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We tested the Astra XE four-door hatchback. Until Sky came along, Saturn hadn't been blessed with much styling imagination. The Astra that replaces Ion benefits from the attention to fashion that started with Sky and carried into Aura, Vue and Outlook. The wide-bar chrome grille common in all Saturns graces the Astra nose as well. Cabin noise, which seemed a part of Saturn DNA, is noticeable by its absence. The rear cargo hold is very large. A parcel shelf hides whatever you store there from onl...

The stability control alone is worth the price just for the safety factor it provides on slippery road surfaces, but the tires, steering and suspension really gave this compact car a precise, sporty feel. Move the steering wheel slightly and the car instantly responds to the input, but even though the steering was quick, it didn't feel twitchy when cruising down the street or highway. In fact, the car was relaxing to drive, with a natural feel to the steering control. The lower sport suspension ...

Europhiles are often miserable to discover, when they rent a car overseas, that some big old Detroit firms actually make terrific small cars with the lean, quick-twitch muscle fiber of a proper European. They just don't import them to the U.S. To its credit, GM has been changing that in recent years. The Saturn division is now the conduit for a raft of German-engineered products. The Saturn Astra is striking in the fact that none of the tensed ligaments and bunched muscle – the overall sense o...

Indeed, there has been a renaissance in the Saturn lineup, starting with the boldly styled Sky roadster, the Aura sedan and the Outlook and redesigned Vue crossovers. Ironically, the Sky is now the oldest product wearing the Saturn badge, while the compact Astra is the youngster in the family. Already, the Astra is making such a splash with critics that it will surely spark that rush of shoppers Burton and his dealers are seeking. Not only did the Astra top all entries in the tough small car cat...

With its distinctive outward styling and Euro-feel interior making it stand out in the field of economy hatchbacks in the North American market, the Belgian-built Astra is a refreshing change for Saturn's parent company GM. I have driven the full line of Astras since they came to this side of the Atlantic, and my test vehicle a few weeks back was the company's XR trim level, in five-door configuration. Equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, and optioned up with enhanced electro-hy...

Read Automobile magazine's David Yochum's comments on driving the 2008 Saturn Astra 3-Door: I've heard all the warnings about the Astra's European interior labels, the weird center door-unlock button, and the extremely weak engine. But you know what? It also comes with its own cachet. Stepping into the two-door Astra feels like an entirely new GM experience (which it is). Forget Chevy Cobalts and Pontiac/Toyota Vibes, everything you touch is of solid, German build quality. Push and pull the d...

The Astra's engine, with a full 12-horsepower advantage over the Corolla, is nicely muffled from inside. It felt well-sorted through fast corners, with a responsive small-diameter steering wheel and grippy disc brakes on all four wheels. First gear felt a little limp, and second gear didn't bite into the road like I would have liked, but once the Astra is in motion, it has more than enough get-up-and-go. It's a $20,900 Saturn, though, not a $95,000 Maserati. So I can't complain about a slight la...

Like the musical stylings of David Hasselhoff or a dinner of bovine organs smothered in vinegar, the premium-class hatchback is a concept that Germans love, but Americans can't quite understand. The 2008 Saturn Astra XR hopes to change all that. When you consider the hard-core audience for the Volkswagen GTI in the U.S., it shouldn't be that hard to counter the image of entry-level crumminess that the hatchback has acquired over the years. Of course, BMW failed with the 1995 318Ti and Mercedes-B...

Ever complain about the lack of affordable European-influenced cars on our side of the pond? If your answer is 'yes', then Saturn wants you to take a look at their Astra. Nearly identical to the Opel of the same name, it completes a re-invention of Saturn's model lineup and is a machine of huge importance to the GM division. Hatchbacks offer the sort of utility that it's easy to fall in love with, so models like the Astra are endlessly popular all over the world. Astra comes in three or five-doo...

The Astra's interior is definitely not like those of other North American GM cars, which is immediately evident as you embrace the Astra's tilt/telescoping three-spoke wheel. Steering wheel controls include audio access, as well as a trackwheel for the centre stack driver information display. Headlamps receive an Auto setting, with a pop-out dimmer dial for instrument illumination. The driver's door pod uses a unique no-guess toggle for the direction correction of the exterior power heated mirro...

The Astra's insides are well built and well trimmed if a bit austere, with lots of black, grey and silver plastic. You can tell the Astra wasn't designed in the US; it's a little shy on cupholders and there's no MP3 player input jack for the stereo. Still, as compact cars go it's marginally cheerier than the VW Rabbit's cabin, though not nearly as stylish as the Nissan Sentra or Honda Civic. The level of equipment is quite good, though. All Astras come with automatic headlights, automatic rain-s...

Available in both three-door and five-door models, the Saturn Astra competes with the Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Rabbit, Toyota Yaris, Mazda3, and Volvo C30 among others in the red hot hatchback market. Under the hood, the 2008 Astra is fitted with an Ecotec 1.8 liter four cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower and 125 foot pounds of torque. While European design details abound in the Astra, the power plant is decidedly domestic. Among its distinctive design features, the simple yet elegant dashb...

From Charleston.net: Climbing into the Saturn Astra, which replaces the miserable Ion sedan, I close the door. Thunk. It closes with a solidity I rarely have experienced in a General Motors product. And the seats! They actually have firm side bolsters and a firm, supportive feel. They're perfect for the weekend autocross enthusiast. As I twist the key and the four-cylinder comes alive, I slip into gear and drive off. That's when the revelation really begins.

Saturn's European-bred Astra has arrived just in time to meet the public's demand for compact, fuel-efficient cars. Replacing the discontinued Ion, the front-wheel-drive Astra is a Saturn version of the the one produced by General Motor's Opel brand, which is a a top-selling car throughout Europe. The eye-catching test car was assembled in Belgium. From a driver's standpoint, the Astra excels with its nimble European feel and cornering behavior. The strut-type front suspension and rear semi-inde...

From the Calgary Herald: There has been a renaissance in the Saturn lineup, starting with the boldly styled Sky roadster, the Aura sedan and the Outlook and redesigned Vue crossovers. Ironically, the Sky is now the oldest product wearing the Saturn badge, while the compact Astra is the youngster in the family. Already, the Astra is making such a splash with critics that it will surely spark that rush of shoppers Burton and his dealers are seeking. Not only did the Astra top all entries in the...