By: Nathan D. Adlen
If you are a Star Wars fan and remember when Luke yelled, “NO!” as Darth Vader hacked down Obi-Wan Kenobi – then you know the exact same, “NO!” I yelled when I test drove the 2003 Saturn Ion. The simple and playful S Series’ comparative good looks, ease of operation and basic instrumentation was replaced by the Ion’s – err… lack there of.
Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the new Saturn Astra at the Los Angeles Auto Show a few years back. I knew from other publications that it was based on the European Opel Astra, built in Belgium and was well liked across the pond. It looks just like its European brethren and drives like an autobahn dream.
Aesthetically (I’m a sucker for a good looking car), the Saturn Astra is WAY better then the Ion. In fact, let’s forget the Ion altogether, it was like a bad sequel that was made up for (add your Star Wars comment here_______). Large, curved headlights that contain binocular-like beam projectors, give a sophisticated air without being pretentious. The grill is similar to the VW Rabbit’s (as are many features – that’s a good thing), and all of the sharp lines pinch off in the rear of the car where the taillights compliment the headlights beautifully. Thin pillars and high shoulders mirror much more expensive German cars and give the Saturn Astra a solid, no-gimmicks image; yet, still make it unique, especially in the United States.
Once again, the Saturn Astra pays homage to the Volkswagen Rabbit. This is noticed when sitting in the well bolstered front seats. Fairly elegant, soft materials and well placed instrumentation could easily be compared with the German benchmark’s setup. The only exception is the setup of the switches and buttons. It takes some time to realign your thinking and get used to symbols and icons that are not common on other cars sold in the states. Still, once you get past a few minor changes, the Saturn Astra is a very nice place to sit, nicer than any other American brand’s interior in its class.
The back seats are comfortable and provide a very useful perch for children and very little ones in cars seats. It’s very easy to reach over and assist from the front seats. The 60/40 split folding rear seat is a breeze to work and once down, the cargo floor is fairly flat and has space that is competitive with the Mazda 3, Volkswagen Rabbit and Dodge Caliber’s. Adults will find the rear comfortable for two and a squeeze for three. Tall people may struggle a tad to shove their feet under the front seats and squeeze their knees together, but that is only if the people in front are equally tall.
If you are tall, do not forget to use the height adjusting ratchet BEFORE you sit down! After smacking the side of my head so hard that my right eye welded shut and teared for five minutes, I realized the previous driver was tiny. After a few moments of indignation and pain, I found a rather comfortable position and scampered off. As the throbbing subsided, I realized that the former driver (who must have been less than 5 feet tall) found the Saturn Astra as user friendly as I did.
More good news: Saturn Astras come with a host of new safety features, along with several standards (such as 6 airbags and anti-lock disks). An active head restraint moves the headrests forward in the event you are rear ended. This minimizes the chances for serious neck injuries. Also, to help prevent lower leg injuries; the pedals are made to pop off in the event of a serious impact. Don’t worry, they wont pop off under normal driving conditions – I pounded my size 13 boots mercilessly all over the gas, break and clutch pedals during hard cornering and they stayed right where they supposed to be.
Cornering is what the Saturn Astra is all about. With a very solid chassis and no rattles, I threw the front drive hatchback into a series of bends that greatly upset my last testers. The Saturn Astra merely dipped slightly forward, made a mellow skidding noise, rolled just a tad and yanked itself through the hard transition like a champ. I got the impression that this was what the Saturn Astra did best – and I was right. Few front drive cars can handle real hard cornering. This is what is so rewarding about the Saturn Astra. I was even doing it with lower road grip, all season tires.
Having suspension geometry similar to the last VW Jetta (with a rear torsion bar setup, independent front) was a wise decision on GM’s behalf. The long wheelbase and wide stance give the Saturn Astra a sure footed feeling. The electrically assisted steering needs to add a bit more road feel, but it’s fairly precise in operation.
It was at that moment of fun that I realized the Saturn Astra’s greatest flaw – 138 horsepower (and 125 lbs feet of torque) were merely adequate. It is a mystery to me why GM opted to keep the power so modest when they have other Ecotec engines that have a lot more grunt and manage decent mileage numbers. With the Saturn Astra’s 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with the 5 speed manual (24 city and 30 highway with the automatic) economy is about mid-pack compared to the competition. Still, this chassis could handle so much more and deliver much more excitement.
