New Saturn Astra Arriving at Dealerships

This is what happens when an automaker sets a firm date for a car’s sale: It doesn’t always happen exactly as planned. Saturn assigned a sale date of Jan. 2 for the all-new Saturn Astra compact hatchback, but we heard reports from readers saying it simply hadn’t arrived, even though they had ordered one.

Today, Saturn confirmed to Cars.com the Astra started arriving at dealerships late last week — a week late — and are now showing up in local inventories.

Readers should know it does take some time for any new model to show up in all its varying trim levels and colors across the country. The Astra is also being imported from Europe — it’s built in Belgium — so time to the dealership will be longer than it is for most domestic cars.

Comments

[LM]

Welcome expensive, non-fuel-efficient, heavy hatchback!

[George]

With 4 speed automatic & 5 speed manual transmissions!

[rob]

too bad i got sick of waiting for this and the new matrix before just deciding to buy a mazda3, which doesn't fit my needs 100%. oh well, like most cars besides the mazda, this one probably only sits drivers under 5'11"

[Mart]

My brother drives the Vauxhall version and is 6'7". I'm sure you'd be fine.

[Tony]

Compared one on the picture with Mazda3 Wagon.
Mazda still would be the better choice if not for fuel economy of the bigger engine. Take away fuel economy and Mazda Wagon is so much better.

[Mart]

Correct me if i'm wrong but there isn't a Mazda3 wagon is there? Are you talking about the Mazda5?

[Buckley]

They are referring to the 5-door Mazda3, which is kinda like the middle ground between a "regular" hatchback and a wagon:

http://carscarscars.blogs.com/index/images/04_mazda3_5door.jpg

[rwcmick]

Hey guys, just wanted to mention that the "cargo scraping" top tethers on the backseat, mentioned in a previous cars.com review, have been fitted with covers. you can check out a photos of the covers here...

http://allcarsallthetime.blogspot.com/2008/01/astra-top-tethermy-final-post-on-this.html

[J]

I swear, I've already seen a few on the road at least a month or so ago.

[Tony]

I am sorry...
You can call Mazda3 a 5-door, hatchback, or just a wagon that it is.
It doesn't change the substance.

[DL]

you know, i think the original Mercedes ML looked like an ugly minivan, and the Subaru Forester looked like a boxy, tall wagon. whatever.

people don't like to wait. since the Astra, i dare say, aint exactly desirable like an Audi S3, people will turn to other nice cars for their needs (like rob did). let's hope the Belgian factory turns out good quality/ reliability

[Tony]

Speaking of Belgian factory...
Many Volvos made in Belgium. We all know what kind reliability those have.

[J]

Tony,

I hope you can tell the difference in ownership of Volvo and Opel + Saturn.

[J]

Tried this thing out at the autoshow. The center panel looks cheap, the turn signal switch lever feels cheap. And the tranny's shift is tough. I hope it is just because it was abused by dummies that didn't step on the clutch.