As the special name indicates, the 2004 Saturn Ion Red Line supersized the original Ion. However, while you might say the Red Line looks a little different, you'd need x-ray vision to know what the manufacturer did to the engine. Saturn refrained from any significant remodeling with the exterior and packed all the extra power under the hood. The end product left consumers with a mixed bag.
The 2004 Saturn Ion Red Line comes in one Quad Coupe trim with a 2.0 L, 205 hp I4 engine. This re-vamped model uses 5 speed manual transmission and fuel consumption ranges from 24 mpg in the city to 30 mpg on the highway. Unlike the other 5 trims on the regular Ion, the Red Line does have standard leather seats and ABS brakes. Other standard features include power windows, power door locks, and cd player. The Red Line goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Reviewers say that the greatest step up from the original Ion comes in the improved power, handling, and steering. On the other hand, quality of materials, control panel design, and engine noise remain noteworthy concerns for a domestic manufacturer that started off on the wrong foot against its foreign counterparts. Consumers agree that the 2004 Saturn Ion Red Line represented a step in the right direction. However, the Red Line's survival would depend on Saturn's determination to meet the demand for innovation.
While we highlight specific author bylines where possible, sometimes our content results from the combined efforts of several members of the CarGurus editorial team. As with all our editorial content, you can expect high levels of automotive insight and expertise delivered in a style that is approachable and free from jargon.
i liked the fact that this car is no push over, plenty of cars have try the 0-60 and failed to beat me, ill keep up with srt and sti but i kill all the little hondas, Its also a reliable daily owned for about a year now. Jul 24, 2013
by Clayton P
Jul 02, 2012
I just picked up this puppy a couple weeks ago. Was having a little problem with
the computer but i fixed that pretty easy. This is my second car and it is a
Awesome upgrade! Power like you wouldnt believe! I love all the factory racing
items like the recaro racing buckets and 5 speed with cruise control. Fuel economy
is absoulutly wikid awesome, it might take 91 but its worth it. I havent done any
upgrades yet but i will be hitting those up shortly... Jul 02, 2012
by Anonymous
Mar 27, 2012
I loved this car! It got me where I needed to go and was great on gas. It is fast for those of you who love fast cars. I could travel with four people (myself included), comfortably. The sound system for a stock was great. The seats are extremely comfortable and fitting for everyone and it had cup holders in the front and back for four people! There is also no rust on the car! I felt safe and in control while driving my car it handled great!Mar 27, 2012
User rating:
by Anonymous
Jul 24, 2013
i liked the fact that this car is no push over, plenty of cars have try the 0-60 and failed to beat me, ill keep up with srt and sti but i kill all the little hondas, Its also a reliable daily owned for about a year now. Jul 24, 2013
by Clayton P
Jul 02, 2012
I just picked up this puppy a couple weeks ago. Was having a little problem with
the computer but i fixed that pretty easy. This is my second car and it is a
Awesome upgrade! Power like you wouldnt believe! I love all the factory racing
items like the recaro racing buckets and 5 speed with cruise control. Fuel economy
is absoulutly wikid awesome, it might take 91 but its worth it. I havent done any
upgrades yet but i will be hitting those up shortly... Jul 02, 2012
by Anonymous
Mar 27, 2012
I loved this car! It got me where I needed to go and was great on gas. It is fast for those of you who love fast cars. I could travel with four people (myself included), comfortably. The sound system for a stock was great. The seats are extremely comfortable and fitting for everyone and it had cup holders in the front and back for four people! There is also no rust on the car! I felt safe and in control while driving my car it handled great!Mar 27, 2012
by Anonymous
Dec 02, 2011
Nothing to dislike, all fun all the time. I love the styleing of the car, and the fact that its a total sleeper! unless the person behind you knows what the "redline" badge means you leave them behind ! "wolf in sheepskin"Dec 02, 2011
by Daniel B
Oct 22, 2010
HATE THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION LMAO car is pretty quick for being stock brakes are awesome gas miliage sucks and its a blast to drive personally i like the apearance of it although many others beg to differ ooo wellOct 22, 2010
by Daniel S
Oct 25, 2009
Very powerful car with plenty of torque. If you push the
car too much you tend to break something lol. I love the
exterior since it's very unique among tuner cars and
besides the Recaro racing seats which are amazing, the
interior lacks styling. Gas mileage sucks especially when
you engage the supercharger, which i do often lol, but
you gotta love the whining it makes :) All in all, this car
packs tons of fun since it can be civilized and sporty all at
once.Oct 25, 2009
by Ron D
Oct 19, 2009
A real wakeup call to the world of small displacement performance.
