My Cruze replaced a Dodge Neon, very similar to your Saturn Ion.
It has more low end torque, but my Neon pulled harder once I hit 4k RPM.
At least, that's what I felt.
I drove the thing much harder too, since it cost me like 1/6th the price of my Cruze, and it averaged at 23MPG.
The Cruze averages at 33MPG, mostly because I tend to drive it more careful, and I can see how to increase MPG on the dash display (which the Neon didn't do).
You can still tow with a cruze, just that, perhaps you'll need some weight in the trunk, and keep 5th gear on the highways.
And I wouldn't tow anything larger than a rowboat or small mini trailer. (~1000LBS)
It has more low end torque, but my Neon pulled harder once I hit 4k RPM.
At least, that's what I felt.
I drove the thing much harder too, since it cost me like 1/6th the price of my Cruze, and it averaged at 23MPG.
The Cruze averages at 33MPG, mostly because I tend to drive it more careful, and I can see how to increase MPG on the dash display (which the Neon didn't do).
You can still tow with a cruze, just that, perhaps you'll need some weight in the trunk, and keep 5th gear on the highways.
And I wouldn't tow anything larger than a rowboat or small mini trailer. (~1000LBS)