Ride and handling are good, and about average for the class. The Ion seems to be free of squeaks and rattles, and additional sound deadening material and other refinements have been added for 2004. Refinement, in terms of noise and vibration, is about average for the class. The front suspension has struts while the rear uses a torsion-beam axle to provide more interior space in the trunk. Front and rear stabilizer bars on all models reduce lean in the corners. The Ion handles well on winding roads, tending toward understeer when driven very hard. The suspension feels a little squishy at high speeds.
The twin-cam 2.2-liter engine offers more performance than in most other cars of this size, though it sounds a bit rough at times. Saturn has recalibrated the transmissions in both the sedan and the coupe for improved gear selection. The sedan's five-speed automatic works more smoothly than the four-speed automatics normally found in compact cars. The manual gearbox works well, though the shifter is positioned slightly rearward from the ideal position. Next Page