I had read great reviews of Astra, which is essentially the same car being sold by GM to Europeans as the Opel Astra, or in Great Britain, the Vauxhall Astra. Designed in Germany and built in Belgium, Astra sounded like a hot little hatchback.
“A taut, European-bred suspension that delivers a sharp, responsive driving experience,” Saturn’s publicity reads. Car reviewers from other publications seemed to concur.
Imagine my disappointment when I started driving this gorgeous little four-door hatchback and found not a taut, responsive driving experience but a suspension that was mushy, rubbery and poorly controlled. It’s like they forgot to add shock absorbers.
Sure, Astra corners nicely and the steering is right on, but overall, I found the car to be too soft and wallowing. Even my passengers complained.
The only thing I can figure is that other reviewers drove the two-door hatch version, which may have sportier underpinnings. The four-door I drove was quite unimpressive.
Engine power was lacking as well. With just 138 horsepower tied to a four-speed automatic, acceleration was sluggish until you got the engine high up in the revs, which is not a very economical way to drive.
I still found Astra to be a superior car, in terms of style, features and comfort, considering its price point. I think what it needs is a set of performance shocks and a five-speed manual, which is standard equipment, to make it all happen.
Saturn has become a conduit for GM’s world cars, which makes sense since there are so many good ones. Both the Vue compact SUV and the Aura sedan are rebadged Opels, with good results.
But my Astra experience left me mystified.
Saturn Astra XR
Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.
Engine: 1.8-liter inline-4, 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, 125 pounds-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic.
Wheelbase: 102.9 inches.
Overall length: 170.5 inches.
Curb weight: 2,921 pounds.
EPA rating: 24 city, 30 highway.
Highs: Sharp styling, accommodating interior, value pricing.
Lows: Sluggish, mushy suspension, some chintzy interior pieces.
Performance: GM’s familiar 1.8-liter Ecotec engine is a sophisticated double-overhead-cam four-banger with variable valve timing and a two-step intake manifold. But with just 126 pounds-feet of torque and coupled with an automatic, the Ecotec is slow to pull the nearly 3,000-pound Astra up to speed.
Once at cruising speed, the engine is smooth and quiet, and it holds its own on the freeway. Fuel mileage is decent.
Drivability: I won’t go on about the mushy suspension. Every other review I read raved about the firm and maneuverable handling, but that was not my experience.
Electronic stability control and traction control are optional, with antilock brakes standard equipment.
Styling: Astra is a great-looking compact, from its cool projector-beam headlights to its sculpted rear hatch. The four-door has a racy stance, especially on its spoked alloy wheels.
Interior: Modern styling and trim elevates Astra’s interior above economy-car status, including an interesting dial control for audio and trip computer. There were a few chintzy bits that could be improved.
Front-seat occupants get just one cupholder set far back in the console. The cargo area is generous, especially with the back seats folded.
The panoramic sunroof is awesome.
Bottom line: Starting at just over $16,000, Astra seems like a good buy. But go for stick shift and a better set of shocks.
Base price: $16,925.
Price as tested: $20,960.
OPTIONS
Automatic transmission, $1,325.
Sunroof, $1,000.
Audio upgrade, $595.
Stability control and traction control, $495.
Shipping, $620.