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2008 Saturn XR 5-door Hatchback (Visit this link)
Our test car was an up-level XR 5-door hatchback, a very versatile configuration that provides a class competitive cabin, with regard to size, within a very compact overall length of 170.5 inches. The engine, a 1.8-liter, 138-horsepower four-cylinder is reasonably powerful but not as refined as the best engines in the class. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with a four-speed automatic a $1,325 option, which is how our test car was equipped. (The automatic shifts into neutral at stops to save fuel and eliminates the crawl that is so typical with clutch-less automatics.) On the road the Astra XR was a pleasant drive. The cabin is comfortable, well-appointed, and finished in trim that is above average for the class. The Saturn XR is a welcome addition to the compact car class, providing a clear alternative to the segment leaders. If you see yourself as something of an iconoclast, and don't want to drive a car seen as the default choice – like a Honda Civic – then the Saturn Astra XR might be just the car for you. And with gas on its way towards $5.00 a gallon, it's a very practical choice as well.
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