2005 Saturn ION
small car / 4-door sedan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2005-07 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Saturn ION 2 4-door
The Saturn ION was introduced in the 2003 model year as a replacement for the SL. The size of the steering wheel was increased beginning with 2005 models and its number of spokes was increased from two to four. Also, the driver airbag deployment characteristics were changed slightly.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement was reasonably well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the B-pillar. Also during the impact, the steering wheel broke off from the column. | |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.
Late in the crash test, the steering wheel broke off from its column. None of the dummy injury measures appeared to be adversely affected by this breakage.
Forces on the lower right leg were high enough to indicate the possibility of injury.
Technical measurements for this test
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2003-07 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Saturn ION 2 4-door with optional front and rear head curtain airbags
The Saturn ION was introduced for the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Saturn SL.
Two tests of an ION were conducted, one with an optional side airbag for the driver and rear passenger, and one without. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection | |
View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbag and damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. Even so, forces recorded on the head were moderately high.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side airbag.
Technical measurements for this test
Rating applies to 2003-07 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Saturn ION 2 4-door without optional side airbags
The Saturn ION was introduced for the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Saturn SL.
Two tests of an ION were conducted, one with an optional side airbag for the driver and rear passenger, and one without. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection The dummy's head was hit by the intruding barrier, producing moderately high head injury measures. | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection The dummy's head was hit by the window frame of the rear passenger door, producing high head injury measures. | |
View of the vehicle just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head being hit by the intruding barrier.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was hit by the window frame, which was bent by the impact.
Technical measurements for this test
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: All seats
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
Technical measurements for this test
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.