Used 2008 Saturn Astra Consumer Reviews
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Shifting made fun
liles65, 06/20/2008
2008 Saturn Astra XE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Saturn has made shifting fun again with the Astra and despite the small 1.8L engine this car has a surprising amount of pep. I got the basic XE model with 5 speed manual because I went for price versus luxury items. The base model comes with standard equipment like cruise control which you would have to pay extra on other brands. The seats are very comfortable and there is plenty of torque to push you back into your seat. All your controls are literally at your fingertips and there is very limited outside noise. The stock Goodyear Eagles grip the road and provide a surprisingly smooth and quiet ride. Plenty of room for the average driver and good views all around.
Surprisingly well built small car
AstraReview, 11/19/2017
updated 12/04/2020
2008 Saturn Astra XR 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
Quality, fit and finish is good for a car in its class. With many miles, the vehicle still feels solid and is reasonably well equipped for a compact, the XR being being particularly well styled and configured. Heated leather seats, power mirrors, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, traction control and ABS, front and side curtain airbags are key features. Its counterpart is the Opel Astra H/Vauxhall Zafira. Built in Belgium and not having been designed for the U.S. market, the Astra maintains its European flair with only very minor differences. I installed touchscreen navigation which adds USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, Navigation, DVD and a backup camera, otherwise technology is lacking in this vehicle. The Aisin Japanese automatic has been trouble free and is one of the most reliable transmissions in any used vehicle. While only a 4 speed automatic, it returns an average 29mpg in our high mileage Astra and still behaves quite well, but performance and economy would be improved with a more modern variant. With performance tires, handling is excellent. Without them, the handling is much less confident. Steering response is quick and positive. Reliability has been excellent with no major issues. A few OEM parts may be in limited quantity or unavailable from GM dealers. Look to Europe or name brand suppliers for replacement parts, not eBay AutoZone. With 172,000 miles, our car is a solid driver that has required few repairs and has never once stranded us. There are no rattles, squeaks or noises. It's still pleasant to drive and has life left to give.
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The best unknown vehicle out there...
RN, 08/05/2009
2008 Saturn Astra XR 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This car still amazes me on the build quality, handling, style, and gas mileage. This is by far the best unknown car in the market, it boggles my mind how GM didnt market this car. For any of the few people that have complaints they are either haters or just will complain about everything. For the price I paid: $19,980 - $5000 dealer incentive, $4500 clunker trade, $1000 supplier discount, I bought this car for $10,950 out the door. I have the 3 door XR 5 speed with leather, tinted windows, tuned sport suspension, stabiltrac, heated seats and mirrors, moisture sensing wipers, onstar for a year, dual lighted vanity mirrors, onboard computer, tire pressure readout, and the list keeps going.
2008 Saturn Astra
blakeschneider, 07/25/2014
updated 07/25/2016
2008 Saturn Astra XE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
I purchased a Saturn Astra in July 2008 because it was 0% financing and we needed a small car for commuting. The sunroof and heated seats were an unexpected bonus for the price. We had the car 1 month when the transmission created a problem and needed to be replaced. I told the dealer that this was unacceptable and I wanted a new car. Without arguement they said ok. I said my wife hated the red and would like a blue one. They said ok. In all my life I have never had a more positive consumer experience. We have had this car for 6 years and never had any mechanical issues. It has 150,000 kilometers and we have not even replaced the brake pads or mufflers. Great car.
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My Astra
christie, 06/01/2009
2008 Saturn Astra XE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Traded in an SUV for this. Haven't owned a smaller car in 15+ years. Love the gas mileage and the handling of the car. I had to get used to how loud it sounded at first compared to my other vehicles. I really enjoy the car.
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