2008 Saturn Astra
The market has shifted from trucks and SUVs to small fuel-efficient cars. This puts the Big Three automakers in a bind to retool back to cars and churn out fuel sippers to battle Honda, Hyundai, Mini, Suzuki and Toyota.
Well, one domestic brand does not have to scramble to bring a new line of small fuel-efficient cars to the market. Saturn dumped the forgettable Ion and ushered in the all-new Astra. This model line is the intro into the Saturn brand and comes in three-door and five-door persuasions. I tested the three-door model that is available in top-line XR trim. In addition to its attractive styling, and decent fuel mileage, I discovered that the Astra XR three door is a ball to drive.
Astra comes courtesy of GM’s European Opel division with minor changes to “Saturnize” it for the U.S. The days of “a different kind of car company” are long gone. GM has fully embraced the cost-effective “world car” business model of platform sharing. Astra uses off-the-shelf parts and eschews things like the dent- and rust-resistant polymer body panels that gave Saturn cars a unique market advantage.
Astra’s contemporary and appealing Euro styling is a breath of fresh air in the stale compact segment. Thankfully, GM used restraint in modifying the original Opel styling when they added Saturn badges and revised the front and rear ends. The contours and bodylines suggest a “spring forward” look. The arched rear windows and sloping tail ends in a hatch and the sport alloy wheels fit nicely under flared openings at the corners. This is one of the few compact cars that doesn’t look cheap or require you to ladle on aftermarket spoilers, scoops, wheels or ground effects to make it look better.
The interior is cockpitlike, highlighted by a dramatic plunging “V” shaped center console. The designers were actually thinking here as the interior picks up on exterior styling cues to create a “linked” interior and exterior design. While it’s subtle, this is something you rarely see in a production car especially in the compact class.
The performance-oriented seats, the wheel and instrumentation all had me asking: “What are you doing here?” This car also came standard with the typical array of power goodies, air, cruise, CD/MP3 player with steering wheel controls and numerous storage areas. In the Astra’s segment, economy and bare bones are usually the norm. The build quality was tight and the materials used were above par for a GM product. This continues the trend of interior upgrading I’ve noticed on other GM products like the Aura, Outlook, Chevy Malibu and Buick Enclave.
Up front passenger space is generous, but access to the rear is tight. The rear seat bottoms are shallow and legroom is in short supply. There are belts for three passengers, but they will not comfortably hold three adults. If you need to ferry bigger kids or adults around on a regular basis get the five-door, as ingress/egress will be better. The rear seats in the test car were 60/40-folding units. Cargo room tops out at 38 cubic-feet with the rear seat down. The front passenger seat does not fold flat.
As for road goodies, the Astra comes equipped with a 1.8-liter Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine providing 138 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission backs it up. This drivetrain combination is rated at 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway -- not too shabby. I pulled down just under 30 mpg during the week I tested the car.
On the road, the Astra’s 1.8-liter moves the car smartly but can get a bit noisy when pressed hard. The five-speed manual felt a bit rubbery but did not cause concern -- I’ve had much worse. The gear spacing was not too bad as I was able to quickly bring the rpms up and then shift briskly through each gear to wring the maximum amount of performance out.
As for the ride, I did not mind the stiffer sport suspension of the XR. For some, it could be considered harsh. Astra rests on a strut-type front suspension with the control arms, stabilizer bar and steering rack mounted to the subframe.
Astra’s rear suspension features a semi-independent torsion-link axle design, with an axle-beam formed to a double-U-shaped profile this enhances strength and serves as a stabilizer bar. The rear control arms also feature integrated wheel carriers that are made from lightweight, one-piece, hollow-cast material. These lightweight control arms reduce unsprung mass. Three door XRs receive a sport-tuned suspension that includes a 15-millimeter-lower ride height, quicker steering calibration, a specific front axle configuration and an electronically aided sport chassis system.
While this car is front-wheel-drive, I did not experience any alarming torque steer.
Performing over its head, the Astra completed every aggressive move I asked of it. This car hugs the road and you can fling it into corners without fear of excessive body sway. The 17-inch p225/45R17 all-season tires lay down a solid footprint. The electro-hydraulic steering provided good feedback and does not have a vague or disconnected feel. The ABS brakes were solid and quick stops did not submarine the nose.
During highway cruising and in passing moves engine noise does creep in, and I did detect some wind noise coming from the outside mirrors. I just turned up the optional seven-speaker premium audio system, and the problem was solved.
For an entry-level car, the Astra surprises by offering the StabiliTrak stability control system with traction control. A short time ago StabiliTrak used to be a driving aid only offered on mid- to upper-priced GM cars.
As for occupant protect Saturn doesn’t skimp as there are six standard airbags, including dual-stage frontal airbags. Astra also features roof rail head curtain airbags and seat-mounted thorax/pelvic airbags (for front-seat passengers). A standard advanced passenger airbag sensing system (AOS, airbag occupant suppression), active head restraints and a pedal release system finalize the extensive list.
So, now you are probably thinking that this car starts at $20,000 and heads north. Wrong. Too high. Try $17,875. Then just add $595 for the Advanced Audio Package and a destination charge of $620 and you reach to the low, low price of just $19,090.
Certainly, the Astra is not perfect, but it does offer a rare blend economy, affordability, styling and above average build quality. Saturn has created a new car worthy of consideration in the tough compact segment.
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