I almost had to hold back snickers while talking with Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak on Tuesday. While sharing some of the details of the Opel/Saturn relationship, Lajdziak mentioned that Saturn would play a much more significant role in creating engineering standards for the next generation of Opel/Saturn products –- engineering standards like the number of cupholders.
Cupholders? Was this the punch line of a bad joke about the stupidity of American consumers?..
The soul of the Astra is a 138-horsepower four-banger. While we've seen several automakers bumping displacement of their compacts from 2.0 liters to something in the 2.3- to 2.5-liter range recently, Saturn seems content to buck the trend by moving backward to a 1.8. Even if it means Saturn can't win the spec sheet wars, the engine still impresses with its willingness to do what you want and expect of it. The Ecotec is ready to rev and is responsive in the 3,000-to-5,000-rpm arena, while the exhaust note sounds more inspired than most in this class. The shifter of the five-speed isn't as smooth or precise as a Mazda or Honda stick, but it gets the job done.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment regarding the Opel-to-Saturn transformation is the loss of the "Sport" button on the center stack of the Astra. One of the cars we drove was an automatic transmission Euro-spec Opel (possibly to be blamed on Editor Oldham who disappeared with his three-door Saturn, claiming to have gotten lost). During our evaluation of this car we were able to experiment with the Sport setting, which adjusts steering, throttle and transmission response. In a car of this class, you'd expect the differences to be nearly imperceptible, but this is not the case. Most appreciated was the transmission that hung onto gears longer and downshifted earlier with a throttle-blip you'd expect out of a Ferrari. The American automatic operates more like the European comfort mode and sucks some life out of the Ecotec. Perhaps if we ask nicely, the Sport mode will arrive as a midcycle enhancement.
The suspension is what really makes the Astra unique. Unlike most European imports that receive a softer suspension in America than their across-the-pond twins, the Astra suspension parts are the same in Europe and the U.S. One German engineer explained the Astra was marked for U.S. sale when Bob Lutz drove it and demanded, "Do not change a thing." So the suspension wasn't changed.
We took our Astras through the noise and comfort test track at Opel's facility and noticed that the ride is slightly harsher than many other compacts, but it only gets noticeably uncomfortable on longer, shallow road flaws, like truck ruts. The damping over larger bumps and expansion gaps does what it should. At highway speeds, wind and road noise are well controlled, but engine drone does manage to penetrate the cabin.
Stateside buyers will actually one-up Europeans with larger brakes, although these primarily serve to reduce noise instead of increasing performance. Still, I owe a lot of credit to those brakes for not having to write a blog about parking my Astra inside another vehicle when traffic squealed to a halt on the autobahn during the drive. In normal, non-life-threatening driving, the brakes are somewhat oversensitive to pedal inputs, as they're tuned for European drivers.
The Astra has long been a powerful seller in Europe and GM's research shows that the top reason buyers choose the car is its styling. And don't expect that to be much different in the States, as car-buying is largely driven by emotion and image. The sloping rear window of the three-door is a bit more engaging than the larger hatch, but both cars will attract attention, especially with those black headlights.
So where will the Astra draw its biggest criticism? The cupholders. As a European car, the Astra is missing a few standards that are American essentials. You'll find just one cupholder, accessible only to drivers who practice yoga at least three times a week. Even more absent than cupholders is a center armrest for your right elbow. The instrument cluster and center stack are well-executed, but the top of the dash is in need of something to break up the never-ending expanse of gray. A few might call these fatal flaws, but I doubt the discerning driver will find these deal breakers. When you're driving hard (two hands on the wheel, except to shift), you won't miss the armrest or the cupholders.
Appreciated features include a standard tilt-telescoping wheel and manual seat height adjuster that will help you find the ideal driving position. Rain-sensing wipers and power windows are standard on all Astras, while the higher-end XR model gets you intuitive steering wheel controls for the audio system. With the base five-door starting at under $16,000, pricing becomes a selling point for the Astra.
