2009 Saturn Astra

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The Saturn Astra's cabin is a contradiction. Reviewers are extremely pleased with the car's comfortable seating and posh materials, but almost seem baffled by Saturn's disregard for interior stowage or convenience options. 

• "One area where American cars have always lagged behind the imports is in interior quality. With the perception that small cars must be cheap, fit and finish is not usually the biggest concern. ... Since the Astra hails from a market where compact cars are taken just as seriously as midsize cars or full-size luxury vehicles, build quality is dramatically higher." -- Automobile.com
• "On the positive side, the quality of the materials is first-rate, seating is comfortable and supportive and interior noise levels are surprisingly low, even at highway speeds. ... Although Saturn did its best to 'Americanize' the Astra, noticeable shortcomings, such as the sole front seat cup holder, awkwardly positioned behind the parking brake (there are two additional pop-out holders beneath the rear seat bench), no center console storage bin or armrest and the lack of an auxiliary audio input jack, satellite radio option or Bluetooth connectivity, don't mesh with the segment leaders." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The cabin is the Astra's strongest point, with the slam of the driver door alone feeling more substantial than that of some midrange Mercedes models." -- Edmunds

Front Seat

According to auto writers, there's legroom galore in the Saturn Astra's front row, plus the cozy cloth seats offer sufficient support. But they do find one problem -- the Astra does not have a center console armrest.

• "The seats are comfortable, supportive, and well bolstered. Larger occupants might wish for wider seats. ... The lack of a center console armrest is a significant demerit." -- Consumer Guide
• "The Astra's seats (sport versions in the three-door) are firm and supportive and slide forward for easy access to the rear passenger area." -- Motor Trend
• "The front seats are covered in cloth and adjust manually for cushion height, reach and infinite recline, and use a bolster shape that keeps you supported but doesn't pinch wider waistlines. Both front and rear seat cushion length are generous to avoid putting your behind to sleep." -- New Car Test Drive

Rear Seats

If you need room in your back seat, reviewers suggest opting for the Astra's five-door model, where legroom is adequate even for adults. When it comes to the three-door hatchback, even Consumer Guide notes that children must be small to have enough legroom.

• "The rear bench seat in both body styles is broad with three belts. The back seat is better used for two adults or three children. The five-door will accommodate six-footers front and rear simultaneously." -- New Car Test Drive
• "Four-door models offer good rear seat legroom." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Four-door versions have adult-adequate leg space. Two-door's legroom is tight for anyone but small children. The front seats move back easily for access to the coupe's back seat, but twist and shuffle movement is the only way in." -- Consumer Guide

Interior Features

The Astra offers plenty of convenience and entertainment features, and their outfitted in high-quality materials. But most say the distinctively Euro-design cropped from the Opel Astra don't translate well for the Saturn Astra's instrument panel.

• "Don't look for the typical GM parts bin switchgear inside the Astra. Instead, enjoy the same bits and pieces Europeans get, like a unique tilt and telescopic steering wheel with a thick rim and cutouts for thumbs, nicely integrated air vents, clear gauges, and somewhat daunting stereo controls." -- Autosite
• "Non-traditional GM radio and vehicle information interface is plucked straight out of the European-market Opel Astra. It's confusing and not very intuitive. Many radio functions are controlled and viewed through Astra's on-board computer and center information screen. The dashboard-mounted screen is controlled with large, cryptically labeled buttons and a large center dial for scrolling." -- Consumer Guide
• "Apart from the design, the dashboard surface is soft to the touch, and other materials and controls seem high-quality." -- Cars.com

Cargo

The Astra's cargo capacity is decent for the car's size, but most reviewers agree that owners of the five-door models will fare better. The five-door Astras have a total cargo capacity of 44.7 cubic feet with rear seats folded, the three-door XR has a total of 37.8 cubic feet. With rear seats upright, both models offer approximately 12 cubic feet.

But the positive feelings change once testers survey cupholders and cabin storage slots. Most determine the number of additional cargo options is not adequate considering the innovative slots, cubbies and configurations increasingly offered in the small car and hatchback classes.

• "In terms of functionality, it's surprisingly good at doing 90% of the things a mid-size sedan would do. The rear seats fold down for a good amount of cargo space, enough to put a bicycle in with a little bit of thought and minor disassembly." -- Motor Authority
• "There's plenty of trunk room under the hatch, and the rear seat folds flat to create an even larger cargo hold." -- Motor Trend
• "The rear cupholders are awkwardly placed and jut out of the bottom of the back seat's center cushion. Aside from its wide, deep glovebox, Astra lacks any other significant small item storage space. There is no center console, and the door pockets are small." -- Consumer Guide
• "There's only one cupholder, for instance, and it's located where the missing center armrest should be." -- Edmunds