Saturn continued to tinker with the Ion in 2006 and made solid progress. Perhaps the most drastic change came from eliminating the Sedan 1 and creating separate automatic and manual versions for each remaining non-Red Line trim. This brought the total trim count to 8, including the Ion 2 Sedan automatic, Ion 2 Sedan manual, Ion 3 Sedan automatic, Ion 3 Sedan manual, Ion 2 Coupe automatic, Ion 2 Coupe manual, Ion 3 Coupe automatic, and Ion 3 Coupe manual. In addition, the Ion 3 sedans and Ion 3 coupes came with an optional 2.4 L, 170 hp I4 engine, also known as the Enhanced Performance Package. All trims still come with a standard 2.2 L, 140 hp I4 engine with either 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual. Cargo space still comes out to 14.7 cubic feet for the sedans and 14.2 cubic feet for the coupes while gas mileage averages out across the trims at around 25 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway. Saturn dropped prices even more and altered the center dash for more interior room. The coupes still have the unique 4 door design with 2 larger doors in front and 2 adjacent smaller doors for easier access to the back.
Overall, reviewers appreciate the Ion's evolution into a well-balanced, affordable compact with plenty of optional features. Handling and steering have improved without sacrificing the trademark features that gained the Ion a loyal following. Some drivers would still like to see the Saturn Ion catch up to the competition with interior design and materials. However, despite the minor qualms, the public agrees that the 2006 version represents the best Ion yet.