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2008 Saturn Astra Quality Review

June 14, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Assembly feels solid, materials are high quality
Car and Driver

There just isn't a lot of space in this car, cargo or otherwise
Mother Proof

Interior materials [are] fully competitive with any car in the class
Automobile

With the 2008 Astra, Saturn has come up with a vehicle with ample front seat room and, in four-door versions, a usefully flexible cargo area.

Long drives in the 2008 Saturn Astra should prove to be no problem in terms of occupant ease. The Saturn Astra features welcoming seats for all five passengers. Car and Driver feels that the 2008 Saturn Astra is both "roomy" and "comfortable," and ConsumerGuide adds that the front of the Saturn Astra features "good headroom in both body styles for average-sized adults, even in versions equipped with the dual sunroof." ConsumerGuide continues by saying that the front seats "are comfortable, supportive, and well bolstered." Moving to the rear seats, Kelley Blue Book writes that "four-door models offer good rear seat legroom."

Storage space is adequate on the 2008 Saturn Astra, though finding somewhere to tuck items up front can be a challenge. The rear cargo area of the 2008 Saturn Astra "has nearly 45 cubic feet of space" with the "60/40-split fold-down" rear seats stowed, according to Edmunds. This respectable carrying capacity in the back is at odds with the fact that "there's no center storage console at all -- just the parking-brake lever and a cupholder," according to reviewers at Cars.com. This helps to partially explain reviewer sentiment at Mother Proof, where they write that "there just isn't a lot of space in this car, cargo or otherwise." On the positive side, those same reviewers add that the front does feature an "illuminated glove compartment" of "decent size," as well as "front door pockets," but the omission of a center storage console is a big one.

What the Saturn Astra loses in terms of cargo space, it makes up for with its build quality. Edmunds heaps praise in this area, finding that "the slam of the driver door alone [feels] more substantial than that of some midrange Mercedes models." Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also praised the interior quality and materials on the Astra Saturn, including Automobile's assertion that "interior materials [are] fully competitive with any car in the class." ConsumerGuide appreciates the "blend of soft touch surfaces and hard plastic," along with some "metallic-looking trim" that is strategically placed throughout the interior. Cars.com agrees and feels that the interior "materials and controls seem pretty high-quality."

Kelley Blue Book reports that "very little road noise intrud[es] into the passenger cabin." ConsumerGuide disagrees, saying the engine "roars during brisk acceleration and hill climbs" and that the Astra Saturn's "cabin is not very well isolated from road and tire noise, which are intrusive at higher speeds." They also complain about "Wind noise from around the mirrors" and say that the "two-panel sunroof produces a conversation-hampering wind rush."

Conclusion

Comfortable and capable on long rides, the 2008 Saturn Astra also feels like a much more expensive car, thanks to its impressive build quality.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Assembly feels solid, materials are high qualityCar and DriverThere just isn't a lot of space in this car, cargo or otherwiseMother ProofInterior materials [are] fully competitive with any car in the classAutomobile With the 2008 Astra, Saturn has come up with a vehicle with ample front seat room and, in four-door versions, a usefully flexible cargo area. Long drives in the 2008 Saturn Astra should prove to be no problem in terms of occupant ease. The Saturn Astra features welcoming seats for all five passengers. Car and Driver feels that the 2008 Saturn Astra is both "roomy" and "comfortable," and ConsumerGuide adds that the front of the Saturn Astra features "good headroom in both body styles for average-sized adults, even in versions equipped with the dual sunroof." ConsumerGuide continues by saying that the front seats "are comfortable, supportive, and well bolstered." Moving to the rear seats, Kelley Blue Book writes that "four-door models offer good rear seat legroom." Storage space is adequate on the 2008 Saturn Astra, though finding somewhere to tuck items up front can be a challenge. The rear cargo area of the 2008 Saturn Astra "has nearly 45 cubic feet of space" with the "60/40-split fold-down" rear seats stowed, according to Edmunds. This respectable carrying capacity in the back is at odds with the fact that "there's no center storage console at all -- just the parking-brake lever and a cupholder," according to reviewers at Cars.com. This helps to partially explain reviewer sentiment at Mother Proof, where they write that "there just isn't a lot of space in this car, cargo or otherwise." On the positive side, those same reviewers add that the front does feature an "illuminated glove compartment" of "decent size," as well as "front door pockets," but the omission of a center storage console is a big one. What the Saturn Astra loses in terms of cargo space, it makes up for with its build quality. Edmunds heaps praise in this area, finding that "the slam of the driver door alone [feels] more substantial than that of some midrange Mercedes models." Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also praised the interior quality and materials on the Astra Saturn, including Automobile's assertion that "interior materials [are] fully competitive with any car in the class." ConsumerGuide appreciates the "blend of soft touch surfaces and hard plastic," along with some "metallic-looking trim" that is strategically placed throughout the interior. Cars.com agrees and feels that the interior "materials and controls seem pretty high-quality." Kelley Blue Book reports that "very little road noise intrud[es] into the passenger cabin." ConsumerGuide disagrees, saying the engine "roars during brisk acceleration and hill climbs" and that the Astra Saturn's "cabin is not very well isolated from road and tire noise, which are intrusive at higher speeds." They also complain about "Wind noise from around the mirrors" and say that the "two-panel sunroof produces a conversation-hampering wind rush." ConclusionComfortable and capable on long rides, the 2008 Saturn Astra also feels like a much more expensive car, thanks to its impressive build quality.  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.

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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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