Opel has done a great job in engineering the core of the Astra: a capable engine and a compliant suspension. Still, Saturn has some work to do in the coming years as midcycle freshening and the next-generation model offer chances to keep the American buyer in mind. Undoubtedly, a number of Astra reviews in the next few months will draw comparisons to Saturn's ill-fated Ion compact. But the new Saturn doesn't deserve to be associated with that monster. It's got the stuff to keep pace with the leaders, even if it's a step or two behind. -- Eric Tingwall, Inside Line Contest Winner and Citizen Journalist
sylvia says:
06:32 PM, 09/12/07
Great coverage of the Astra! Not only were you the winner of the contest, you are a winner in writing the reviews as well. Thanks for the superb write-up!
vvk says:
06:43 PM, 09/12/07
Wow, thanks for the excellent review! I really enjoyed reading it!
Really glad to hear about the brakes! That's very important.
How does the steering feel? Is there enough feedback in high speed sweepers? Is the car stable and relaxed at high speed? Or is it more like Honda Fit -- nervous and high strung?
Does it have the "digital" turn signal switch?
kratas101 says:
07:29 PM, 09/12/07
Congrats on getting a chance to drive the Asta and also getting a review published on Edmunds. I'm sure many dream about writing for any car publication, let alone a major one like this site.
wenhead says:
06:00 AM, 09/13/07
Good write up. I think the 1.8 liter is exactly what Saturn needed to compete better with some very capable small car competition.
I too want to know more about the steering. My research into the electro mechanical steering systems used in Ion, Cobalt, and even Malibu, have not inspired confidence.I am not talking just feel but reliabilty issues.GM needs to bite the bullet and talk up their steering systems.What is different? Were improvements made.
Why am I being so picky? Because when GM brings out a new small car, I always want to put it at the top of the review list. Steering is a big issue.
alpha01 says:
07:03 AM, 09/13/07
Great report, captivating writing.... I need to get my hands on an Astra!
Kudos, Eric!
jonfj40 says:
08:35 AM, 09/13/07
Nice review!
I've driven the new Malibu... the steering is awful - no feedback, akin to the driving games of the old Colecovision , less feel than my '93 full-size Bronco with twin-traction beam front suspension. It was so bad I dreaded having to drive the car and avoided doing so as much as possible.
The suspension sounds promising - I hope the steering and brake feel are comparable.
ewilfong says:
10:56 AM, 09/13/07
Sheesh, what a boring review. Just kidding. Had to break the monotony. :)
Great reporting on a promising car. Any major differences driving the three-door versus the five-door? I really like the added versatility of the latter.
ateixeira says:
12:56 PM, 09/13/07
The 3 door does look better, but this is a giant leap compared to the Ion. I shouldn't even use them in the same sentence.
tirthankar_b says:
01:39 PM, 09/13/07
I was looking forward to it but was skeptical of the engine. Thanks for clearing the doubt.
erok says:
02:32 PM, 09/13/07
Thanks for all of the comments.
I can't give too much detail on the steering. Our driving consisted of a city/higway route from the Opel tech center out to the Opel test facility. Once at the test track we took the car on the high-speed track and the noise and comfort track. I was really disappointed that we weren't able to get it onto a ride and handling track -- probably the most telling test for the Astra. It is an electric-hydraulic system as you guys have mentioned. Saturn claims they use the electric system to reduce parasitic losses, while the hydraulic portion provides good feedback. Editor Scott Oldham drove the car for much longer than I did, so look for a more detailed review on Inside Line soon.
