2006 Saturn ION

The compact Saturn Ion remains fairly unique among small, economical cars, with such things as a dent-resistant plastic body and a "down-home" reputation because it's built in Spring Hill, Tenn.

The Saturn debuted in 1990 as an economical import beater. But then General Motors concentrated on profitable trucks and kept selling basically the same Saturn for more than a decade, while Asian rivals kept introducing improved models.

The Saturn was decent, but not much more, with noisy engines, cheap controls and cheesy interiors. The sedan looked like a poorly scaled down Oldsmobile. Keeping the car popular were a friendly dealer network, fairly low prices, good fuel economy and that heavily promoted down-home reputation.

The slightly larger, restyled 2003 Saturn was the first significantly new and best-looking Saturn since the car's introduction, and a high-performance Red Line coupe arrived for 2004. The 2005 Saturn was given revised front styling, improved steering and new seats. A four-speed automatic transmission replaced a five-speed and continuously variable automatics for regular Ion coupe and sedan models because, curiously, Saturn said the four-speed provided better performance and economy. (The opposite usually is true.)

Despite a faltering market for domestic cars, Saturn sales held up reasonably well through the first 10 months this year, with sales dipping to 183,823 units from 186,032 in the same 2004 period.

The base Ion 1 Saturn Ion has been dropped for 2006, so Saturns come as the $11,925-$13,825 Ion 2 sedan and coupe and much better equipped $14,325-$16,525 Ion 3 coupe and sedan.

There's also a $19,425 supercharged 205-horsepower Red Line coupe (Aug. 7 AutoTimes). It has sizzling performance and a slightly racier look, but comes only with a manual transmission. All Saturn coupes have small rear-hinged doors for easier rear seat access, although they don't open or close independently of the front doors.

The big news for 2006 is availability of a $995 Enhanced Performance package, available for the Ion 3 coupe and sedan. It can be had with either a short-throw five-speed manual gearbox or the efficient four-speed automatic -- thus opening up availability of a higher-performance Saturn coupe and sedan with both transmissions. My test car had the manual, which was fun to shift. It works with a clutch that has a light action but a long throw.

The package replaces the Ion's standard 2.2-liter 140-horsepower four-cylinder engine with a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower four-cylinder with variable valve timing. It provides quicker acceleration off the line and rapid merging and highway passing.

The package also contains a sport suspension and anti-lock brakes with traction control. However, the package has 16-inch wheels, not the 17-inchers and wider tires found on the Red Line.

The Ion 2 and 3 have decent performance with the 140-horsepower engine, which allows the best estimated fuel economy: 26 mpg in the city and 35 on highways with the manual and 25 and 33 with the automatic.

The new 170-horsepower engine delivers 25 city, 34 highway with the manual. There's no economy figures yet with the automatic, but they're probably close to those of the manual gearbox version. The Red Line provides 23 city, 29 highway.

Other 2006 Saturn changes include a standard OnStar assistance system and redesigned center console/stack that provides more knee and leg clearance and cockpit storage area. There's also a new radio family with auxiliary input jack for portable audio players, new five-spoke alloy wheels for the Ion 3, redone 17-inch alloy wheels for the Red Line and combined XM Satellite Radio/OnStar antenna.

Also new (except for the Red Line) is a passenger sensing system that turns off the right front air bag if the passenger seat is occupied by a child or is empty.

All regular Ion 2 and 3 versions are enjoyable because they aren't too heavy and have steering with a tight turning radius and a supple suspension that only allows bad bumps to be mildly felt.

The Enhanced Performance Package makes the Ion 3 more of a kick to drive, with its faster acceleration, quick steering, more athletic handling with no sacrifice in ride comfort and good stopping ability. The brake pedal is soft, but has a linear action to allow smooth stops.

Gauges are located in a central dashboard pod, as if the car were designed to be sold in various world markets with right- and left-hand steering wheel locations. However, they're large, easily read gauges. Front/rear cupholders call for a fairly long reach, and the small covered console storage bin is set too far back to be easily reached. But climate control and audio system controls are easy to use.

There's good all-around visibility from the driver's seat, although the recessed outside door handles are somewhat awkward to use, as are the recessed inside ones. Four tall adults fit, and front occupants sit in seats that offer moderately good side support in curves. The interior is quiet, except that all engines are rather noisy during hard acceleration.

There's good room up front, but a long-legged rear occupant behind a driver will want more space if a driver shoves his seat about halfway back.

The large trunk has a wide, but moderately high, opening. Rear seatbacks can be flipped forward to significantly enlarge the cargo area, but should sit flatter when folded forward. The unfinished trunk lid interior gives it a rough look that a simple piece of thin material would hide. And the lid has no pull-down item to avoid getting hands dirty on the outside of it.

Want to peek at the engine? Figure on spending lots of time finding the outside hood latch, even with the "help'' of the owner's manual.

The Saturn has come a long way in the past few years after a long period of neglect and should be on the shopping list of compact car buyers. 

2006 SATURN ION 

PRICES
$11,925-$19,425

LIKES
New performance package. Fuel-stingy. Fun to drive. Good ride.

DISLIKES
Somewhat tight back seat. Soft brake pedal. Larger door handles needed.