The Saturn Astra was a rebadged Opal Astra family car discontinued in 2009 when General Motors shuttered its Saturn automotive line. The Astra remains in production as the Opal Astra in Europe, China, South Africa and Brazil. The Astra came as a three- and five-door hatchback and marketed to compete against the Volkswagen GTI.
Engine
A 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine powers the 2009 Saturn Astra XE hatchback. The engine's bore measures 3.16 inches, and the stroke is 3.47 inches. It has a 10.5:1 compression ratio, variable valve timing, four valves per cylinder and a double overhead cam. The engine produces 138 horsepower and a modest 125 ft.-lbs. of torque, which is the twisting force that gives the Astra its get-up-and-go. A multi-point injection system delivers fuel from a 12.2-gallon tank. It earns a respectable 24 MPG on city streets and 32 on the open road.
Chassis and Brakes
The Astra's front suspension features an independent strut system with stabilizer bar and coil springs while the rear is equipped with torsion beam, semi-independent suspension with a stabilizer bar and torsion springs. Stopping power comes from all-wheel ABS ventilated disc brakes equipped with a brake assist system, electronic brake distribution and traction control.
Dimensions
The Saturn Astra is similar in dimensions to its sibling, the Saturn Ion, but its overall 170.5-inch length is 14 inches shorter than the Ion. The Astra sits on a 102.9-inch wheelbase and is 69 inches wide and 57.4 inches tall. Its curb-to-curb turning circle is 34.4 inches. The curb weight is 2,800 lbs. Inside the cabin, front headroom is 38.9 inches, with the rear headroom slightly less at 38.3 inches. Front legroom is 42 inches, but the rear is a bit cramped at 35.3 inches. Total interior space is 92.4 cubic feet. The three-door hatchback, however, allows for easy access to the rear passenger area by easily sliding the front seats forward. The five-door hatchback has 44.8 cubic feet of cargo space by laying the rear seats flat. With the seats up, the cargo space is 12.2 cubic feet.
Features
Saturn had anticipated the Astra to be a success because of its immense popularity in the European market. Saturn Ion sales had been lackluster for most of the 2000s, and the Astra, while featuring essentially the same interior dimensions and layout as the Ion, looked sportier and had extra features that were included as standard equipment. Those features include monochrome front and rear bumpers, daytime running lights, power-heated body-color exterior mirrors, halogen headlamps, alloy-styled door and dashboard trim and tinted glass. The Astra also has a six-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player, tachometer, cruise control, dashboard and floor console with storage box and a partial overhead console, three-point seat belts and external temperature gauge.
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