The Astra does use a European digital turn signal switch. It was really difficult to get used to for the 30 minutes I was driving the car through Frankfurt. I'm sure the blinker was on for about half my time on the highway. If you give the stalk a slight tap, the turn signal blinks three times and shuts off -- useful for highway lane changes. Pushing it to the top of the range will leave the turn signal on until you complete a full turn. It becomes difficult to tell if you've actually activated the signal because the stalk doesn't actually stop in a raised position and the clicking is quite. And I often ended up turning on the opposite turn signal when trying to turn of the fully activated signal that I has accidently used when making a lane change. Was all that confusing? Because the turn signal switch definitely is.
I actually didn't get behind the wheel of the three-door. And you can honestly blame Oldham for that one. When he got lost in his red three-door, he ended up parking his Astra back at his hotel -- not at the Opel tech center where our crew was supposed to pick it up. I was pretty disappointed, since the three-door definitely interests me a bit more, but Oldham and the Edmunds crew more than made up for it by spoiling me with such an awesome experience in Frankfurt.
-Eric
reillypal says:
09:34 PM, 09/13/07
Awesome review. Thanks for the great reading. Sounds like it was quite the experience.
crashtestdingo says:
12:49 AM, 09/14/07
Midcycle freshening? Isn't the Opel Astra due for a complete (or significant) redesign in two or three years, which is when midcycle freshenings typically occur?
guy1974 says:
05:19 AM, 09/14/07
You mention you had a problem with the turn signal. They are using a similar signal to other German cars. All you need to do to see if your signal is on is a) listen for the noise and b) see if the green turn signal light is flashing in the instrument panel - not exactly difficult!
It is just another sign of Opel trying to increase the sophistication and perceived quality of their product, which hopefully will not be lost on the average American car buyer.
I think the pricing is extremely good for the quality of the car - significantly cheaper than it is in any European country.
Any news on if it will be built in the US?
Also this version of the Astra we are getting in the US is already the mid life upgrade since the Astra has been out 3-4 years already. So expect around 2011 an all new Astra (not just a mid life enhancement). I expect there will be US input into that model.
crashtestdingo says:
02:17 PM, 09/16/07
guy1974, I doubt that this "first-gen" Saturn Astra will ever be built in the U.S. If the next-gen Opel Astra debuts in 2011 as a 2012, that means at most 2009, 2010 and 2011 models of the Saturn Astra could be built here (I'm assuming it's too late to get tooling in place to build any 2008 models in the U.S.) and that's probably not a long enough run to justify the tooling expense.
On the other hand, if the dollar falls even further against the euro, it might provide enough incentive for GM to start production here, but I imagine they would then keep the "first-gen" Saturn Astra in production beyond the 2011 model year while Europe gets the next-gen Opel Astra.
saturncorp says:
09:14 AM, 09/19/07
Greetings Eric and all,
It was fun for all of us to have Eric and a select few automotive media be the first to test-drive the Saturn Astra in Frankfurt. To answer a few of your questions: the car will be built in Antwerp, Belgium and the first vehicles should arrive at retailers in early December. Check out www.saturn.com/AllNewAstra for the most up-to-date info., including some pre-sale offers.
And Eric, I have to mention that your comment about cupholders is a bit off the mark. What I said was: "Not a thing on this vehicle is changed. It was engineered for the Autobahn and there is no reason to make changes. The only thing we did with this vehicle was to do what we had to do to federalize it for the American market and put in a couple of features that are important to U.S. consumers, like OnStar and cupholders." Obviously, Saturn's input into future products is more than just cup holders -- but for that you'll have to wait and see. :-)
Looking forward to seeing you on the road.
Jill Lajdziak, General Manager, Saturn
erok says:
08:35 PM, 09/19/07
Yikes! I've been doing this for a week and I'm already shaking things up.
I looked back in my notes, and what I wrote in this blog matches what I have there. I stand by what I wrote.
For the cup holder comment, both the question I asked and the answer Jill Lajdziak gave didn't reference the Astra specifically. My question was along the lines of "Will we ever see a Saturn-engineered products (meaning a vehicle designed for the NA market), be sold in Europe as an Opel?"
