The median asking price for a used Saturn Ion is $2,999 across 166 listings. A 2007 costs about $3,995; a 2004 about $2,150. But the same year can differ wildly: among 2007 cars the dearest asks 2.5 times what the cheapest does — condition, mileage and title do the rest.
Saturn Ion price by model year
| Year | Typical price | Spread | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | — | 17 | |
| 2006 | 2.5× | 52 | |
| 2005 | — | 10 | |
| 2004 | — | 5 |
A spread near 1.5× means the market agrees what a Saturn Ion of that year is worth. Past 3× the listings mix tidy examples with tired ones, and a careful buyer can do well — but the exact figure for one car depends on its mileage and history, which is what the valuation tool is for.
Dealer or private seller
On the Saturn Ion the forecourt markup works out at -2% over a private sale of the same year. Both figures are measured against the median for the same model year, so age is out of the comparison and what remains is the markup itself.
| Seller | Listings | vs median year | Average asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private seller | 93 | -5.6% | $3,451 |
| Dealer | 65 | -7.9% | $3,029 |
The gap comes to -2.3 percentage points. Some of that buys something real — reconditioning, a warranty, paperwork handled. The rest is the cost of not looking further.
How fast price falls with mileage
Taken from a single model year — 2006, the one with the most Saturn Ion listings — so the curve shows mileage alone rather than age creeping in alongside it. Between the 75–100k and 200–225k bands the asking price falls 42%.
| Mileage | Price drop | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 75–100k miles | 9 | |
| 125–150k miles | 29 | |
| 150–175k miles | 18 | |
| 200–225k miles | 17 |
Between the lowest and highest mileage bands the asking price falls 42%. Most of that drop happens early: the first hundred thousand miles cost far more than the second.
Asking prices are the market. What is that car worth?
- Exact value for one VIN, adjusted for its mileage
- Live listings with prices, not just percentiles
- Price-drop alerts on the model you are watching
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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How we count
The Saturn Ion figures here come from 166 live listings, 2003–2009 — asking prices, not sale prices. Sellers ask more than they get, so treat these as the top of the range, not the bottom.
Percentages here are never plain averages: each listing is first turned into its ratio against the median for its own model year, and those ratios are averaged instead. Without that step the numbers lie confidently — a flat average across 2003–2009 would mostly measure which years happen to be for sale this week. Slices too thin to survive the test are dropped rather than dressed up with an error bar, which for the Saturn Ion leaves 4 model years standing. The full method, with the traps it avoids →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Saturn Ion cost?
The median asking price is $2,999 across 166 live listings, ranging from about $2,150 for a 2004 to $3,995 for a 2007. These are asking prices — sellers generally accept less.
Is it cheaper to buy a Ion from a private seller?
Yes, by roughly -2 percentage points. Dealers ask -7.9% against the median for the same model year, private sellers -5.6%. Part of that gap pays for reconditioning and a warranty; the rest is the price of convenience.
Why do prices for the same year vary so much?
Among 2007 cars the dearest asks 2.5× what the cheapest does. Mileage, service history and title status explain most of it — which is why an average price for an older car tells you very little on its own.
What is this worth compared with my own car?
This page describes the market. To value a specific car by its year and mileage, use the Saturn Ion valuation tool.
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