2004 SATURN ION NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Saturn Ion?
The Saturn Ion roars into 2004 with a supercharged performance version called the Red Line. Force-fed air produces 205 horsepower from the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which is mated to a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. Lowered ride height and suspension modifications, beefier brakes, 17-inch wheels shod with speed-rated tires, Recaro sport seats in an all-black interior, a rear spoiler and special badging further distinguish this performance-tuned model. You can also choose a Special Edition version of the Ion sedan that features black exterior paint, unique 16-inch wheels and a black and beige interior with leather seating, automatic-dimming mirror, compass, outside temperature gauge and map lights. The rest of the Ion lineup benefits from revised interior materials, improved noise levels and a CD player with MP3 format capability. Finally, XM satellite radio is a new option for the year.

Advantages of the 2004 Saturn Ion:

• No-hassle buying experience
• Clamshell-style doors of the quad coupe allow for easier access to the rear seat
• Dent- and rust-resistant plastic body panels

Objections to the 2004 Saturn Ion:

• Poor fit and finish
• Loud, unrefined powertrain
• Uncomfortable rear seats

Editor's Advice:
The Saturn Ion replaced the 13-year-old S-Series in 2003, and was heralded by its maker as a wonderful new standard-bearer in the economy car class. It is anything but. We find the Ion to be poorly executed; a perfect example of the domestic automobile industry’s arrogance. It rides and drives like it’s decades old, with a beam rear axle and drum rear brakes. The electric power steering is devoid of road feel, and it’s hard to make the small course corrections that all cars require, resulting in plenty of unsettling lane hunt as you travel down the road. The rear seat is uncomfortable and suffers a severe lack of legroom when tall front seat occupants have made enough space for themselves. Refinement is also lacking, in terms of powertrain, assembly quality and the materials used to construct the cabin. Saturn claims to have made improvements to the steering and interior for 2004, but we don’t think anything short of a trip back to the drawing board will help the Saturn Ion. The new Red Line model sounds impressive on paper, but only a test drive will determine whether it should be considered over models such as the Dodge Neon SRT-4, the Mini Cooper S and others. You know, it’s almost as though Saturn’s designers and engineers didn’t spend a single second driving and examining the competition before unleashing the Ion. With outstanding segment entries such as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda Protégé and Mitsubishi Lancer readily available to General Motors for benchmarking purposes, this could not possibly be the case, could it?