There is another problem - price. Though a fully loaded price just under $23,000 for the 4 door, automatic Saturn Astra XR is fairly reasonable, it is not the bargain it should be. That price is dangerously close to Mazda Speed 3 territory and surpasses the Volkswagen Rabbit 4 door’s fairly well optioned price. The Saturn Astra can not come close to the Mazda’s performance capabilities and the VW’s refinement / pedigree are a few steps beyond the Saturn Astra’s. A few thousand dollars less would make the Saturn Astra a much more compelling package (even with the mid $15,000 base price for the stripped version – an additional $2,000 or so is needed to get air conditioning and an automatic transmission).
Keep in mind that the Saturn Astra’s time may have finally come. After a fairly slow first year, gas prices and the economy in general have many folks considering new ways to get around. Dealerships are boning up for larger discounts and former SUV owners are looking for a thrifty ride that can still hold lots of cargo and provide a nice perch to dive from. Indeed, the Saturn Astra may be a well timed addition to General Motor’s fleet.
As I stated earlier, the Saturn Astra compares favorably to the Volkswagen Rabbit. The level of electronic sophistication and interior build materials are nearly equal. After driving both back to back, I would say that the Saturn Astra wins the bang-for-your-buck category and is slightly more satisfying to drive. Though, the Rabbit has an option for an MP3 jack and the Saturn Astra does not even have an option for one. I find the rear hatch and ingress/egress easier in the Rabbit – by just a bit.
The best way I can compare the Saturn Astra to any rival is to simply say it is Saturn’s (ala General Motors) interpretation of a Rabbit. GM has a better warranty and better prices than its German rival. Hopefully, they will see fit to add a “Red Line” beefed up Saturn Astra as they have in Europe. Or, simply squeeze the red-hot 2.0 liter, turbocharged, 260 horsepower (better than a Ferrari 308 GTB!) Ecotec into the Saturn Astra, add a few performance modifications and turn it loose.
Given the quality and European pedigree you get with the standard Saturn Astra, you are bound to enjoy the ride. I recommend the extra cash (a hefty $1,200) and get the big dual panel sunroof and stick to the higher end XR model as the XE forgoes air conditioning and has wimpy, steel wheels with hubcaps. The Saturn Astra’s 4 speed automatic transmission is a good match for the 1.8 liter engine and still proves economical; however, it is a $1,325 addition – which is a bit steep for auto-boxes in this class. There is an option for Stabili-Trak Stability Control which is an option just shy of $500.00 and gives you an extra measure of control. If you live in cold/wet climates, this would be an ideal add-on.
There is one more thing to consider about the Saturn Astra – it comes in a nifty 3 door. The overall performance of the Saturn Astra XR 3 door (it only comes as the higher end XR) is a wee bit more athletic than the 5 door, with a better turning radius and rate. Back seat comfort is good for a coupe and it can still swallow a decent amount of cargo. If you don’t mind loosing the utility of the two rear doors, you can be rewarded with optional, sweet looking 18 inch wheels that truly compliment the looks of the Saturn Astra 3 door… curious that they are not even options on the 5 door.
When I finish evaluating a new car, one of the final questions I ask myself is whether or not I would buy the aforementioned for myself or recommend it to a friend. Saturn’s Astra is a sophisticated small car that treats its driver to a comfy, upscale interior and driving dynamics that compete with any car in its class, with the exception of overall horsepower (138 is okay – 238 would be better).
Any friend of mine who wanted something new, good looking, rewarding to drive and well put-together in this bracket… yes, this is a great choice. My choice for the price would be something so fast that it is bound to get me in trouble (like the Mazda Speed 3 or Chevy HHR SS). But, if I had more sense and needed a nice commuter that had utility, nice seats and an air of sophistication – and if my wife had anything to say about it, then yes… the Saturn Astra would be a hell of a good choice.
So, am I over my horrified reaction to the debut of the (un-missed, un-loved and un-wanted) Saturn Ion? Yup, thanks to the new batch of vehicles Saturn is offering, I feel much better. You will too after a test drive – just don’t forget to bargain hard – even if they say they don’t negotiate. Just yell, “NO!” and run out for a few minutes. By the time you return, they may be willing to make a deal.
