2008 Saturn Astra Review

The lack of visual clutter and cladding should be welcome by all from the Rust Belt to the southern border; excess chrome is reserved mainly for badges and the horizontal trim front and rear.

Rear panel styling echoes the front with a recessed panel in the hatch split by trim and the license plate in another recess in the bumper; since they're all hatchbacks, all Astras have rear wipers for better wet weather visibility.

On the three-door, the window line arcs downward from about two-thirds through the front door; the earlier Ford Focus hatchback will come to mind as similar. The window line is continued just beyond as the leading edge of the taillight housing in profile, yet the roofline carries well rearward and the hatch sweeps in from the sides; were you viewing it in the dark from overhead you'd be hard pressed to say whether the car was coming or going.

Five-door models are almost two inches taller than the three-door, the primary benefit being rear seat headroom. The five-door has a similar look to the ends, although the rear is more upright to make full use of the footprint. The rear-door opening angles up and rearward from the wheel and, instead of reversing direction at the glass line, it keeps going up and aft to the top of the glass. Since the door opening matches the seated position of rear seat riders, this pays big dividends in getting into and out of, and seeing out of, the rear seat.

Perhaps not as stylish or unique as the Saturn Sky roadster, the Saturn Astra is still distinctive and has visual appeal. This is further heightened on any version by simple alloy wheels, and on the three-door by that arcing windowline which might make you wonder if this is the most attractive three-door gas-saver around.