2008 Saturn Astra - Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 12 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
2008 saturn astra Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...Fuel economy is 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for manual-transmission models and 24/30 with the automatic. Safety: Standard safety features include stability control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags, whiplash-reducing front head restraints and the OnStar communications system. Interior Design and Special Features: The cabin is the Astra's strongest point, with the slam of the driver door alone feeling more substantial than that of some midrange Mercedes models. Like much of the car, Opel clearly had Volkswagen in its sights when it designed the... |
| #2 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...There are nice touches such as dual lighted vanity mirrors on the sun visors, but there's only one cup holder for front-seat passengers, and it's way to the rear of the center console. The test car had a premium sound system ($595) and leather upholstery ($745, and includes heated front seats) that made it feel less like an economy car. The front seats slide forward easily to allow access to the rear seat, and, unless the front-seat passengers are long-legged, there's a fair amount of room in the rear for two adults. Anyone over 6 feet, though, will be slightly limited in headroom... |
| #3 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Another bonus is that even at such a low price, safety remains a priority for Saturn. The 2008 Astra has six standard airbags, including side impact and side curtain bags. Furthermore, since Saturn is a GM company, the lucky Astra owner gets one year of the OnStar's Safe & Sound service. This means that you get such OnStar features as Remote Door Unlock, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance and regular vehicle diagnostics reports. This makes me wonder whether OnStar could have come to my rescue if I had run out of cargo space? My OnStar call could have gone something like this, "Hi, it's... |
| #4 |
Flash Drive: 2008 Saturn Astra XRSource: MSN Autos...But after spending a few days in the Astra, I got used to the low torque. The interior is roomy, with plenty of space in the back seat as well as the cargo area. But what really won me over was averaging 28 mpg. These days, good fuel economy can trump just about any minor complaint. – Perry SternThe Astra adds to an improving lineup of stylish cars from Saturn. It may remind some of the Mazda3, but it’s not as sporty and not quite as long. The sculpted headlights and twin-spoke wheels complement the overall looks. One of my favorite features is the large two-panel sunroof. As good as the... |
| #5 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...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... |
| #6 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...such as automatic rain-sensing wipers, six air bags, including roof-rail head curtain bags, steering wheel-mounted controls and electronic stability control on the three-door model. It's an option on the five-door model. Options also are reasonably priced: $250 for cloth-heated front seats; $495 for 18-inch wheels on the coupe; and $1,000 for the dual panel sunroof, which is the largest in the compact segment, offering a spectacular view from the second row. Another great quality of the Astra is that it's a hatchback. While some believe Americans have a certain disdain for hatchbacks -- we've... |
| #7 |
2008 Saturn Astra OverviewSource: CarGurus..." 80 mph equals 4,000 rpm, at which point the engine's noise saturates the passenger compartment.The Astra interiors are nicely done up in sleek black and faux-aluminum finish, with "old fashioned" large stereo and temperature control knobs and easy-to-read large gauges. Leather is available on the XR trim, which includes lumbar support and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. All models have 60/40 split-folding rear seats, but cargo volume is less than expected, with the five-door offering a rear-seats-folded maximum of 44.7 cubic feet (the smaller Nissan Versa offers 50 cubic feet) and the... |
| #8 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...my test car had the sport handling package's firmer tuning and 17-inch wheels, both standard on the two-door. The tires are high-performance all-season types. Eighteen-inch wheels and summer tires are optional only on the two-door. The option package also includes StabiliTrak, an electronic stability system with traction control , which I was pleased to find minimally intrusive. An impressive solidity really adds to the driving experience. It's not quite as vaultlike as a Jetta, but neither does it feel as heavy. On the flip side, though the Focus has always had stunningly unflappable... |
| #9 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The dashboard reminds me a bit of the current-generation Cadillac CTS' interior — you know, the one that's garnered rave reviews ... for its 2008 replacement. But remember, this isn't a luxury model. Apart from the design, the dashboard surface is soft to the touch and the other materials and controls seem pretty high-quality. The car's European origin suggests that its underlying quality and features will be better than average. A staple in Europe, smaller cars are taken more seriously there by developers and buyers alike. To succeed there is tougher than it is here. Often-overlooked... |
| #10 |
2008 Saturn Astra Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The dramatic bowed shape of what's called the DLO (daylight opening), the rakish profile, the harmonious geometry of the lighting instruments and body contours and well-planted stance all make it kind of incredible that this sleek road weasel is the replacement for that awful gorgon, the Saturn Ion. Over a foot shorter overall, but on virtually the same wheelbase, the Astra completely erases the memories of the Ion as if it were an out-of-favor Politburo member written out of the Soviet history books. (Here's a potential trouble spot: Opel is already well along with the replacement for the... |
Saturn Astra Related News
AutoExpress Spots New Opel Astra, Buick Astra On The Way?
Lately, the North American market has been getting plenty of Opels in the guise of Buicks like the Chinese market. Now, the British automotive website AutoExpress has... May 24, 2010 by Todd DeMeza 1
New Opel Astra Cabrio in the works
With Opel’s new Astra now out in the open, attention can turn to variants other than the regular five-door Hatchback that’s been plastered all over the web in... June 23, 2009 by Kenneth Hall 1
Opel shows off interior for new Astra
After months of previews, teasers and small official photos, the 2010 Opel (Vauxhall) Astra has finally been let out of the bag. The hatch has been revealed in high-res... June 18, 2009 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran 5
Opel releases full details for all-new Astra
After months of previews, teasers and small official photos, the 2010 Opel (Vauxhall) Astra has finally been let out of the bag. The hatch has been revealed in high-res... May 12, 2009 by Alex Kaufmann 3
Opel drops new teaser for next-gen Astra
Opel has unveiled the new 2010 Astra, which you can see in full by clicking here. A heavily camouflaged prototype of Opel’s next-generation Astra hatch was spotted... May 11, 2009 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran 7
Why should I also consider these?
The class leader is the Honda Civic.
It has sedan and two-door body styles, as well as a hybrid model and a compressed-natural-gas (CNG) version.
The Ford Focus, newly restyled for 2008, has taken a step backward in looks but two steps forward in features with offerings such as the entertainment SYNC controller.
The Mazda3 is the most like the Saturn Astra, with two- and four-door hatchbacks--and it's one of the best-looking, best-handling cars in this class.
