressor directly to the engine block, rather than using brackets that may transmit noise.  Saturn isn’t alone in using a simplified accessory system, but it helps to keep the ION feeling more expensive than it is.  The engine isn’t a powerhouse, but high-rpm street combat is anathema to Saturns anyway.  The engine’s unwillingness to pump out the horses at high revs will be a moot point to most owners.  A five-speed transmission built by Getrag is standard, and it’s a bit notchier than we’d like thanks to a cable-operated shifter.  The five-speed automatic saps some power though, and we preferred the stick.  Later in the year, the ION will share the VUE’s continuously variable transmission.

The suspension is more conventional.  Struts are used up front, with a semi-independent torsion beam rear end.  The torsion beams in the rear do more for improving space in the trunk than they do for ultimate handling performance.  Nevertheless, the ION is decent over the road, and confident on the freeway thanks to a long wheelbase (compared to the competition) and a wide track.  Balance is improved by mounting the battery in the trunk.  Anti-lock brakes are optional.

Another thing most buyers won’t notice is the electric power steering.  It feels no different from a conventional hydraulic system, but Saturn says that fuel economy is improved because the engine has one less pump to sap its power.

One of the happiest aspects of the new Saturn is the price.  The sedan has an MSRP of $10,995, with three simple trim levels (called 1, 2 and 3) available.  The ION1 is a stripped-out base model, but the sub-$14,000 ION 2 has air conditioning and a CD player standard.  IONs can be optioned to rival the best competitors, too.  Side-curtain airbags, a six-disc CD changer, auto-dim mirrors, and GM’s OnStar emergency service system are all available.  It all adds up to one of the better small sedans available for 2003.  Never thought you’d hear one of us car writers say that about a Saturn, did you?

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Saturn ION.
Length:     184.5 in.
Width:        67.2 in.
Height:        57.4 in.
Wheelbase:    103.2 in.
Curb weight:    2766 lb.
Cargo space:    14.7 cu.ft.
Base price:    $10,995 (sedan)
Engine:     2.2 liter 16-valve inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain:     five-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:     140 @ 5800
Torque:     145 @ 4400
Fuel capacity:    13.5 gal.
Est. mileage:    24/32