Less than a year after it debuted in the U.S. as a replacement for the Ion, Saturn's Astra XR has proved itself to be a snazzy sports coupe that's a fun, stylish ride.
The 2008 Astra was introduced in the U.S. in late 2007 after gaining popularity in the European market. It capped a revamping of the General Motors nameplate's lineup, leaving the Sky roadster, which debuted in March 2006, as the oldest Saturn model.
"In Europe, the Astra's combination of style, performance, safety technology and fuel efficiency have made it a hit with owners and auto critics alike," Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak said in statement released in advance of the car's debut.
The Astra is available in a three- or five-door model, each featuring a responsive suspension system that handle curves with ease.
Powered by a 1.8-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower, it quickly gets up to freeway speeds (Edmunds.com clocked zero to 60 in 8.8 seconds). We averaged 21 miles per gallon during a week of driving.
The three-door hatchback model came with 17-inch alloy wheels, a nice styling touch that gave the Astra a muscled stance.
The sports-style bucket seats provided plenty of side support during tight turns but were far from cushy. However, visibility wasn't all that great and the rear compartment is not very inviting.
The Astra scores high marks as a cargo carrier, with 12 cubic feet of space with the rear seats
Saturn sold about 500 Astras in January and has seen sales increase steadily since then, hitting nearly 2,000 units last month, spokesman Steve Janisse said.
"It definitely did get off to a slow start," he said. "It's been pretty fun to watch it take off."
And a price point under $20,000 makes the Astra a good first-car option. There's been a buzz factor in the blogosphere and on the social networking scene, he said.
"It seems to be a hit with the younger crowd," Janisse said.
That was evident the first time I saw the test model, painted what Saturn calls "salsa red" with a charcoal interior.
The Astra does have its quirks. The car is 170.5 inches long, of which 53.5 inches is door. In fact, it's the biggest door I've ever seen on a compact car.
By comparison, the front door on a colleague's Ford F 350 Super Duty pickup is 50 inches wide. The door on my Volvo S70 GLT measures just 42 inches.
The good: The Astra's wide door provides generous entry room and great access to interior of the front floor area.
The bad: Extra care is needed when opening the door if another car is parked next to you. And getting out of the car was a bit dicey in our garage or in lots where parking was tight.
That's OK, though, because the Astra is obviously targeted to a younger market populated by those who place form over function.
greg.wilcox@dailynews.com 818-713-3743
SATURN ASTRA XR
ENGINE: 1.8-liter four-cylinder
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual
HORSEPOWER: 140
PRICE: $17,875 base/$18,090 as tested
MILEAGE: 24 city, 32 highway
THE MANUAL SAYS: Where are the air bags? The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
THE WIFE SAYS: "It's a sporty car and looks great in red. But the seats feel like you are on a carnival ride."
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