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2008 Saturn Astra Performance Review

June 14, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Euro suspension tuning keeps cornering attitudes level
Car and Driver

The engine doesn't really want to rev
Automobile

Turn-in is crisp, without any sense of the steering being overboosted
Road & Track

When bringing the Astra over from Europe, the people at Saturn decided to make life easier for the indecisive among us; accordingly, "a 138-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder is the only engine" available on the 2008 Saturn Astra, according to Cars.com. While occasionally underpowered, the Saturn Astra's four-cylinder powerplant holds up well around town.

While Cars.com writes that the 2008 Saturn Astra "is no power wagon," it does deliver commendable fuel economy and is fun to drive. In driving tests of the Astra, Kelley Blue Book finds Saturn's powerplant "needs to be revved high to make the most of its power, but overall it's a good fit for this car." Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com agree, with Edmunds saying that although the Saturn Astra's "growling four-cylinder may not produce the quickest car" on the road, it still allows for "twisty-road fun." ConsumerGuide adds that the Astra, Saturn’s first Euro-designed compact, is "no ball of fire, but Astra never feels sluggish" and "both manual and automatic versions have more than adequate power around town."

One of the most acknowledged drawbacks in terms of performance on the 2008 Saturn Astra is the transmission. With only four gears to choose from, Car and Driver finds that the automatic can "add a little unwanted drama to passing on two-lane highways" and notes that "the Astra's major competitors offer five- and six-speeds" on their automatic transmissions. Cars.com agrees, writing that the Saturn Astra with a five-speed manual, "like most cars, could do with another gear. Ditto for the automatic, though four-speeds still haunt most cars in this class." Kelley Blue Book feels that the manual is "easy to operate, with very little play between the gears," but when it comes to the automatic, it simply is "not as much fun to drive" and leaves reviewers wishing for "some type of manual-shift mode."

One benefit of the unremarkable engine performance is that the Saturn Astra has what Mother Proof describes as "fab fuel economy." The EPA estimates that the 2008 Saturn Astra gets 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, numbers that Car and Driver notes are "a couple mpg better than those posted by the Mazda and Rabbit."

And while the 1.8-liter engine doesn't provide a lot of oomph, the 2008 Saturn Astra is a wonderfully composed car on the road. Edmunds finds that the Astra is "pretty fun to drive...thanks to its European-influenced suspension tuning." ConsumerGuide also points out that even "base-suspension models offer better than average overall control." One drawback of the Saturn Astra's sport suspension is that ConsumerGuide feels that it can "make for a rough ride on nearly all types of pavement." Kelley Blue Book reviewers write that "the Astra's steering is firm with good on-center feel and the handling is sporty with excellent stability." Harnessing the Astra's momentum is "a good-sized set of discs at all four corners with standard ABS" that Car and Driver says give the 2008 Saturn Astra "better than average" braking performance.

Conclusion

The 2008 Saturn Astra is no speed demon, but the taut suspension makes whipping the car through turns a true joy.

