Saturn's new Astra illustrates what I've always said about European cars in America -- Americans think they want European cars, but in fact what most of them want is what they perceive as European cars, i.e. BMWs and Mercedes. (Mercedii?) Er, not to say that BMW and Mercedes aren't European -- they are. But just like in America, they aren't the cars that most Europeans buy.
No, what most Europeans buy are cars like the Opel Astra, which happens to be the second-best-selling car in Europe (the first is the VW Golf, known to us as the Rabbit. For what it's worth, our best-selling car, the Toyota Camry, doesn't sell for beans in Europe). Aside from some modifications to meet crash standards, the Saturn Astra is virtually identical to the Opel Astra, right down to it's 1.8 liter engine, which is plucked right from the Euro-Astra's lineup. So what's it like to drive a European car in America? Are Americans going to want a real European car? My 2008 Saturn Astra test drive has the answers. -- Aaron Gold
P.S. To our Canadian readers, I don't mean to be ignoring you in this discussion. Most of the cars sold in America are available in Canada -- in fact, many of the cars sold in America are built in Canada -- but your taste in cars tends to be more European, with many more of you opting for hatchbacks and wagons rather than sedans and SUVs. (All that, plus you gave us William Shatner. What a country!)
Photo © Aaron Gold
Not to mention:Shanaia Twain, John Candy, Jack Palance, David Duchovney, Peter Jennings, the Great Gretzky, Avril Lavigne, The Guess Who, Martin Short…
While I agree that there is a reason that cars get changed for the U.S. market, I have to wonder how any car can run the gauntlet of automotive journalism. For years now I’ve had a subscription to Car and Driver. Issue after issue a common theme comes through. They wish American models weren’t softened up for the American market. Now I read Aarons review saying the exact opposite. I think that I would agree more with his take since most of my (and most others’ as well)driving isn’t that of an automotive enthusiast. We all want more power, enthusiast or not. Still, though, how a car can pass muster with the disparate expectations of automotive journalism is beyond me. Some cars do it and they have a price that reflects the technology required to obtain that outcome. Others seem to just stumble across the right recipe by mistake (then mess it up with subsequent models). Cars designed with a typical driver in mind looking for comfort rather than sport are virtually always panned by the automotive press. The problem as I see it is that writers carry some influence and can have a dramatic effect on sales. So I just wonder how a car company can please their customers, the press, safety groups, environmentalists, consumer organizations, CAFE standards, etc. with a single model. It’s amazing that any do.
Hey Mike –
Great comment — really thoughtful, thanks for posting it. It all comes down to what automotive journalists like in a car, and autojournos tend to like to go fast around corners. The problem comes when we evaluate every car by the same set of standards. I try not to do that — my expectations for the Astra are different than my expectations for, say, the Volkswagen R32.
I wrote about this in my Buick Lucerne review (you can skip down to the Journey’s End section). I was an intern with a British car magazine back in college, so I know a bit about European motoring. Europeans have to contend with small, narrow roads, congested cities, high speed limits, insane gas prices, and lots of rain. So their cars are designed accordingly. Here in the US, we have big, open spaces, low speed limits, huge weather extremes and (relatively) cheap gas, not to mention our muscle car heritage and our (relatively) conservative tastes. And our most crowded cities are spacious by European standards. So our cars are designed accordingly. Even the Japanese design different cars — Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima for America, Toyota Avensis and Nissan Primera for Europe. Honda even gives Europe their own version of the Accord (we get it as the Acura TSX).
As it happens, the Opel Astra is, as far as I know, not particularly well-loved by critics in Europe — the ones I’ve spoken to say its ride is too soft and its handling not precise enough. And what do you know, that makes it perfect for America. Although, if you look at the sales numbers, maybe Europeans prefer American-style motoring too!
Too bad we can’t get the diesel model over here. It would be nice to give VW some competition.
One of the other differences in Europe versus North America is how cars are used. In England and Europe to a lesser degree, I always get the impression that people don’t want to drive very far. Maybe influenced by the price of gas, or perhaps superior public transit, I’m not sure. We would always get funny looks when we told our hosts we planned to drive for two hours to go see some tourist attraction or something. Whereas here, long trips are not uncommon, even on a daily basis. For that situation the big, quiet luxo boat will be the drivers choice every time.
Having said that, if this car is going to have a downfall, it will be the engine/transmission combo. It probably wasn’t designed to be used with an automatic and Aaron’s comments seem to reflect the fact that performance is weakened by the tranny.
Well stated Aaron! Having spent a good deal of time in Europe back 15-25 years ago, I thought the BMW 316 was a perfect car for the outrageous gas prices in Germany and elsewhere. But when BMW tried to intro the 318 a few years back in the USA…nada! Also, Europeans by and large aren’t as demanding of the comfort/convenience packages that we take for granted. The car companies spend a lot of time and money researching each area’s demands and devise car’s specifically for that regon. Many attempts have been made to create a broadly accepted car, with little success,eg.”the World Car” by Ford. I believe it was the ‘81 Escort…it sold all over the world, but it was never loved by anyone in the world.
Great review as usual about the Astra, but [there's alwaya a but] when you compared the astra to other hatchbacks to other cars you left out the best, the Audi A3. We’ve had our since May and love it. Our other car is a Mini cooper. I’ve been a fan of hatchbacks for many years as they are utilitarian and look good. My first was the worst, an 1985 Hyundai which still turns me off from them. My second was a 1995 VW Golf sport model. Great. Keep up the good reviews. I don’t need to know all the gearhead info. Thanks
alan
At the risk of being slightly off topic, it is very hard to find a good hatchback or sport wagon that is not either a compact car or a premium crossover that guzzles premium fuel.
They make a lot of sense.
So do diesels. They are the way of the future, which ever higher gas prices will reveal.
Also, great handling and driving enjoyment does not require ever higher horsepower engines.
PS – I circulate your columns to all my collegues and friends, Aaron. We are starting to rely upon you. One just bought a Subaru Legacy 2.5 based partly on your reviews.
Gary, thanks for the kind words!
— Aaron
Hey Gary from Toronto! I agree that the diesel is the INTERIM way of the future. You’re also right about relying on Aaron’s balanced reviews. By the way, have you checked out his other reviews site, “about:dog sleds.com??? Don from Miami .(originally from Niagara Falls,Ont.)