Despite some improvements in interior materials, the Ion remains a generally substandard economy car that's outclassed by nearly every other compact sedan and coupe on the market.

2004 Highlights

Saturn has upgraded the Ion with new fabrics, improved plastics and a new radio with MP3 and satellite radio capability. The electric steering has been revised for improved feel at highway speeds, while the sedan's five-speed automatic and the coupe's CVT have been recalibrated for improved gear selection and response. Finally, Saturn has installed additional sound-deadening material to reduce cabin noise. A Special Edition version of the sedan provides black exterior paint, distinctive 16-inch wheels and a two-tone interior.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2004 Saturn ION.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.4299 reviews

Write a review See all 299 reviews

5(63%)

4(24%)

3(9%)

2(2%)

1(2%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

Hate to see it go!

Beenie,07/30/2015

I purchased my Saturn Ion Quad Coupe brand-new in 2004. I previously drove '93 and '99 Saturn SC2 coupes and had no major problems. I kept my Ion much longer than my other 2 Saturns for various reasons. I was sorry that GM discontinued the Saturn line in 2009; the brand had high customer loyalty. If the Saturn brand hadn't been closed, I'd have bought another one. After 11 years and 126K

Overall a great car

dagda567,05/21/2011

We bought the ion for a nice, cheap car with good gas mileage. My fiance loves the styling and the interior, although to me the exterior looks kinda odd. The seats are fine for around town but i wouldn't want to take a road trip in it. The dash console position is strange but I actually kinda like it. Controls are all very easy to reach and the gas mileage is great. For an economy car it

Great Car for the Price!

Sarah,03/30/2005

I recently bought my first Saturn, an ION 1. Overall, I am very pleased with the car. It has nice pickup and the turning radius is amazing! The body style is very nice and looks much more expensive than many other economy cars (though it is very inexpensive). I love the alloy wheels (it was a special order) and nice roomy interior. The headlights are not very bright. Overall, a

I'm gonna miss this car

captreynolds,08/14/2013

I bought this car 4 years ago with 59K miles already on it. 2 months ago, I totalled it in a rollover. First off, I'm completely unscathed--I had a couple minor cuts and a little whiplash. Secondly, in 4 years, I took this car to 147K miles--nearly 90K miles--and I had one major repair around 125K, when my timing belt tensioner went out. I had another repair bill over a grand about 5K

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Features & Specs

MPG

20 city / 30 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed automatic

Gas

140 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG

20 city / 30 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed automatic

Gas

140 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG

20 city / 30 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed automatic

Gas

140 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG

23 city / 32 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed manual

Gas

140 hp @ 5800 rpm

See all Used 2004 Saturn ION features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
Passenger3 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Poor
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Not Tested

More about the 2004 Saturn ION

Used 2004 Saturn ION Overview

The Used 2004 Saturn ION is offered in the following submodels: ION Sedan, ION Red Line, ION Coupe. Available styles include Red Line 4dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl S/C 5M), 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A), 3 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A), 1 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A), 3 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5A), 3 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl CVT), 1 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M), 2 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl CVT), 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M), 3 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M), 2 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5A), 3 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M), and 2 4dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M).

What's a good price on a Used 2004 Saturn ION?

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Which used 2004 Saturn IONS are available in my area?

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Find a used Saturn ION for sale - 6 great deals out of 17 listings starting at $21,598.

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Should I lease or buy a 2004 Saturn ION?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Check out Saturn lease specials
Check out Saturn ION lease specials

Used 2004 Saturn ION