Segment: Coupe
Production years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
GM tried to offer a different approach to the market with a coupe that cared about the rear passengers and offered the Quad Coupe version in addition to the regular, four-door Ion Sedan.
Sharing its platform with Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, or the European Opel/Vauxhall Astra, the Ion Quad Coupe was designed as an affordable yet fun vehicle. Its sporty look and punchy engines should have been very appreciated by younger generations. As a result, the car should have enjoyed better success. But it didn't.
Some people believe that Mazda RX-8 was revolutionary thanks to its rear-hinged half doors, but Saturn beat it to the market. It was unveiled at the 2002 New York Auto Show, and the customers were pleased with the idea. The car's front fascia sported organic-inspired headlights with a narrow gap between the hood and the bumper as a grille. Lower, on the apron, the carmaker added a wider cooling area. From its sides, the coupe silhouette with an arched greenhouse and a sloped rear windscreen offered a dynamic image of the car. Finally, the flat trunk lid was flanked on the sides at the back by corner-mounted taillights.
Since the car didn't have a B-pillar, getting in and out from the rear seats was straightforward. Moreover, the long front doors also eased the ingress and egress for the front occupants. But... the dashboard was a complete disappointment for customers. Its center-mounted instrument cluster was not precisely what the younger generation wanted to see in their cars.
Another disappointing side of the vehicle was the drivetrain. Under the hood, GM installed a punchy 2.2-liter gasoline engine paired with either a five-speed manual or a sluggish five-speed automatic, which proved problematic. So in 2004, the automaker dismissed that and used a CVT unit. Later, it also offered a four-speed automatic. Moreover, the suspension was soft. Too soft for a sporty-looking vehicle.
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L Red Line 5MT FWD (208 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1998 cm3 |
Power: | 153 KW @ 5600 RPM 208 HP @ 5600 RPM 205 BHP @ 5600 RPM |
Torque: | 200 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM 271 Nm @ 4400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.3 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 215/45 R17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 185 in (4699 mm) |
Width: | 67.9 in (1725 mm) |
Height: | 55.6 in (1412 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.8/58.4 in (1,494/1,483 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 103.5 in (2629 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.2 cuFT (402 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2930 lbs (1329 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 23 mpg US (10.2 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 25 mpg US (9.4 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.2L 5MT FWD (141 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2198 cm3 |
Power: | 104 KW @ 5600 RPM 141 HP @ 5600 RPM 139 BHP @ 5600 RPM |
Torque: | 145 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 197 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/60 R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 185 in (4699 mm) |
Width: | 67.9 in (1725 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.8/58.4 in (1,494/1,483 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 103.5 in (2629 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.2 cuFT (402 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2796 lbs (1268 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 26 mpg US (9 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 35 mpg US (6.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.4L 5MT FWD (171 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2384 cm3 |
Power: | 126 KW @ 6200 RPM 171 HP @ 6200 RPM 169 BHP @ 6200 RPM |
Torque: | 119 lb-ft @ 5000 RPM 161 Nm @ 5000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 185 in (4699 mm) |
Width: | 67.9 in (1725 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.8/58.4 in (1,494/1,483 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 103.2 in (2621 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.2 cuFT (402 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2823 lbs (1280 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 25 mpg US (9.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 34 mpg US (6.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km) |