Best Used Saturn Sedan - Ion, Aura, L-Series

Here we take a look at three highly-regarded Saturn sedans that mark an excellent value as used cars. In addition to holding a place as the best used sedans available from Saturn, these vehicles also represent the company’s rejuvenation and return to relevance in the North American market.

Aura, Ion, L-Series Background

From day one, Saturn was a car company that was designed to be different. Conceived in the mid-1980’s by General Motors, who were clearly losing the quality battle to upstart Japanese imports, Saturn was intended to help level out the playing field by providing the domestic market with higher quality entry-level vehicles. After a number of years spent planning and setting up the brand, Saturn debuted at the beginning of the 1990s. Not only were their vehicles different – plastic body panels and a single platform for each sedan, coupe and wagon – but Saturn also introduced a dealership atmosphere that was targeted at making first-time car buyers feel special, with a great deal of attention paid to customer relationships and building a network that would ensure drivers would return to Saturn again and again to buy their future vehicles.

While the first few generations of sedans produced by Saturn served to whet the public’s appetite, the company did not move forward with innovation at the pace that had been promised by their advertising materials. After their first decade in existence, it became clear that it would take more than good vibes and gimmicky designs to build a lasting brand. GM decided to use Saturn to import the vehicles that had been designed by German subsidiary Opel for the European market. This was intended to give the automaker a fresh face in North America and help it compete with companies like Volkswagen which had seized a sizeable portion of the market with their inexpensive, quality cars.

The first vehicle to make it across the ocean was the Opel Vectra, which was renamed the Saturn L-Series for the year 2000. The L-Series was larger and more powerful than any Saturn to have come before it, and it helped set the stage for the even more advanced sedans that were on their way. The Ion, which went on sale in 2003, would step in for the original compact four-door sold by Saturn and would share the same platform as that used by the Opel Astra. The Opel trifecta would be completed in 2007 when the Aura stepped in as the company’s new flagship sedan based on an updated version of the Vectra, which had started the entire trend.

2000 – 2005 Saturn L-Series / Used L-Series

When taking an automotive brand in a new direction, it helps to make a clean break from previous models while still maintaining a sense of the same design DNA so as not to alienate loyal customers. When Saturn unveiled the L-Series in 2000, the sedan was carefully styled so as to suggest a definite link to Saturns of the past while still managing to incorporate the best aspects of the Opel body shape.

The 2000 – 2005 Saturn L-Series offers much more power on tap than the sedan it replaces. Even the base engine is more powerful than the highest output Saturn engine found in the 1990’s. This 2.4 liter 4-cylinder motor cranks out 135 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough, then a 3.0 liter V6 producing 182 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque is also available. A 5-speed manual transmission can be had with the smaller motor, while a 4-speed automatic is optional. The V6 is automatic-only. While the Saturn L-Series is certainly no autobahn warrior, the 6-cylinder edition of the vehicle provides more than adequate power and is a clear improvement for the brand.

Inside, buyers will find a roomy interior that doesn’t overwhelm occupants with features and equipment but rather strives to be functional and comfortable. In 2003 the L-Series received a makeover both inside and out, and as such these editions of the automobile are more desirable on the secondhand market. Automatic climate control puts in an appearance as an option, and a full range of power equipment is also available. The L-Series provides a large trunk for its class, and passengers will enjoy the excellent room they are afforded in both the front and rear seats.

2003 – 2007 Saturn Ion / Used Ion

The 2003 – 2007 Saturn Ion was intended to replenish the company’s bare cupboard when it came to compact sedan offerings. The SC-Series and SL-Series had soldiered bravely on for many years but looked dated alongside more modern options from both Japanese and domestic automakers. The Ion’s fresh styling and all-new platform served to jumpstart the brand and interest a new generation of entry-level sedan buyers with its excellent value.

A single engine can be found in the Ion’s engine bay throughout its entire production run. Displacing 2.2 liters, the Ecotec 4-cylinder produces 140 horsepower (145 in 2007) and 145 lb-ft of torque. It also manages excellent fuel economy, displaying 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 33 miles per gallon during highway cruising. A 5-speed manual transmission is included in the base model’s pricing, but a 5-speed automatic can be added as an option. The Ion’s driving experience doesn’t exactly stop the press when it comes to high performance, but it does offer more than adequate handling and a ride that will please the vast majority of small sedan buyers.

The 2003 – 2007 Saturn Ion’s interior features a an instrument cluster which is mounted at the center of the dash, along with a design which emphasizes a more futuristic feel than is found in other Saturns. That being said, seating accommodations are a little less plush that other compacts, although the vehicle’s rear bench is raise up in order to provide a better line-of-sight for passengers. The Ion features several different trim levels, and moving up the ladder outfits the vehicle with amenities such as power door locks, a CD player, air conditioning and cruise control.

For those interested in a used sedan, the 2003 – 2007 Saturn Ion is worth investigating thanks to its low price, modern drivetrain and European styling influence.

2007+ Saturn Aura / Used Aura

The 2007 Saturn Aura is a clear visual triumph for the company. A bold face and oversized headlights that fuse elegantly into the front fenders help to present a vehicle that has clearly broken free of the company’s more restrained design efforts from the past. The Aura is different enough from other General Motors products that accusations of badge-engineering will fall upon deaf ears – the closest-looking cousin to the Aura is sold on an entirely different continent.

Mechanically, the Aura is also a definite achievement for Saturn. Buyers can choose between two V6 engines. The first is a 3.5 liter unit that generates 224 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, while the second bumps displacement up to 3.6 liters in order to produce a more potent 252 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. A 4-speed automatic is paired with the smaller motor while the greater of the two V6’s features a 6-speed automatic. A hybrid option is also available, although each of these two engines offers highway fuel economy in the 30 miles per gallon range.

The Aura can be equipped with a fairly wide range of features: power leather seats, automatic climate control, a 6 CD changer and a sunroof are available in addition to many other comforts and conveniences. Trim is applied at a higher standard than in older Saturns, and the vehicle feels a lot less slapped together than other GM products at its price point. Passenger room is good and improves upon the L-Series which it replaces - the Aura’s newer platform has enabled Saturn to make excellent use of space saving technology.

As a value-oriented mid-size automobile, the 2007 Saturn Aura’s mix of attractive exterior design flair and powerful V6 engines help it to stand out from other more anemic offerings in the used sedan segment.