GM@Chicago
2008 Saturn Astra Photo Gallery

2008 Saturn Astra Press Release

XR 3-door

XR 5-door

Interior

not bad. Two door is definitely sexier than 4 door.

Edited February 4, 200719 yr by lakefire

So it's not getting the bowtie radio, yet.

I like it. A lot. But it really needs an Americanized interior I think. It's a stopgap, but will all those buttons even work? I mean, would an ION replacement have the Phone Keypad but almost nothing else in GM's lineup doesn't?

It is good to know that they have not trickled down the options. I like it. The interior color is not the best. May be it will looks better in black (me thinks)

will there be a sedan?

GOD GM dont leave license plates on your cars for a photo shoot! use a GM Design Studio or something, the blue really stands out.

I agree with the interior, it reminds me of the current Malibu, just a sea of sameness. But otherwise, its hot.

This car is sweet. Might just be best-in-class.

Where do I sign for a black three-door XR?

Anyone know the projected price tag on the Astra?

With the 3 door GM finally has a car that will appeal to a large number of import buyers. That design is great. Too bad the initial production run will be so limited. I don't care for the 5 door. It already looks dated to me. I never thought I'd say this but I'd rather see GM's corporate radio instead of what's being offered. The interior is ok but could stand improvement.

The 3 door is nice. The 5 door looks too much like a Golf/Rabbit. For small cars, automakers should really show the low-end models as well. For a small car, the base models will sell as much as the top of the line because people buy them because of the price otherwise they may move up a step.

It looks nice enough on the outside, but the interior looks cluttered and the contols look very difficult to use.

The interior is a (nice) surprise, I sure didn't expect them to keep the same radio/HVAC controls.

Really glad they brought this over the pond with its beauty intact. The coupe is one of the best looking compacts in the world right now.

I'm glad they didn't integrate the GMNA radio/hvac...would have looked out of place. The European controls look alot nicer, IMO, and blend in with the interior design much better.

It appears they downsized the view screen, though. That screen looks awfully small, I hope visibility and legibility will not be a problem.

Powertrain lineup is adequate, but competent. Considering the fact they brought this baby over here is good enough for me. After reliability has been proven, I'd seriously consider plunking down for the 3-door as a fun commuter car...and not have an ounce of shame for driving a Saturn (no offense to those who do). Now how bout that VXR or the giant windshield option?

I agree, the European controls are great, and better than the alternative at GMNA. I can't say enough for how much I love this car and the interior especially, if the quality holds up this interior will be at the top of its class for me.

Looks great... GM finally has an appealing compact for NA...the Cobalt has zero interest to me, but this is definitely appealing....

Would look so much better with a trunk. Showed this to my g/f and she said how awesome the front is, and she would buy it if it wasn't for the "stupid hatchback"

Would look so much better with a trunk. Showed this to my g/f and she said how awesome the front is, and she would buy it if it wasn't for the "stupid hatchback"

If you want a trunk, buy a Cobalt.

If I was looking to replace my Cobalt right now, I'd buy this, assuming it was priced similar to the Cobalt. I'm not sure if I'd buy the 3 or 5 door. The 5 door is not as bad as the 4 door Cobalt. I would have bought the 4 door Cobalt instead of my 2 door if the design had been better.

I wish the new 1.6L turbo (180hp) was offered, but maybe the US will get the OPC as the RedLine.

Would look so much better with a trunk. Showed this to my g/f and she said how awesome the front is, and she would buy it if it wasn't for the "stupid hatchback"

Strange how some people don't like hatchbacks... I would never buy a compact or subcompact like this with a trunk..that hatchback is infinitely more useful and looks better, IMHO...

Guys look closer--that isn't a phone pad by the radio, it only has 9 buttons not 12...methinks you get 9 presets here

Guys look closer--that isn't a phone pad by the radio, it only has 9 buttons not 12...methinks you get 9 presets here

Wow, you're right. I guess they did change some aspects of the interior.

I'm still waiting for one in laser blue, 5 door ,please.

Maybe it's just me-or do those wheels look really big?

I should ok though- I planned on getting the XE ( or XR-I forgot which one was the lower model) anyways.

I'm guessing 17s will be standard fare...

Guys look closer--that isn't a phone pad by the radio, it only has 9 buttons not 12...methinks you get 9 presets here

Sweet!

Strange how some people don't like hatchbacks... I would never buy a compact or subcompact like this with a trunk..that hatchback is infinitely more useful and looks better, IMHO...

Then there is me-I could go either way..

Then there is me-I could go either way..

Ditto. It really depends on the car and how it looks in either case as well as if the hatch/wagon bodystyle actually adds that much utility to the vehicle.

I'll take my XR 3-door in metallic red w/the 6-speed! Very nice.

I'm still waiting for one in laser blue, 5 door ,please.

Maybe it's just me-or do those wheels look really big?