If you are a Star Wars fan and remember when Luke yelled, “NO!” as Darth Vader hacked down Obi-Wan Kenobi – then you know the exact same, “NO!” I yelled when I test drove the 2003 Saturn Ion. The simple and playful S Series’ comparative good looks, ease of operation and basic instrumentation was replaced by the Ion’s – err… lack there of.
Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the new Saturn Astra at the Los Angeles Auto Show a few years back. I knew from other publications that it was based on the European Opel Astra, built in Belgium and was well liked across the pond. It looks just like its European brethren and drives like an autobahn dream.
Aesthetically (I’m a sucker for a good looking car), the Saturn Astra is WAY better then the Ion. In fact, let’s forget the Ion altogether, it was like a bad sequel that was made up for (add your Star Wars comment here_______). Large, curved headlights that contain binocular-like beam projectors, give a sophisticated air without being pretentious. The grill is similar to the VW Rabbit’s (as are many features – that’s a good thing), and all of the sharp lines pinch off in the rear of the car where the taillights compliment the headlights beautifully. Thin pillars and high shoulders mirror much more expensive German cars and give the Saturn Astra a solid, no-gimmicks image; yet, still make it unique, especially in the United States.
Once again, the Saturn Astra pays homage to the Volkswagen Rabbit. This is noticed when sitting in the well bolstered front seats. Fairly elegant, soft materials and well placed instrumentation could easily be compared with the German benchmark’s setup. The only exception is the setup of the switches and buttons. It takes some time to realign your thinking and get used to symbols and icons that are not common on other cars sold in the states. Still, once you get past a few minor changes, the Saturn Astra is a very nice place to sit, nicer than any other American brand’s interior in its class.
The back seats are comfortable and provide a very useful perch for children and very little ones in cars seats. It’s very easy to reach over and assist from the front seats. The 60/40 split folding rear seat is a breeze to work and once down, the cargo floor is fairly flat and has space that is competitive with the Mazda 3, Volkswagen Rabbit and Dodge Caliber’s. Adults will find the rear comfortable for two and a squeeze for three. Tall people may struggle a tad to shove their feet under the front seats and squeeze their knees together, but that is only if the people in front are equally tall.
If you are tall, do not forget to use the height adjusting ratchet BEFORE you sit down! After smacking the side of my head so hard that my right eye welded shut and teared for five minutes, I realized the previous driver was tiny. After a few moments of indignation and pain, I found a rather comfortable position and scampered off. As the throbbing subsided, I realized that the former driver (who must have been less than 5 feet tall) found the Saturn Astra as user friendly as I did.
More good news: Saturn Astras come with a host of new safety features, along with several standards (such as 6 airbags and anti-lock disks). An active head restraint moves the headrests forward in the event you are rear ended. This minimizes the chances for serious neck injuries. Also, to help prevent lower leg injuries; the pedals are made to pop off in the event of a serious impact. Don’t worry, they wont pop off under normal driving conditions – I pounded my size 13 boots mercilessly all over the gas, break and clutch pedals during hard cornering and they stayed right where they supposed to be.
Cornering is what the Saturn Astra is all about. With a very solid chassis and no rattles, I threw the front drive hatchback into a series of bends that greatly upset my last testers. The Saturn Astra merely dipped slightly forward, made a mellow skidding noise, rolled just a tad and yanked itself through the hard transition like a champ. I got the impression that this was what the Saturn Astra did best – and I was right. Few front drive cars can handle real hard cornering. This is what is so rewarding about the Saturn Astra. I was even doing it with lower road grip, all season tires.
Having suspension geometry similar to the last VW Jetta (with a rear torsion bar setup, independent front) was a wise decision on GM’s behalf. The long wheelbase and wide stance give the Saturn Astra a sure footed feeling. The electrically assisted steering needs to add a bit more road feel, but it’s fairly precise in operation.
It was at that moment of fun that I realized the Saturn Astra’s greatest flaw – 138 horsepower (and 125 lbs feet of torque) were merely adequate. It is a mystery to me why GM opted to keep the power so modest when they have other Ecotec engines that have a lot more grunt and manage decent mileage numbers. With the Saturn Astra’s 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with the 5 speed manual (24 city and 30 highway with the automatic) economy is about mid-pack compared to the competition. Still, this chassis could handle so much more and deliver much more excitement.
