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After
12 years and Saturn's same, boring, small car - the S-Series - many
buyers, who once thought of the automaker as slightly quirky, now see it
as unexciting. In other words, Saturn no longer has buzz.
GM is hoping to change that with the introduction of the Ion, a funky
little sedan that replaces the long-in-the-tooth S-Series.
The Ion uses GM's new Delta platform, which will eventually spawn an
all-new Chevrolet Cavalier for 2005.
The Ion's construction is similar to that of the S-Series. Plastic outer
skins that resist dents are hung on a steel space-frame. It is unique to
Saturn and remains a strong selling point.
The panels on the new Ion have a fresh, stylish air. One co-worker mistook
the Ion for an expensive car, until he saw the Saturn's nameplate. It is
distinctive, and gives the car some personality, something the old
S-Series lacked severely.
Inside, the funkiness continues, with a center-mounted gauge cluster. This
is a hot trend among small car designs, with Toyota and the Mini both
offering models with center-mounted gauges. The Ion's white-faced gauges
are easy to read once you get used to the location. The placement allows
Saturn to use a slightly smaller steering wheel, which increases space for
the driver, and improves the driver's view.
The AM/FM/cassette/CD audio system is mounted high on the dash, where it's
easy to reach. Unfortunately, the radio is designed so that too many
functions use the same button design. That makes the radio hard to use
without taking your eyes off the road.
The climate control was excellent, heating very quickly on single-digit
mornings.
The two air vents by the steering wheel can be aimed easily to warm your
hands when it is cold outside. The climate controls are easy to use.
Most of the car's controls are in the center of the dashboard, where all
the night lighting is concentrated. The left side of the dashboard is
dark. That's not a problem with safety, but it is impossible to see the
few switches on the left, (such as the power windows and door locks) at
night, a minor nuisance.
But the Ion's interior suffers from a plastic, down-scale ambience, which
isn't helped by its mediocre assembly quality.
The Ion is longer, wider and taller than the old S-Series and the car
feels roomy for its size. Leg, shoulder and head room are all excellent.
Rear seat space is about average for the class. The front seats adjust for
height, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The seats
felt flat, but the cloth upholstery felt durable.
What's hard to quibble with is the car's performance, which is greatly
improved.
For 2002, the S-Series had a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine in either 100
or 124 horsepower versions. For 2003, the Ion comes with a single motor,
the new 140 horsepower, 2.2-liter EcoTec dual-overhead-cam 4-cylinder that
can be teamed with a 5 -speed manual or a 5-speed automatic, the first one
offered in an economy car. It gives the engine good pulling power at
speed.
Although quieter than the old Saturn engine, it's not as quiet as some of
its competitors. But the noise it makes is sexy enough and rarely gets
tiring. Cabin noise is well-controlled otherwise.
Handling is a solid B-plus.
There is body lean in corners, but the Ion hangs in there a lot longer
than you'd expect. The ride is firm, but doesn't transmit road shock to
the cabin. There's also little of the softness that is common to its Asian
small-car competition. But the Firestone Firehawk tires felt squirmy at
times. Overall, handling was decent, but not sporty.
The Ion is the first domestic GM car to use a speed-sensitive electronic
power steering, which eliminates the need for a power steering pump.
Weighting is good, but it conveys little road feel.
The car is pretty standard mechanically, with an independent front
suspension and a torsion-beam suspension in the rear. There are stabilizer
bars front and rear. Brakes are front disc with rear drums. Anti-lock
brakes with traction control are a $400 option.
Dual-stage front airbags are standard, with side curtain airbags optional.
Fuel economy was better than I expected, given this car's pulling power.
The EPA rates the Ion at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway. A mix of city with
some highway driving brought a respectable 27 mpg on regular gas.
One quirky feature allows customers to customize their Ion. The instrument
bezel in the center of the dashboard as well the exterior trim rail that
frames the doors can be swapped for patterns, including leopard, blue
bubble, carbon fiber and brushed steel. Neat idea.
Trunk space is a generous 14.5 cubic feet and features split-folding rear
seats. Saturn provides controls for folding the seats from the trunk.
The Ion comes in three trim levels. All Ions get the same motor, but the
base car (the Ion 1) gets a five-speed manual and crank windows and
14-inch wheels. It starts at $11,995.
Step up to the mid-level car (the Ion 2) and you'll get larger 15-inch
wheels and an optional convenience package of power windows, mirrors and
cruise control. That starts at $13,995.
Our test car was the top-of-the-line (Ion 3) which basically makes most of
the optional items of the Ion 2 standard. Our test car's base price was
$16,395. Options included floor mats and anti-lock brakes with traction
control. Bottom line was $16,875.
With solid handling, first-in-class engineering, and just a bit of
quirkiness, Saturn's small car has lost some of its blandness, giving
small-car shoppers a reason to check out Saturn once again. Larry Printz
The Morning Call
 Saturn
ION Level 2 Sedan |
2003 | Green | $11,988 |
9,011 M |
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Saturn ION
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