Saturn Astra Vehicle

What's new on 2009 by Astra...?
The answer is Saturn Astra.
Now in its second year, the Saturn Astra brings a fresh look to GM's planetary body division, and it manages to do so without reinventing the wheel. The Belgian-made Astra isn't new; it comes across the Atlantic courtesy of GM's European brand Opel, which has been producing the current-generation Astra for about five years. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, this sporty hatchback has done well in Europe, and GM is hoping the Astra will find the same success here.

The 2009 Saturn Astra's European roots are evident in its premium cabin and practical hatchback design. Interior materials quality is high, and maximum cargo volume is 38 cubic feet -- 6 fewer cubes than the rival Mazda 3 wagon but a lot more than any compact sedan can claim. The Astra's driving demeanor also has a European flavor, as its sporty handling rivals that of any car in its class, particularly when the optional sport suspension is specified. However, the only available engine is a 1.8-liter inline-4, and it's not particularly pleasant. This four-banger isn't especially fuel-efficient, its acceleration is barely adequate and it drones intrusively at higher engine speeds.

Meanwhile, the unfavorable dollar-to-euro exchange rate isn't doing the Astra's pricing any favors. People expecting a domestic fire-sale bargain may be in for a case of sticker shock. Four-door Astras face steep competition from well-established economy cars like the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer and Volkswagen Rabbit, though the two-door Astra will likely be more attractive simply because there are fewer competitors to choose from. Overall, neither body style can claim all-around superiority in its class, but the Astra still represents a promising new direction for Saturn, as well as a refreshing alternative to the status quo.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Saturn Astra is a compact car offered as a two-door or four-door hatchback. The four-door comes in base XE or the sportier XR trim level, while the coupe is available in the XR trim only. The Astra XE comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, a trip computer, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories and a six-speaker audio system with a CD player. The four-door XR adds alloy wheels, air-conditioning and an upgraded seven-speaker audio system with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

The two-door Astra XR is similar to the four-door but comes also with 17-inch alloy wheels, sport front seats, a sport-tuned suspension and a quicker steering ratio. These performance upgrades are optional for the four-door XR. Major options for the Astra XR include a premium audio system and a premium trim package that adds leather seating, front-seat heaters and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A large sunroof is an option for both four-door trims, and 18-inch wheels with high-performance tires are offered for the two-door XR only. An optional advanced audio package, available on all trims, includes a six-CD changer.

Powertrains and Performance

The front-wheel-drive Astra comes with a 1.8-liter engine that produces 138 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. A manual-equipped two-door Astra we tested went from zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds. Fuel economy for both body styles with manual transmissions is 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined; automatics get 24/30/27 mpg.


Safety

Standard safety features include stability control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, whiplash-reducing front head restraints and the OnStar communications system.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2009 Saturn Astra's cabin shows clear signs of its European heritage. It's solid and well-built, and a variety of colors and textures gives the cockpit a more upscale ambience than most economy cars. One of our pet peeves is that the single cupholder is placed too far back in the center console, requiring contortions from the driver to reach a drink. Also, while the trip computer's display is easy to read, its controls are somewhat confusing, and they're not labeled intuitively -- the button that displays fuel economy and range, for example, is labeled BC (for "board computer"). The Astra is also missing entertainment features normally found on GM vehicles, such as satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.

Cargo and luggage capacities are average for a car of this class. The four-door offers 12 cubic feet with the 60/40-split rear seats in place and a maximum of 33 cubes with the seats folded down. Cargo capacity for the coupe rises to 38 cubic feet despite its aggressively sloping roof line. That roof line also somewhat hampers outward rear visibility for the driver.

Driving Impressions

The 2009 Saturn Astra is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to performance. Sporty suspension tuning and quick steering make this hatchback fun to drive, and the ride feels firm yet comfortable. However, the 1.8-liter engine is a letdown -- it doesn't have much real-world power, and it roars and drones like a vacuum cleaner. The feel of the manual shifter is also disappointing, with long and vague throws. The four-speed automatic, meanwhile, is at a comparative disadvantage against the transmissions of sporty rivals like the Civic and Mazda 3, which boast five-speed autos.

Pros

Hatchback versatility, upscale interior design, sharp exterior styling, engaging European-style handling.

Cons

Underpowered and unrefined engine, missing some expected audio features.