Saturn has put some finishing touches onto the Ion for the line's final model year in 2007. First, base model engines get a 5 hp boost to 145 hp. In addition, the Enhanced Performance Package on the Ion 3's gets a 5 hp boost from 170 hp to 175 hp. Otherwise, Saturn has maintained the 9 trims (including the Red Line Coupe) from 2006: manual or automatic Ion 2 Sedans, manual or automatic Ion 2 Coupes, manual or automatic Ion 3 Sedans, and manual or automatic Ion 3 Coupes.
The sedans still seat 5 while the coupes seat 4 and maintain the 4 door design that increases accessibility to the back. Gas consumption across all trims averages out to the mid 20's (mpg) in the city, low to mid 30's on the highway. Automatic models have 4 speed transmission while manual models use 5 speeds. Air conditioning, power door locks, and cd player come standard in all trims, while sunroof, ABS brakes, and traction control come as options. Cargo space averages out to around 14.5 cubic feet for all trims (14.2 for coupes, 14.7 for sedans). The 2007 Saturn Ion concludes a solid run with a base model that stays true to the original while incorporating new features. Saturn never conclusively addressed the recurring driver concerns about internal materials and road noise, and it shows in this final model. The Ion has maintained a consistent identity as an average performer with a below average price in the compact class. With the Astra set to replace the Ion in 2008, consumers can only hope that Saturn will finally start aspiring to do more than the minimum.