2006 Saturn Ion Review
Saturn's strength has always been its dealers. It's Saturn's car that haven't always measured up, particularly in comfort and refinement. GM's youngest car division is working to remedy this, so while the Saturn dealership experience remains as good as it ever was, Saturn's cars are now better than they ever have been.
The Saturn Ion is a good example of that. When it appeared in 2003, the Ion represented a major improvement over the old Saturn S-series. Yet our impressions of it were negative. We found the seats uncomfortable and its levels of refinement were average at best. However, Saturn has continued to update and refine the Ion over the past three model years, and we came away with positive impressions of the current models. Most of the things we complained about have been changed and refinement has been improved overall.
The most substantial changes came for 2005: Larger and more supportive seats have replaced the barstools used previously, and a larger steering wheel provides a more comfortable grip. Suspension tweaks have resulted in a smoother and quieter car that's more pleasant in everyday use. At the same time, the handling is sharper, making it more fun to drive. A new four-speed automatic built by GM replaces outsourced transmissions that proved problematic. And the appearance of the sedan was greatly improved with a new grille.
The improvements continued for 2006: Saturn has reconfigured the center dash to provide more room for storage and to enhance legroom. OnStar is now standard on all Ions. A larger, more powerful engine is available. Saturn has dropped the base-level sedan with its narrow seats, and a new Enhanced Performance Package has been added to bridge the gap between the base-engine/base suspension models and the Ion Red Line sport compact. Prices have been reduced, especially at the lower end of the line, where an 2006 Ion 2 sedan lists for $2,455 less than a comparable '05 model.
Meanwhile, all of the Ion's best features remain unchanged. The sedan offers plenty of interior and luggage room for a reasonable price. The Quad Coupe features innovative dual rear-access doors, like those on an extended-cab pickup, that make it easy to load and unload cargo. We found we could stuff large objects into the back seat of a Saturn that would not go into a traditional two-door coupe.
The Red Line coupe features a 205-horsepower supercharged engine good for 0-60 mph in about 6.3 seconds. We found it fun to drive, with strong throttle response and a sporty exhaust note. It comes with Recaro seats that provide comfortable support in corners.
And then, of course, there's that Saturn dealership experience. Surveys show that Saturn buyers tend to be more satisfied with their dealers in terms of the sales and service experience than buyers of other brands. Saturn tends to be the top-scoring non-luxury brand in these types of surveys.
The 2006 Saturn Ion is available as a four-door sedan or an innovative coupe, which Saturn calls a Quad Coupe for its unusual reverse-opening rear doors. Picture the door arrangement on an extended-cab pickup, but with more style.
The base engine for the Ion is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder rated at 140 horsepower. New for 2006 is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated 170 horsepower. The top-performing Red Line model comes with a supercharged 2.0-liter four rated 205 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and an automatic transmission is optional ($900).
For 2006, the sedan is offered in two trim levels, called Ion 2 and Ion 3. Quad Coupes come in Ion 2, Ion 3, and Red Line trim.
The Ion 2 sedan ($11,925) and Quad Coupe ($12,925) come with air conditioning, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, tilt steering, height-adjustable driver's seat, an immobilizing anti-theft system, and 195/60 tires on 15-inch steel wheels. OnStar, previously a $695 option, is now standard as well. A Preferred Package ($875) adds cruise control, power windows, mirrors and locks. Aluminum wheels are also available ($440).
The Saturn Ion sedan is stylish and draws favorable comments on the street. The bright metal grille with the Saturn logo front-and-center that were added for 2005 give the Ion a more conventional look, but it's less polarizing (and better looking) than the previous design with its heavy bright bar over a blacked-out slot just above the bumper.
The windshield slopes dramatically, helping the relatively tall Ion look sleek. And the Ion does stand tall, at 57.4 inches. The sedan's roof curves heavily down to the high trunk line, almost giving it the appearance of a hatchback rather than a traditional sedan. We found the Ion's small, lever-style door handles relatively hard to grasp.
The Quad Coupe breathes through a blacked-out slot above the bumper and a larger rectangular scoop below, but it looks simple, functional, and attractive. Red Line models have three big openings below the bumper.
The Quad Coupe gets its name from a pair of mini-doors behind the main portals that open on rear-mounted hinges, in much the same way as the auxiliary doors on an extended-cab pickup. The rear doors have no exterior handles to compromise the coupe's sporty styling; and when they are open, there's no B-pillar in the opening, which makes access to the rear seat very easy for such a small car. It's an innovative design that enhances the practicality of this sport coupe. The front passenger seat folds flat, improving utility further. Saturn likes to demonstrate that it's possible to stuff a nine-foot kayak into the coupe through its doors, a feat that would be plenty tough for many SUVs, let alone other compact coupes. You may not find the need to stuff a kayak in your car, but you may occasionally need to haul something big and the Quad Coupe's rear access doors will be helpful.
Ion's interior looks stylish and youthful, with a design theme that features interlocking half circles and an assortment of textures. We weren't happy with the comfort nor the quality of the Ion interior when the model first appeared in 2003, but Saturn has made significant changes since then.
The biggest of these changes came for 2005, when larger and more substantial seats replaced the original flat and skimpy perches. This represented a vast improvement, though we'd still like more side support. However, they do feature a height adjustment via a mechanical jacking system something like Volkswagen's. The Red Line coupe comes with excellent Recaro seats, but they are best suited for drivers with narrow hips.
Textures and materials were upgraded for 2005 and the overall effect is nice. Chrome rings adorn the instruments and vents. The four-spoke steering wheel feels nice to the touch and is larger in diameter than previously, making it more comfortable to hold. The shifter and cruise controls were improved as well.
For 2006, Saturn has addressed the center stack and console, adding storage space above the radio while increasing inboard clearance for knees. The standard fabric in Ion 3 has been upgraded for 2006 as well.
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