Saturn is a company that is in the process of reinventing itself. Started on the premise of a clean sheet of paper and making the process of buying a new car hassle-free, Saturn has evolved a long way from its origins as a new kind of car company and nowhere is this more evident than with the introduction of the made-in-Belgium Astra three and five-door hatchback models.
GM is a global car maker and one of the most important component parts is its European  Opel subsidiary. When the plastic-clad Ion was introduced in 2003 it was launched at a time when Americans were preoccupied with trucks and SUVs. While sales were initially respectable, the market was looking elsewhere, especially in a category populated by exceptionally competitive entry-level cars from Asia.
To find a solution GM looked to Europe and saw that the Opel Astra could be a suitable, if not more expensive replacement for the Ion. Unlike the last trans-Atlantic Opel/Saturn effort, the mid-sized LS sedans and wagons, GM resisted the urge to Americanize the Astra and because of this, the Saturn Astra is almost a carbon copy of its German counterpart. The result is a C-segment car that has far more in common with a Volkswagen Rabbit than a Chevy Cobalt. It’s a handsome design that bristles with German sensibilities. Continue reading...
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.) There’s an AUX-in for your iPod in the center console.
The cabin is comfortable, well-appointed, and finished in trim that is above average for the class. The center stack houses the audio and HVAC controls and these will take some getting used to. There is an amber-colored screen at the top center of the dash, just where you might expect a navigation screen to reside but not in the Astra; it’s just the display for the stereo and a simple trip computer. There’s an AUX-in for your iPod in the center console. The HVAC controls are intuitive for those used to German cars but if you’re not, expect to spend some time with the owner’s manual to get fully acclimated. A factory installed navigation system is not among the options but the Astra is equipped with OnStar along with a free one-year service subscription. (If you want XM Radio and on-screen turn-by-turn sat nav, check out the Garmin SteeetPilot 2820 in our GPS Buyer’s Guide.)
I wanted to see confirm the infotainment options and on the Saturn web site and was able to chat live with a Saturn representative.
Our test car had a premium sound system ($595), the premium trim package that includes leather trim and heated front seats ($745) that made the Astra feel less like an economy car, along with the huge dual-panel power sunroof ($595), the sport handling package, and the 4-speed automatic transmission ($1,325) bringing the bottom line of the window sticker to a pricy $21,955.
On the road the Astra XR was a pleasant drive. In our 600-mile test lop it delivered a very respectable 24.2 miles per gallon of combined highway and city driving. This compares with its EPA rating of 30 highway/24 city. The ride is Germanic meaning that the suspension is set up for European preferences and might seem a bit firm for American tastes. The engine is a bit buzzy, not as refined as competitive units but not objectionable. Unless you really need the automatic, we suggest saving the $1,325 and staying with the standard 5-speed manual. You’ll probably add a mile or two per gallon by opting for the stick.
Our Astra XR, probably because of its relative rarity here in car crazy Southern California, drew a few more admiring glances than we expected. There is a certain way, fit and finish-wise, that German cars present themselves (the Astra is built in Germany as well as our Belgium-built example) and the Saturn is no exception. We feel that it is handsome for an entry-level car, especially given that it’s been on the market, in Europe, for more than three years. Expect a refresh for 2010.
What we’d like to see--but don’t expect due to the unfavorable exchange rates and the current gas price crisis--is a performance version to go head-to-head with the VW Rabbit GTI. In Europe there’s a hot Astra available, the 290-horsepower Astra VXR 888. With a top speed of 150 miles per hour, and with 0 to 60 sprints on tap in less than 6 seconds, it might be just the thing to get some added excitement into Saturn showrooms. Unfortunately, such a car would have to sell in the US for more than $30,000 and Saturn’s product planners will have to think long and hard to forecast if such a car would make sense.
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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