Lajdziak answered no, we will not see Saturn products flow into Europe. Then she went on to say the initial engineering of future Opels will include input from Saturn engineers to make the vehicles more appealing to American consumers. And that's where the cup holder comment came. One of the features that Saturn will be looking to incorporate includes cup holders, according to Lajdziak. It was the only specific example she gave of where Saturn would have input.
Of course, I'd be a fool to think that Saturn would become a company with the sole function of retrofitting cupholders to European cars. I understood that Lajdziak was using cupholders as one example of the many influences Saturn will have on future products. In my blog after this one on the Saturn/Opel relationship, I wrote more on this idea of European cars with an American touch. The current Saturn Astra is a solid car and I expect the next-generation -- with even more forethought about the American market -- to be even better.
-Eric
easles says:
11:46 AM, 10/26/07
Hello -
I am quite happy to have read this and have been scouring the web for updates on the Astra. I am quite interested in a timetable of when the EPA mileage ratings will be released. Can Jill or others comment on that? Actual data is good too!
Not that it makes a difference, but I am particularly interested in the 5 Door XR with Auto.
Thanks!
garff says:
03:56 PM, 10/31/07
Hy there ,
I actually work at the vauxhall motors plant in the u.k. , where we build the 5 door Astra and the Astra van ( or wagon as i think it would be called in U.S
I have just got my 4th Astra , my first two where the 5 door , but i now have the 3 door sport hatch (as we call it )
Anybody wanting to know what the Astra is like ??
The model i have now is the SRI with the 1.9CDTI (commonrail diesel turbo injection)
We are big on diesels here in the u.k. and this is one of the most powerfull diesel engines in its class.
Ok , when you start up its got that familiar diesl sound, but when you get going it is just as quite as its petrol equivilent.
The engine produces 150 bhp .0-60 in 8.2 and will hit 135 mph.
and you can still get up to 48.7 m p gallon.
It is more powerfull , quicker and more fuel efficient than the 1.8 16v V
VT petrol engine.
It is a joy to drive , you feel as if you are sitting lower as you step in ,because of the lowered roofline , and also because of the sport seats which seem to hug the sides of your body.
As ive said its a great drive , but when you press the sports switch ,it goes into hyperdrive !!!( dont know if the sport switch will be available in Saturn version ).
You get quicker throttle response, sharper steering ,plus sharper gear changes ( 6 speed manual ) it really gives you a totally different driving experience .
The SRI features include ,air con , anti lock brakes , stereo radio/ cd/ mp3 entertainment system which also includesmulti function trip computer , 18 inch alloy wheel , remote control ultrasonic security alarm , electronic stability program with traction control , rear sports spoiler , visible stinless steel sports exhaust pipe , lowered sports suspension , i could go on and on ..............
As i sy , i dont know which items , if any will appear on the Saturn version , but if they do , you have one hell of a car.
Thanks,
Garff . Liverpool U.K.
njersey says:
10:18 AM, 11/21/07
I know that you think that the ION was a monster and ill-fated but I think that you are wrong.I own an ION a 2007 sedan.To date I have had no problems with the car, I know that when the ION first came out GM unfortunately did not spent as much time as they should have in putting on those final touches. I am sure that the Astra ia fun vehicle to drive. I measure a car not just on whether it is fun to drive but whether it will continue to give dependable service year after year. I am certain that my ION will deliver that service. I received a very good value for my money. My previous saturn a 1997 SL 1 automatic was fun to drive but I
find that my ION is a step ahead.
mike773 says:
03:06 PM, 02/21/08
Regarding the criticism of the Astra's manual transmission: It's a matter of preference. I just completed my new car search. The list was down to the Mazda 3 and the Astra. I had driven both but only automatics. After driving the Mazda manual, I raced back to order my new Saturn. I found the Mazda gearbox difficult to navigate with the gears too close together and the feel of the clutch so light that I could barely detect whether the clutch was actually being engaged or my foot was just moving air.