General Motors · 2002–2007

Saturn Ion

The Saturn Ion is a compact car sold by Saturn between the 2003 and 2007 model years. Based on the GM Delta platform, the Ion replaced the Saturn S-Series in 2002, and was replaced by the new Saturn Astra in 2008. Production of the Ion ended on March 29, 2007. The Ion was the last Saturn passenger car built at the Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant which was originally linked to the company's branding, with Saturn owners attending "homecoming" events at the plant.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Saturn S-Series · Successor: Opel Astra H

All General Motors Saturn Ion data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Trim levels

The Saturn Ion was offered in three trim "Levels": Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, as well as a "Red Line" trim (in later model years). The Level 1 trim, only offered as a four-door sedan, was the entry-level Ion trim. It included features such as cloth seating surfaces, 14" tires and steel wheels with plastic wheel covers, manual windows and door locks, an AM/FM stereo radio with a four-speaker audio system, a heater (no standard air conditioning), a 2.2L dual overhead cam (DOHC) inline four-cylinder (I4) gasoline engine, and a five-speed manual transmission. The Level 1 trim was discontinued in later model years of the Ion. The Level 2 trim was the entry-level Quad Coupe trim, and the upgraded trim for the four-door sedan. It included features such as upgraded 15" tires and steel wheels and plastic wheel covers, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo with a single-disc CD player (which also included an auxiliary audio input jack in later model years). The Level 3 was the top-of-the-line trim for both the Quad Coupe and the four-door sedan. It added more convenience items such as power windows and door locks, keyless entry, 16" tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, upgraded cloth seating surfaces, and an AM/FM stereo with both cassette and single-disc CD players (later, an AM/FM stereo with satellite option, a single-disc CD/MP3 player, and an auxiliary audio input jack). The Red Line was the performance-oriented trim of the Ion, only available as a Quad Coupe. It featured a 2.0L supercharged I4 gasoline engine, a unique body kit and front grille, unique aluminum-alloy wheels, unique cloth seating surfaces, and a rear spoiler.

History

=== 2003–2004 === The 2003 Saturn Ion quad coupe production car first appeared at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. The 2003 Ion came standard with a 2.2 L 140 hp (104 kW) DOHC Ecotec I4 engine. The Ion sedan went on sale in mid-October 2002, and the quad coupe went on sale in early 2003. The Ion's instrument panel was mounted on the top center of the dashboard, rather than behind the steering wheel. The Ion is also available in sedan level 1, 2, or 3; level three signified a more user friendly setup with power windows and power locks, while lower levels included crank windows and plastic wheel covers. Other extras included fog lights, sunroof, and spoiler. The Saturn Ion Quad Coupe has half-sized rear clamshell doors while the sedan has conventionally hinged doors. A Getrag F23 5-speed manual or an Aisin AF33 5-speed automatic transmission were available. The compact 5-speed automatic had several unique characteristics. The transmission lacked an overdrive, allowing for five forward gears to be packaged in the size of a typical four-speed manual gearbox, both providing close gear ratios for better acceleration and fuel efficiency while eliminating the heat and parasitic loss generated by the additional planetary gearset. The unit was also "fill-for-life," meaning that it was not intended to be serviced for the life of the vehicle. The 2003 and 2004 Ion Coupes were available with the VTi continuously variable transmission or a Getrag F23 5-speed manual. For 2004, Saturn also re-calibrated the electric power steering, as well as upgraded interior materials, and offered new sound systems. 2005–2006. In 2005, the Aisin 5-speed automatic transmission was discontinued. The VTi CVT used in the quad-coupes between 2002 and 2004 was also discontinued. GM's 4-speed 4T4

Safety

=== Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) === IIHS only tested the 4-door sedan version. It did not test coupe versions of the Ion. NHTSA. === Recall === In February 2014, the Ion was added to a list of General Motors cars recalled due to a faulty ignition switch. 13 deaths were found to have been caused by the defect in Chevrolet Cobalt models, prompting the recall of the Ion and other related GM vehicles.

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Specifications

name: Saturn Ion
Manufacturer: Saturn Corporation (General Motors)
Production: 2002–March 29, 2007
Model years: 2003–2007
Assembly: United States: Spring Hill, Tennessee
Class: Compact car
Body style: 4-door sedan, 4-door quad coupe
Platform: GM Delta platform/GMX357
Related: Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Opel Astra
Layout: Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine: 2.2 L L61 I4 (gasoline), 2.4 L LE5 I4 (gasoline), 2.0 L LSJ s/c I4 (gasoline)
Transmission: 5-speed Getrag F23 manual, 5-speed Getrag F35 manual, 4-speed GM 4T45-E automatic, 5-speed Aisin AF33 automatic, CVT VTi automatic
Wheelbase: 103.2 in (sedan), 103.2 in (coupe), 103.5 in (Red Line)
Length: 184.5 in (sedan), 185.0 in (coupe), 185.0 in (Red Line)
Width: 67.2 in (sedan), 67.9 in (coupe), 67.9 in (Red Line)
Height: 57.4 in (sedan), 56.0 in (coupe), 55.6 in (Red Line)
Kerb weight: 2600 -
Predecessor: Saturn S-Series
Successor: Saturn Astra