I should ok though- I planned on getting the XE ( or XR-I forgot which one was the lower model) anyways.

I'm guessing 17s will be standard fare...

Those are optional wheels, 7 J x 17s on the 5-door and 7½ J x 18s on the 3-door. The 18" Star-design wheels are something like $1500 for the set in Europe and both the 17 and 18" wheels use a different brake hub to the 16" wheels, adding to the cost. The standard wheels on the 5-door are 6½ J x 16s, probably the steel 5-Structure-spoke design. The 3-door does get standard 17" alloys, probably those shown on the 5-door.

Edited February 5, 200719 yr by thegriffon

Wow! I am so happy the interior was not North Americanized.

I agree, the European controls are great, and better than the alternative at GMNA. I can't say enough for how much I love this car and the interior especially, if the quality holds up this interior will be at the top of its class for me.

Then there is me-I could go either way..

Same here... I love hatchbacks and I love coupes/sedans. It really depends on the styling of the vehicle itself, not whether it has a decklid or not.

Aside from the grille and some aspects of the interior, I really like this car. The Mazda 3 5-door looks better, IMO, and the 3 has the better interior but the Astra 3-door is sexy. I think it will do very well. Someone mentioned supply will be limited. Is it because of production limitations or GM doesn't want to drown the marketplace? I'm waiting for base model photos without the flashy wheels and trim. If it looks good in base trim the car will be a homerun.

That is one happy car. Look at it from any angle, and it looks like its smiling!

I love this car........

I'm glad we don't get The Sedan Version, like the Peugeot 206, the Trunklid spoils the Allure (allure, Get it? ) of the car, making it pointless up against the Cobalt.

The North American in me wants a bigger engine.

I'm a little surprised about the four speed, but other than that, this seems like a cool little car.

I'm glad they didn't shove the GMNA corporate stereo in there...something different is always nice and long overdue. The 3 door is hotness...the wheels are sexy too.

Strange how some people don't like hatchbacks... I would never buy a compact or subcompact like this with a trunk..that hatchback is infinitely more useful and looks better, IMHO...

The hatchback is probably more useful on a car of this size, but even a hatch that looks like a trunk like the old Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance would be acceptable here.

As of this day I forgive Saturn for most of its past

transgressions. Between the Sky, the Outlook

& the new VUE this makes for a pretty respectable

lineup over at Saturn.

When is Honda going to combat Saturn with a Scion

like division called Uranus?

Unofficial images courtesy of AutoBlog.

That color is amazing

I can totally dig on the 3-door Astra, but the interior turns me off big time.

That color is amazing

Word.

The interior is a bit drab, though.

wow--that loos sharp in the blue. Can't wait too seee it in person.

Loosk far too sporty to have only 140hp though

That color is amazing

Looks like Arden Blue, also an interior option in the Opel versions (black/Arden Blue leather Recaro seats).

Thats definately not Arden blue . It to me looks like the Lazer blue from the Cobalt and other GM models .

I doubt we'll lucky enuff to get completely gorgeous Arden blue

Unofficial images courtesy of AutoBlog.

door sill brand plates....i haven't seen those for a while (not been in a lot of new cars)

great color!

once they put in a better stereo/hvac controls that will help alot, i bet this will be the main complaints from mags.

Thats definately not Arden blue . It to me looks like the Lazer blue from the Cobalt and other GM models .

I doubt we'll lucky enuff to get completely gorgeous Arden blue

Laser Blue has a purplish effect when light hits, this has a brighter blue effect almost like a more vibrant Arrival Blue.

Unofficial images courtesy of AutoBlog.

I'll take that in a 5 door, Please.

Love that Blue-works for me...

That's all very well, but neither Laser Blue nor Arrival Blue are part of the paint palette at Opel Belgium, and Royal Blue and Ultra Blue are much darker, and Metro is a blue-gray metallic. This may not be a standard option for the Saturn Astra, but it does look like Arden Blue.

Choices offered:

10U-Casablanca White, 4DU-Royal Blue, 63U-Power Red; Metallic: 2AU-Star silver, 3KU-Moonland gray, 4AU-Light silver, 4XU-Metro; Pearlescent: 12U-Arden Blue (OPC only), 1RU-Pannacotta, 2HU-Sapphire Black, 4CU-Ultra Blue, ACU-Petrol/Peacock Green.

Vehicles assembled and painted in the Ukraine or South Africa add Pearlescent 4KU-Papyrus, Metallic 4QU-Digital Green, and 80U-Breeze Blue, and brilliant 79U Magma Red.

GM will do as Holden does and simply limit the choices to make repairs easier.

Edited February 8, 200719 yr by thegriffon

The interior is horrible!! With all the latest upgrades GM has done to their other cars interiors this is a downgrade. It is a typical quirky econo-european interior. I remember being in an Opel years ago and this car looks the same inside, even now! The exterior color is cool though.

Edited February 8, 200719 yr by RJB