2008 Saturn Astra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The acceleration is decent for a economic car. The brakes are very smooth. The handling is amazing, I love taking turns very fast. Overall for the build quality it's been great, i've had it for only 6 months but so far I haven't had any problems. Both the exterior and interior are amazing. The exterior is a unique style that isn't seen very often and my favorite part about it is the panoramic sunroof. The interior is very interesting, its a Black cloth interior with and light grey pillars and roof. The gas milage is awesome 28/32 mpg. Out of every car I have driven, this one is my favorite. I have driven 1995 Dodge Neon, 2006 Nissan Maxima, 2010 Nissan Altima and a 2001 Chevy Tahoe and none of them compare to this car.

Top Speed: 225 km/h Acceleration 0-100 12 sec Handling very good in corners Build Quality: it doesnt need repairs no squeaks or rattles wat so ever Appearance: interior 4/5 exterior 5/5 cost of ownership: Millage 9700 km Maintenance perfect Fun Factor: click on the sport button and enjoy life in fast forward mode. I would recommend it to a friend obviously (if he/she will treat it right)

The Astra is a relatively unknown model in the US, engineered in Germany and built in the mid-2000s by Opel in Belgium. While it lacks the acceleration of the VW GTI from the same model years, the Astra combines superior handling, excellent brakes and a body style that has weathered well over the years. Astras have a good reputation for longevity when reasonably maintained. The body structure is stiff and durable, and if kept reasonably clean, does not generally show signs of rust. The Astra was subject to the drivers airbag recall from several years back, and any car being considered should be checked for the update. Due to the relative obscurity of this model in the US, however, some replacement parts are beginning to become challenging to find., although those that are available are generally reasonably-priced. The Astra is a stylish, reliable alternative for someone looking for a unique, fun-to-drive car at a moderate price.

I owned this car for 5 1/2 years. My daughter drove it for two years in the middle. It was not fully safety rated when I bought it, but it had side curtain airbags front and rear and I wanted a car that would protect my daughter / her passengers / my younger son - whoever was in back. Front crash safety is rated better than the back, but back is better than 99% of 2008 cars sold in US. Son of Mr. Goodwrench teacher, I bought the car due to discounts and that I wanted to buy a GM - if it was reliable. In Europe, these are sold as OPEL / VAUXHALL in droves, and compete with Civics and Corollas and VW well. It delivered in spades - we had ONE maintenance issue which took awhile to fix with a fuel sending unit - the second attempt was bungled and it took several tries for Saturn around the world to figure that out. NO other issues. Relatives had a stick coupe and it was more fun than the automatic for sure. This is a solid car with a definite European feel to it. Heated outside mirrors, good sound insulation, tough interior. NOT a throw away car. Mileage with automatic was around 27 mpg with a short commute and lots of highway over 63000 miles. Highest mpg ever on a trip? I remember one was 38, 500 miles with mostly highway, per the trip info center, not just me guessing. Handling and grip were very good from the start - I live in moderate snow winter mid Ohio. There is a winter start setting on the automatic which helps you get started in 3rd i think, which I rarely remembered to use - didn't need it. Stock Eagle LS2 tires are poorly rated compared to many on market but did last almost 50,000 miles. Replaced mine with General Altimax RT 43's which have been excellent and were highly recommended on Tire Rack. Cornering is a breeze, I never felt this car say to me I'm going too fast and that curve is too tight. And I do like to push limits... The radio / info system / maintenance indicator. (I have the lower level radio of the two which are very similar.) OMG. If you are just turning on the radio and saving stations or playing the CD, good to go. Adjusting the time is a pain. Resetting the maintenance miles (mostly an oil change thing) is insanely difficult, mechanics at Saturn had trouble doing it. It does have several nice features, trip odo's, mileage RIGHT NOW, mileage this trip, miles in tank at this rate (very helpful), temp, etc. Overall you hope to get it where you want it and to be able to leave it alone! I was able to load almost anything in this car, including things that I did not want to put in my wife's nicer / spotless vehicles (Santa Fe and XC60) - or could not get in them. Regularly loaded 20 2x4s and whatever else I wanted from hardware stores. Drop seat half, push front seat forward, take head rest off front, throw blanket over seat, load it up. Rarely used both seats down, but that adds some space as well. I took several long trips, and seats always outperformed my 2006 Honda Civic. Interior is dark, which makes finding dark things you've dropped on the floor interesting at night. Overall, if I knew then what I know now, I would have bought three of these and given one to both kids and kept one for me!

Performance- needs aftermarket tuning to really have any power, stock only provides 140 hp. Manual gearbox can be notchy, and clutch could have more feel and weight. Brakes work just fine for stopping quick driving, excellent handling but use good tires to do away with some understeer. Build quality - mechanic parts work perfectly, most of interior is also good, but some plastic parts are poorly done Appearance - Unique, cool hot hatch design, esp in black with 18 in wheels and low-pro tires. Fun Factor- With more power and a 6 speed gearbox, this car would be an absolute joy to drive. Until then, it is quite easy to enjoy technical driving with quick steering response.

While it is not the fastest car I have ever owned (1982 Ford Mustang 5.0 H.O.) the performance is good. The tight suspension makes cornering a breeze. the snug fitting seats, and Tilt/ telescopic wheel make it very easy to find a comfortable driving position. This European built car has alot of small details that add up to a well thought out car..Express down windows (can be opened with the RKE) , trip computer, 6 standard air bags, 7 speaker stereo with CD. Onstar is great, and the "Safe and Sound" package is free for the first year. I now drive, even when I have no place to go!

I love the way the car looks. The leather is a little stiff, hopefully it will soften up as I put more mileage on it. The factory 18" make a massive difference. The acceleration on the car is borderline pathetic, especially for a car that looks this fast. The handling is another story; sticky rubber, firm suspension settings and a wide track make it corner with no fuss and no drama.

Great little car that's fun to drive. Solid build quality and safe. Upscale interior compared to Kia, Hyundai and the Japanese cars. OnStar is awesome. Reliability has been great. Gas and go and oil changes were the only expenses. I wish Saturn still made cars.

Could be a bit more powerful (138 hp in a 1.5 ton hatch.) Handling is excellent. Solid build quality. Love the looks. Gas mileage has been pretty average. Only approx. 27 mpg with mixed driving (city and highway.) Overall, I couldn't be happier. I love this car.

The new 2008 Saturn Astra is a great car for the average guy or gal that whats something sporty yet fuel effecient. The car has a solid chassis, and stiff suspension but lacks power to match. The tiny 1.8L Ecotec just doesn't have enough fun factor. Now, if we in North America could get the 2.0L turbo from the Opel Astra in europe, this car would be fantastic for the average low budget tuner.