The compact ION continues in sedan and Quad Coupe versions; the latter comes with rear-hinged half-doors to ease entry and exit into and out of the back seat. Both sedans and coupes come powered by a 140-horsepower, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that's fitted to a five-speed manual gearbox. A sporty Red Line edition of the ION Quad Coupe offers a quicker 205-horsepower supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, among other upgrades. Many 2005 updates are aimed at helping to quell numerous quality and performance-related issues. For starters, General Motors' long running four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic gearbox becomes available in place of the VTi continuously variable transmission on coupes and the five-speed conventional automatic on sedans. A newly added acoustic engine cover, along with so-called Quiet Steel for the plenum and dashboard are said to help reduce the vehicle's oft-criticized noise, vibration, and harshness. New calibrations for the electric power steering system are claimed to offer a better on-center feel, while a number of minor chassis upgrades are made to improve the car's ride and handling characteristics. Plus, revised seats are added to the ION 2 and 3 models, along with the larger four-spoke steering wheel that was featured on last year's Red Line version. Sedans now come with a beefier-looking front fascia and grille.
2004 Saturn ION Quad Coupe by Bengt Halvorson (10/27/2003) Positively charged, but it could use a little more spark.
L-Series
Saturn's largest car limps along for 2005, suffering from declining sales and awaiting a redesign, perhaps as early as 2006, as an all-new model that will be built off of General Motors' soon-to-be-ubiquitous Epsilon platform (which now provides the architecture for the Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, and Saab 9-3). Only the L300 sedan will be offered for 2005, powered by a 182-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. While the car's handling characteristics are a bit sportier than with many sedans, this nuance seems to have been lost on shoppers who couldn't get past its drawbacks, including lackluster styling, overall. Anti-lock brakes, traction control and side-curtain airbags are standard.
Relay
2005 Saturn RELAY |
Along with its other General Motors minivan derivatives, the Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana SV-6, the new-for-2005 Saturn Relay offers SUV-flavored styling and a slightly higher ride height to help bring buyers into the fold who wouldn't otherwise be caught dead driving a traditional minivan. To this end, GM is referring to its amalgam of people movers as "crossover sport vans," though the vehicles' minivan-exclusive rear sliding doors would tend to give away their true identities. The seven-passenger Relay carries its own interior and exterior styling touches and equipment levels. As with its corporate cousins, a 200-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine is the only available powerplant. A four-speed automatic transmission drives either the front wheels, or all four in AWD versions. Anti-lock disc brakes come standard. An enhanced traction control system that's said to improve vehicle launch on all road surfaces is optional, as is GM's StabiliTrak stability control system.
VUE
2004 Saturn VUE |
Saturn's boxy looking mid-size sport-utility vehicle offers a choice of a standard 143-horsepower 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that works hard to get the vehicle up to speed or a more satisfying 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6; both come mated to a five-speed-automatic transmission. For 2005, an optional four-speed automatic gearbox replaces the former continuously variable automatic on the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive model. A sporty Red Line model comes with a stiffer suspension, 18-inch tires and body moldings. A number of minor styling upgrades for '05 include chrome headlamp bezels added to V-6 models, while the latest generation of the OnStar communications system includes improved hands-free operation.
2004 Saturn VUE Red Line by Paul Wiley Cockerham (6/21/2004) The civilized slam, with help from Honda.
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