2008 Saturn Astra
The 2008 Saturn Astra is offered in two hatchback body styles-three-door and five-door. Both have a 138-horsepower, 1.8L Ecotec four-cylinder engine underhood, paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The engine has continuously variable valve timing, which helps make it both more responsive and efficient.
The Astra has a strut-type suspension in front, with bushings designed to curb noise and vibration, while the rear is of a semi-independent, axle-beam design. Together with the suspension, electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering helps provide sporty handling.
Inside, the Astra has sportier, more supportive seats (with more aggressive bolstering on three-doors) than most other cars in its price range, and a tilt/telescopic steering column. The back seat is also split 60/40 and folds flat to expand cargo capacity to nearly 45 cubic feet.
Safety features haven't been neglected either. Six air bags are standard, including roof-rail head-curtain air bags and seat-mounted thorax air bags in front. Active head restraints are also included. Anti-lock brakes are standard (they're optional on many small cars), while GM's StabiliTrak stability control system is standard on three-door models and optional on five-doors.
The Astra five-door comes in two trim levels, a base XE and sportier XR, while the three-door only comes in the XR trim. The base XE comes with power windows and locks, heated power mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, remote keyless entry, RainSense wipers, and a six-speaker CD sound system. XR models add alloy wheels, variable-effort steering, 16-inch alloys, projector-beam fog lamps, air conditioning, and an upgraded, seven-speaker sound system with MP3 compatibility.
XR three-door models have all of the equipment found on the five-door XR models, plus better-bolstered high-back seats, a sport lowered suspension, exhaust brightwork, quicker-ratio steering, and steering-wheel audio controls. Options include leather seats, an upgraded audio system, a dual-panel power sunroof on the XR five-door, and flashy 18-inch star-spoke alloy wheels on the top XR three-door.
Stylish inside and out; assured handling; fuel efficiency.
Because of its European design and engineering, the 2008 Saturn Astra is one of the most distinctive small cars offered in the U.S. market, inside and out. Fuel economy should be a strength when compared to most other vehicles in its class, and the top XR three-door looks poised to resonate with the go-fast small-car crowd. All Astras are extremely well-equipped with standard items that are most often found on the options list at this price range.
The European-flavored Astra is a new hatchback in the Saturn lineup for 2008. It is based on the Euro-market Opel of the same name and replaces the now-discontinued Ion sedan and coupe models.