2008 Saturn ASTRA Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Owner Pros and Cons by NoPistns

Powertrain performance

With the 5 speed manual, the car feels very peppy and has good acceleration

Exterior styling

I like the contemporary look of the 5 door design.

Color choices

The Black Sapphire is unique. Not only is it metallic, but has a hint of purple, giving it a warm hue

Cargo capacity

I like the easy access to the cargo area along with the fold down seats that allow me to carry bulkier things than I could with my Saturn Aura and my Mazda Miata

Materials & workmanship

The materials and workmanship are better than most American vehicles, and on a par with vehicles costing much more.

Depreciation

Saturns historically have significant depreciation because of their spotty history (especially between 2000 and 2006)

Powertrain performance

The engine would benefit from more power, especially with an automatic transmision. The competition (Mazda 3) has nearly 20 hp more, and weighs less, making it noticeably quicker.

Controls and instruments

The cruise control is difficult to decipher, and has several quirks when trying to resume a speed.