Friday Fleet Notes: 4.25.08

This Friday's fleet notes come packed with insightful takes on the Saturn Astra, Infiniti EX35, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic EX-L, and Toyota Matrix XRS. Our staff had plenty to say, both good and bad, about the vehicles, so be sure to check out their posts, then link to the expert reviews after the jump.

2008 Saturn Astra

• This was a bummer for me. I was soooo looking forward to driving this car, but when I got behind the wheel I was again greeted by anemic acceleration. However, unlike the Corolla, the Astra XR is supposed to be a fun-to-drive machine. I did not experience much fun. It handled well but felt heavy. The automatic transmission was a dog, and do I need to mention the controls? A fellow reviewer called them hieroglyphics because the symbols are so hard to translate. There’s no USB or AUX-in capability either, not even as an option. Eegads. It was nice-looking, though, I’ll give it that. — David Thomas, senior editor

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Saturn Astra Two-Door

Saturn sponsors a number of races I've participated in, and they've brought this car to a number of them as a promotion. I've really wanted to try it out. It looked like a fun, useful car that would fit my needs. After driving it, it's not all that I'd hoped for, but it's not a dog either.

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30

In one of the toughest Faceoffs in recent memory, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder matched up three premium hatchbacks. It was a tough fight, with each car having strengths that won us over. The Volvo had the style, the Mini the go-kart goods and the Astra the practicality. Check out the winner and let us know if you think we got it right.

Cars.comparison: Premium Hatchbacks

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.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Saturn Astra

General Motors is finally bringing a highly successful European compact car stateside, in the form of the Saturn Astra. Based on the Opel Astra, which GM sells under different names all across the globe, it replaces the affordable Ion sedan and coupe — although with a heftier price tag because, well, it’s a better car. Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder takes the Astra for a spin to see if it can overcome the price challenge, and to see if it can compete with rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda3.

2008 Saturn Astra Expert Review (Cars.com)

Saturn Astra on Sale Jan. 2, 2008

All signs pointed to Saturn’s new hatchback – an upscale Ion replacement — going on sale late in the fall of 2007. Think before Thanksgiving. Now, those longing for one of the all-new two- and four-door hatchbacks will have to wait through a few more holidays — until Jan. 2, 2008, when the car will officially go on sale nationwide.

To satiate those of you waiting anxiously to test drive an Astra, there are a number of presale drive events throughout the country. Saturn has a microsite — yes, two in one day — that gives dates and locations.

Related
More Saturn Astra News (KickingTires)

Saturn Prices All-New Astra Hatchback

Instead of hearing about pricing for the new Astra two- and four-door hatchbacks through the standard channels, we were forwarded a brochure from Saturn’s regular old website, Saturn.com. On the last page of the brochure is a breakdown of pricing for the three available models, which start at $15,995 and top out at $19,820, including destination charges.

However, the base XE model’s low tag of $15,995 doesn’t include air conditioning, which is a $960 option, bringing the total to $16,955. We’re a bit dismayed car companies are still trying this tactic to keep advertised prices low, when in reality buyers won’t be able to find said $15,995 Astra on a dealer lot.

The low-end price still doesn’t compete with the Dodge Caliber or Mazda3, but at the top level it’s almost identically priced to the competition. For the full list of prices and options, read below. The new Astras will go on sale this fall. Don’t forget to tell us if you think the price is right.

Related
More Saturn Astra News (KickingTires)

2007 Chicago Auto Show: Saturn Astra Interior Up Close

One of the most anticipated introductions today was Saturn’s new Astra compact two-door and four-door hatchbacks. I got to spend some up-close time with the Astra and came away even more impressed than I was when we first ran the press photos on Monday.

2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Astra

Saturn continues to radically revamp its car lineup. The company revealed more information about the all-new Astra two-door and four-door hatchbacks that will replace the aging Ion in showrooms at the end of the year. The Astra is based on a European make GM produces for sale overseas. That explains the European hatchback looks, but the car will be powered by a more pedestrian 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 140-hp. Based on the current — and less strict — EPA guidelines the car will get 27/34 mpg city/highway.

Only the four-door hatchback will come in two trims, an entry level XE and a better equipped XR. The sporty two-door hatchback will come only in the gussied-up XR model that the company says will be geared more at the driving enthusiast. All Astra’s come with a five-speed manual standard and a four-speed automatic optional. While that may not sound like it breaks any molds, the two-door hatchback comes with traction control and stability control standard, almost unheard of in the class, while it’s an option for the four-door models.

Other safety equipment includes all-wheel disc brakes, active head restraints and six airbags standard.

The company hasn’t released pricing information but we’d guess on the $15,000 - $25,000 range. As always, more photos are below. 

Saturn Unveils New Astra; Arrives in 2007

Early this morning, Saturn announced it will add the Astra to its lineup. The compact hatchback will come in two and four-door body styles and is identical to the 2007 Opel Astra, currently on sale in Europe. The picture above is the Saturn vehicle, but below we have photos of the Opel versions because, besides a different emblem on the hood, they should look exactly the same. That level of platform-sharing allows the Astra to come to market fairly quickly, with Saturn saying it will hit dealers late next year.

The Saturn Astra will make its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February. There is no word yet on where the Astra will be built or what engine choices will be available. We’d guess the vehicle will share the same four-cylinder engine found in the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Sky, with a high-performance turbocharged version almost a certainty.

This Astra is a marked step-up from the aging Saturn Ion and will probably cost significantly more. We’d guess that prices will compete with the Mazda3 and Honda Civic in the $15,000-$25,000 range.   

GM seems to be listening to automotive pundits and enthusiasts who have been suggesting for years that the company make moves like bringing in the higher-quality products from GM’s global brands to the U.S. Now, we’ll just have to see how well they’ll sell.