Is Saturn Astra's Sure Is Nice But Is It Worth The Price?

What a great time for General Motors to have a sweet-driving, decent-looking small car like the Saturn Astra. It's a barely Americanized German Opel Astra and went on sale in the USA in January.

Saturn and Opel are both General Motors brands, and it cuts costs for GM to spread a car over multiple brands and markets. The art is to alter the versions enough to fit regional preferences without spending too much to tailor the car for each market. Bit of a tightrope.

The result in the Astra is a vehicle not quite aimed at Yank tastes and one that's a bit pricey. It gives you roughly the same space as a Ford Focus, its dead-on rival and one of the best-selling small cars. But Astra has slightly less power and gas mileage and a window-sticker price from hundreds to as much as $1,000 more. Astra starts at about $16,000-plus; nearly $23,000 loaded.

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MercedesBenz00Z - 6/20/2008 6:24:06 PM

-3 Boost

no.

EL34 - 6/20/2008 6:40:24 PM

+6 Boost

The Astra is worth every penny just like good chocolate ;->

atomicbri - 6/20/2008 6:43:39 PM

+1 Boost

This Astra is well beyond our crap Focus here. Sure Focus has SYNC, but it is a gimmick to buy an outdated car. And there is no hatch anymore. I like the Astra and think its rival is more like Volkswagen's Rabbit. Both these cars are in a class above the Ford Focus that is in the US now. Now the Euro Focus is a different story, but I think once anyone drives the Astra, they will like it. I did!

carguy68 - 6/20/2008 6:47:55 PM

-3 Boost

no.

fyaym - 6/20/2008 7:16:57 PM

+3 Boost

yes.

Peyton18 - 6/20/2008 8:55:26 PM

+3 Boost

what a dumb question, depends on who you ask and their needs. Is a hammer a good value? depends on if you need one.

Hyundai - 6/20/2008 9:54:01 PM

+4 Boost

"Is Saturn Astra's Sure Is Nice But Is It Worth The Price?"

There is so much failure in that headline that it is not even worth breaking down..

ktu01 - 6/20/2008 10:07:08 PM

+3 Boost

With the 1.8L 4 speed automatic, no. There are so many more engine choices in the European Opel version that would make this car a much better one to drive... especially the 1.6 Turbo (180 hp) or the 2.0 Turbo (200 hp, a formidable GTi competitor).

GM will say the 1.8 offers the best fuel economy, but that's an excuse cause the 1.6 Turbo offers about the same mileage figures. The only reason we have the 1.8 is because it's the only engine with a conventional automatic in Europe. All the other engines come with manuals, and it would've cost more for GM to offer any of the other engines with the automatic.

So, as it stands. no, not worth the money. But, if they ever decided to add better engine/transmission combos, then yes, definitely would be a nice option.

BigShow50 - 6/21/2008 9:32:42 AM

0 Boost

In this day and age of automotive competition, the "Re-Badge Market" no longer cuts it for Saturn or any other GM brand they choose to rebadge/cannibilize their own. GM execs are a bunch of "TITS ON A BOAR!!!" Just like Bobby "No Clue" Lutz.

lewishamiltonpimp - 6/21/2008 10:27:01 AM

+3 Boost

Rebadge? The Astra has been a staple of the Vauxhall/Opel model line up since 1979 (Vauxhall). It's about time we started getting some of the hot hatches over here in the US. How I wished the Cosworth Escort had been sold here in the 80s and 90s

They do however need to spice up this (US) Astra. More power captain!

saudi_ali1982 - 6/21/2008 11:14:04 AM

+1 Boost

for $23,000, i would definatley sport a honda civic si coupe instead, even if its not fully loaded. i mean come on, would you rather be driving a saturn instead???

Htay7500 - 6/21/2008 4:04:24 PM

+1 Boost

I wouldn'r mind. I'd choose the 4 door with a stick and panoramic sunroof.

DROOPYSAKK - 6/21/2008 6:51:06 PM

+1 Boost

cars nice, but its too slow.

S30GTR - 6/21/2008 7:27:45 PM

-1 Boost

a disposable car should never be worth that much.