There is another problem - price. Though a fully loaded price just under $23,000 for the 4 door, automatic Saturn Astra XR is fairly reasonable, it is not the bargain it should be. That price is dangerously close to Mazda Speed 3 territory and surpasses the Volkswagen Rabbit 4 door’s fairly well optioned price. The Saturn Astra can not come close to the Mazda’s performance capabilities and the VW’s refinement / pedigree are a few steps beyond the Saturn Astra’s. A few thousand dollars less would make the Saturn Astra a much more compelling package (even with the mid $15,000 base price for the stripped version – an additional $2,000 or so is needed to get air conditioning and an automatic transmission).
Keep in mind that the Saturn Astra’s time may have finally come. After a fairly slow first year, gas prices and the economy in general have many folks considering new ways to get around. Dealerships are boning up for larger discounts and former SUV owners are looking for a thrifty ride that can still hold lots of cargo and provide a nice perch to dive from. Indeed, the Saturn Astra may be a well timed addition to General Motor’s fleet.
As I stated earlier, the Saturn Astra compares favorably to the Volkswagen Rabbit. The level of electronic sophistication and interior build materials are nearly equal. After driving both back to back, I would say that the Saturn Astra wins the bang-for-your-buck category and is slightly more satisfying to drive. Though, the Rabbit has an option for an MP3 jack and the Saturn Astra does not even have an option for one. I find the rear hatch and ingress/egress easier in the Rabbit – by just a bit.
The best way I can compare the Saturn Astra to any rival is to simply say it is Saturn’s (ala General Motors) interpretation of a Rabbit. GM has a better warranty and better prices than its German rival. Hopefully, they will see fit to add a “Red Line” beefed up Saturn Astra as they have in Europe. Or, simply squeeze the red-hot 2.0 liter, turbocharged, 260 horsepower (better than a Ferrari 308 GTB!) Ecotec into the Saturn Astra, add a few performance modifications and turn it loose.
Given the quality and European pedigree you get with the standard Saturn Astra, you are bound to enjoy the ride. I recommend the extra cash (a hefty $1,200) and get the big dual panel sunroof and stick to the higher end XR model as the XE forgoes air conditioning and has wimpy, steel wheels with hubcaps. The Saturn Astra’s 4 speed automatic transmission is a good match for the 1.8 liter engine and still proves economical; however, it is a $1,325 addition – which is a bit steep for auto-boxes in this class. There is an option for Stabili-Trak Stability Control which is an option just shy of $500.00 and gives you an extra measure of control. If you live in cold/wet climates, this would be an ideal add-on.
There is one more thing to consider about the Saturn Astra – it comes in a nifty 3 door. The overall performance of the Saturn Astra XR 3 door (it only comes as the higher end XR) is a wee bit more athletic than the 5 door, with a better turning radius and rate. Back seat comfort is good for a coupe and it can still swallow a decent amount of cargo. If you don’t mind loosing the utility of the two rear doors, you can be rewarded with optional, sweet looking 18 inch wheels that truly compliment the looks of the Saturn Astra 3 door… curious that they are not even options on the 5 door.
When I finish evaluating a new car, one of the final questions I ask myself is whether or not I would buy the aforementioned for myself or recommend it to a friend. Saturn’s Astra is a sophisticated small car that treats its driver to a comfy, upscale interior and driving dynamics that compete with any car in its class, with the exception of overall horsepower (138 is okay – 238 would be better).
Any friend of mine who wanted something new, good looking, rewarding to drive and well put-together in this bracket… yes, this is a great choice. My choice for the price would be something so fast that it is bound to get me in trouble (like the Mazda Speed 3 or Chevy HHR SS). But, if I had more sense and needed a nice commuter that had utility, nice seats and an air of sophistication – and if my wife had anything to say about it, then yes… the Saturn Astra would be a hell of a good choice.
So, am I over my horrified reaction to the debut of the (un-missed, un-loved and un-wanted) Saturn Ion? Yup, thanks to the new batch of vehicles Saturn is offering, I feel much better. You will too after a test drive – just don’t forget to bargain hard – even if they say they don’t negotiate. Just yell, “NO!” and run out for a few minutes. By the time you return, they may be willing to make a deal.
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