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Euro suspension tuning keeps cornering attitudes levelCar and DriverThe engine doesn't really want to revAutomobileTurn-in is crisp, without any sense of the steering being overboostedRoad & Track When bringing the Astra over from Europe, the people at Saturn decided to make life easier for the indecisive among us; accordingly, "a 138-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder is the only engine" available on the 2008 Saturn Astra, according to Cars.com. While occasionally underpowered, the Saturn Astra's four-cylinder powerplant holds up well around town. While Cars.com writes that the 2008 Saturn Astra "is no power wagon," it does deliver commendable fuel economy and is fun to drive. In driving tests of the Astra, Kelley Blue Book finds Saturn's powerplant "needs to be revved high to make the most of its power, but overall it's a good fit for this car." Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com agree, with Edmunds saying that although the Saturn Astra's "growling four-cylinder may not produce the quickest car" on the road, it still allows for "twisty-road fun." ConsumerGuide adds that the Astra, Saturn’s first Euro-designed compact, is "no ball of fire, but Astra never feels sluggish" and "both manual and automatic versions have more than adequate power around town." One of the most acknowledged drawbacks in terms of performance on the 2008 Saturn Astra is the transmission. With only four gears to choose from, Car and Driver finds that the automatic can "add a little unwanted drama to passing on two-lane highways" and notes that "the Astra's major competitors offer five- and six-speeds" on their automatic transmissions. Cars.com agrees, writing that the Saturn Astra with a five-speed manual, "like most cars, could do with another gear. Ditto for the automatic, though four-speeds still haunt most cars in this class." Kelley Blue Book feels that the manual is "easy to operate, with very little play between the gears," but when it comes to the automatic, it simply is "not as much fun to drive" and leaves reviewers wishing for "some type of manual-shift mode." One benefit of the unremarkable engine performance is that the Saturn Astra has what Mother Proof describes as "fab fuel economy." The EPA estimates that the 2008 Saturn Astra gets 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, numbers that Car and Driver notes are "a couple mpg better than those posted by the Mazda and Rabbit." And while the 1.8-liter engine doesn't provide a lot of oomph, the 2008 Saturn Astra is a wonderfully composed car on the road. Edmunds finds that the Astra is "pretty fun to drive...thanks to its European-influenced suspension tuning." ConsumerGuide also points out that even "base-suspension models offer better than average overall control." One drawback of the Saturn Astra's sport suspension is that ConsumerGuide feels that it can "make for a rough ride on nearly all types of pavement." Kelley Blue Book reviewers write that "the Astra's steering is firm with good on-center feel and the handling is sporty with excellent stability." Harnessing the Astra's momentum is "a good-sized set of discs at all four corners with standard ABS" that Car and Driver says give the 2008 Saturn Astra "better than average" braking performance. ConclusionThe 2008 Saturn Astra is no speed demon, but the taut suspension makes whipping the car through turns a true joy.  2008 SATURN ASTRA STYLING | [8 out of 10] Road & Track: "Exudes an aura that is definitely not of this continent" Kelley Blue Book: "Looks substantial from all sides" Edmunds: "Upscale interior design" Anyone who has spent time in Europe knows that European roads are filled with ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The class leader is the Honda Civic. It has sedan and two-door body styles, as well as a hybrid model and a compressed-natural-gas (CNG) version. The Ford Focus, newly restyled for 2008, has taken a step backward in looks but two steps forward in features with offerings such as the entertainment SYNC controller. The Mazda3 is the most like the Saturn Astra, with two- and four-door hatchbacks--and it's one of the best-looking, best-handling cars in this class.

Next Steps:

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See the Saturn Astra in Other Years:

2009 | 2008

Comments (5 total)

  1. By redbaron08 #1, Posted: 7/30/2008

    Love This Car!!!

    I recently purchased anAstra after 2 months of research and test drives of the Mazda3, VW Rabbit, Suzuki SX4, Honda Civic, and the Mini Cooper. I was looking for a good gas mileage, fun to drive, quality car at a good price. On a whim, my wife and I went to a Saturn dealer to see GM's euro import. My wife said ont the way that there was no way we would ever buy a Saturn. Boy were we suprised to find this car with Saturn badges on it. This car is the most fun to drive in its class at this price. The warranty and saftey features were better then the Mazda. The overall feel inside the car was better then all the rest. When you close the door, you feel like you are closing the door of a much bigger and more expensive Mercedes. We picked up the car 3 days later and left on our summer vacation the same day. Every passing mile was pure bliss. I drove 800 miles on interstates, and never felt like I was in a small car. The car is outstanding for long trip comfort, and never feels uneasy even in heavy rain or when passing semis. I strongly rccommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a small quality hatchback. Don't miss this car!!!

  2. By Heather #2, Posted: 8/2/2008

    Just bought an Astra

    Today I bought an Astra today. A bit skeptical going into the dealership. I'm a bit of a car snob - My last car was a Volkswagon Jetta, a 5-speed that I loved driving. Test drove the manual five door Astra, had the same thrill of my old car. The interior is modern, with a sunroof covers the front and back seat, and the interior was surprisingly spacious. The price can't be beat.

  3. By DanielTse #3, Posted: 9/5/2008

    Saturn Got This One Right!!!

    Recently bought my first Saturn. For the money, this is a surprising little car. Very nicely equiped, excellent build quality, lots of safety features, superb handling, and excellent european ergonomics. I have the 5 speed manual so power is pretty good and the shift mechanism is precise and enjoyable. I am enjoying up to 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Come on fellow Americans, give Saturn a try!! You won't be disappointed given the cars price point.

  4. By Gregory Calabrese #4, Posted: 12/26/2008

    Hidden Gem

    The Astra is a great little car. The cockpit in the Astra XR model is very upscale for a car of this size. This car is quality from the thud of the doors closing to the high quality steering wheel control stauks. The Astra handles like a luxury European car like BMW or Mercedes it is an outstanding vehicle to drive. There are not that many on the road but the Astra is truly a hidden gem.

  5. By Joey B #5, Posted: 3/20/2009

    Best GM Compact Out There

    I recently traded out the base Chevy Cobalt for the the 3 door Astra. No competition- the Astra reigns supreme. To get the road feel of the Astra you'd have to lay down a few K extra for the turbo Cobalt. This is an entry level price tag coupled with a truly spirited drive, wrapped in a handsomely aggressive package. Fantastic paint options, wonderful suspension setup, tones of style, all with a big trunk (boot. for Brits looking for a Vauxhall).

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