This is the first car i have owned so far that has any type of forced induction (meaning either a supercharger or turbocharger). This is actually the test bed year for the LSJ motor (that's the 2.0 liter Ecotec that eventually went into the Cobalt SS). This car came out a year before the SS did, just to make sure it was ok and ready for production.
On top of that, this car was a rare beast; they only made 5400 ION Redline's from 2004 to 2007, and there's at least 50 of those off the road now due to accidents.
I bought this from the #1 Cochran dealer in South Hills with only 39k on the clock, and since buying it i've made it to 40k. Sure going from not having a car payment to having one sucks, but it was worth it for this car.
And for my introduction to forced induction, this car is quite the beast; i've driven V6's that have less torque than this 2 liter. It doesn't matter what gear you're in, if you step on the gas, the car just gets up and goes.
4 wheel disc brakes means this car stops on a dime, and the suspension is even tighter than the SL2 i used to own.
The only downside to this car is also it's upside: forced induction. Fill ups hurt because of 93 octane only, and that isn't getting any cheaper. Even so, the MPG ain't that bad; 31 mpg isn't out of reach, but that's only if you keep your foot out of it.
As a daily driver, this car is awesome; my only concern is the winter thanks to those 17 inch tires. With 200 lb. ft. of torque on tap, this car will spin the tires even in the wet, so who knows what winter will be like.Oct 19, 2009
by Chris S
Aug 11, 2008
Its the zip machine, and it holds up great. despite people gabbin about how hard i bag my car... it is in great shape still after 4 years, its been taken to the strip a couple times and laid down some very awesome numbers for a car i got for 23,000... easy upgrades, only thing these cars lack is a limited slip without the competition package upgrade, but they are still a great car all around no matter what. I would recommend a new cobalt SS turbo instead now though, more horsepower, should be more efficient, easier upgrades (ontop of the already really easy bolt-on power with this one) all in all GM really has made a great vehicle with this platform and the ecotec.Aug 11, 2008
by Jesse L
Apr 10, 2008
205 Supercharged horsepower. It moves. It handles well, and yet it's a Saturn. Stage 2 kits make the car rediculous, and can be done cheaply. Comes with cold air intake, Recaro racing seats, 4 wheel disk brakes, and more. All in all, best bang for your buck.Apr 10, 2008
by Adrienne M
Apr 02, 2008
The wheelhop is unbelieveable, but thanks to the blower the power is THERE right when you want it. None of that turbolag BS. It shouldda been a coupe, the wheelbase is just so wide the car looks a little bit funny. The suicide doors are cool, and i really like the plastic body pannels...they just dont dent!Apr 02, 2008
by Bryant P
Mar 27, 2008
Great car for the price!Mar 27, 2008
by Cody I
Mar 03, 2008
again, not what you would expect from saturn. but speed and acceleration is top notch! ^_^Mar 03, 2008
by Anonymous
Jan 08, 2008
I had this car for a while and it was pretty fun....205 HP and 200 TQ, looks ok, drives ok, but clutch was kinda weird, I didn't like it at all. The suicide doors in the rear were pretty cool tho.Jan 08, 2008
by Anonymous
Dec 28, 2007
do i have to.Dec 28, 2007
by Anonymous
Nov 21, 2007
I bought this car about a year ago. I was looking at a 05 mustang gt and then I saw the redline I fell in love with this car. It is just amazing the style and design and the 2.0 supercharged that makes things even better it was sold. So far I have not had very many problems at all out of it. They do not do very well in the snow but what car does.I love the car going into corners and coming out is even better it just sling shoots you out. The 0-60 thats great I think I am not a pro or anything but its niceNov 21, 2007
This morning I left for work and roughly 10 minutes into driving the red oil light on the right of the dash came on and beeped a few times, and i lost some power to the car, so I pulled over and checked the oil and it was low. I drove it to the nearest Walmart and got some oil and put in about 2 quarts to where the reading on the dipstick is full. When I started the car again and drove for a minute the light came back on and the same loss of power, what are some things I should check?
Just out of curiosity, I would like to know the production number of my RL off the assembly line. Is that information available and how can one get that info?
I was wondering if you guys could tell me where i could get one of those engine programers for a redline. Now that will modifi all my ratio's in my cars computor right so that means what? I would greatly apprecate the help let me know thanks
I'm having a problem that it took me a while to notice, with my 2004 saturn ion redline. whenever I press the gas the car revs up high then it drops closer to normal and slowly speeds up. I had no idea why thisa would happen, obviously I don't know a lot about cars. I was trying to see if this is just my imagination or is it a problem other people have had. Does any one have any idea what would cause this?
it wasn't making this noise when i first bought it all i heard was the sweet s/c whine, but i got up on it the other day and it started making like a whistling sound when i start it and accelerate.
