Car Reviews: 2008 Saturn Astra

In the automotive world, it becomes very easy for car enthusiasts to forget that all good ideas were once new. Although we tend to become very accustomed to our favorite models and designs, we also need to take the time to look at and evaluate new vehicles and products on the market. Certainly one new vehicle worth taking a second look at is the Saturn Astra, a new hatchback that has the promise to either create a new image and great sales for Saturn, or go the way of the abysmal and horribly produced Ion.

From the outside design, it definitely seems that the Astra has a lot going for it. Available in either a three or five door hatchback (coupe or sedan), the Astra has a distinctive look and one that is sure to get some notice. With a grill that seems more sporty than professional, and available alloy wheels, the Astra really does manage to look a little different from the rest of the crowd. Of course, it seems that hatchback designs never really work for cars that have four doors, and the Astra is no exception. While the five door hatchback definitely doesn't look as good as some may have hoped, the three door really does look great, and presents a compelling argument against some of the other car in it's class. While not everyone may enjoy the grill design or the swiftly rising lines on the side of the car, it is definitely worth checking out in person before making a determination.

Step inside the Astra, and a few surprises definitely await. Mainly, the inside of the car is really no match for the cheery and exciting exterior. Covered in grey and black, with a strange yellow temperature read out, and what looks to be the tall shifter of a 1995 Subaru Forrester. Although all of the materials are of a nice quality, it just seems like a little more effort could have gone into creating the interior. However, the car is comfortable to both sit and ride in, although those who actually want to give some comfort to the back passengers are going to want to go with the five door model. The only real complaint about the interior of the 2008 Astra is the visibility. A swept windshield, large pillars and a tiny back window compromise some of what is generally one of the nicer features of a hatchback. However, once one gets inside and turns the key, the cabin of the Astra becomes a place which is nicely matched to the vehicle, and is unlikely to inspire any long term complaints from owners.

Much like the exterior and the interior, the way that the Astra drives falls somewhere in the middle. Both the coupe and the hatchback are equipped with 1.8 liter Ecotech four cylinder engines. And, while they may be pretty good on fuel (around 25 to a gallon or so) the power of the car definitely suffers. Putting out 138 horse power and 126 foot pounds of torque, the Astra is just a tad bit disappointing in the performance realm. Of course, those who do care about performance in their vehicles are going to want to go with the three door hatchback, and likely the suspension upgrade package, which includes tighter steering and suspension, larger wheels, and electronic stability control. Of course, all of these suspension upgrades assume that you are going to get the car going fast enough to use them. When matched with the five speed manual transmission, the Astra has a little bit of ago, although the loud and noisy engine tends to rev out a bit too fast. The automatic is ridiculously slow for a new car, and the performance of the vehicle is likely going to be the biggest disappointment for new owners.

No, the 2008 Saturn Astra may not be the best new car in the world, but for the limited price and the excellent number of features available, it is a fair competitor, and it is more than likely that some will be one over by the creativity of the outside design and the sheer amount of features. However, don't expect the Astra to outperform anything in it's class, and you will have yourself a low priced, sporty looking new car for a great price.