Saturn Astra History

The Astra was a rebadged third-generation Opel Astra H, imported from GM's Antwerp, Belgium plant to fill Saturn's compact slot for 2008 after the Ion was discontinued. It was offered as three-door and five-door hatchbacks, powered by a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder producing 140 hp — a genuine European-calibrated compact that handled and rode notably better than the ion it replaced.

The Astra was part of GM's strategy to leverage its acclaimed European Opel/Vauxhall products under the Saturn brand rather than continue developing North American-specific platforms. It arrived just before the 2008–2009 financial crisis and GM's Chapter 11 filing, however, and was discontinued after the 2009 model year — the shortest-lived Saturn nameplate — as the brand was wound down.