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Saturn Astra XR Coupe: Comfort

Despite its shortcomings, there are still ways in which the 2009 Saturn Astra tries to be a sporty car. For example, the front seats are firm and aggressively bolstered for a compact hatchback, and offer good support. The seats have a wide range of adjustability, although the manual seatback adjustment knob is inherently hard on hands and wrists. The manual lumbar is a nice feature, especially for long road trips. In our time with the car, the Astra coupe's front seats comfortably accommodated drivers and passengers of various sizes.

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Toyota Camry Hybrid
Who Should Buy This Vehicle?

Consumers who want all the functionality and performance of a top-rated family sedan along with fuel economy that trumps that of even the most efficient gas-powered compacts. They'll have to pay for it, though. For reference, a four-cylinder Camry LE with an automatic transmission starts at $21,075, which is nearly $5,000 less than the Camry Hybrid's base price. However, it lacks the latter's standard keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control and eight-way power driver seat — and of course its fuel economy can't compare.

Saturn Astra XR Coupe

The field of fun yet functional hatchback coupes under $20,000 hasn't ever been what you'd call broad. So when GM announced it would bring its Opel Astra across the Atlantic and re-brand it as a replacement for the Saturn Ion for 2008, those who knew the European brand's reputation for good build quality and sharp handling were hopeful that the Saturn Astra would breathe fresh competition into a class led by only a select few.


Articles Ryan Binkley Saturn Outlook XR AWD Function

One of our few complaints is that, for a family-focused vehicle, there is a surprising lack of just-right medium-size storage bins, though there are many small storage compartments. Another gripe from the driver seat is that the small, similarly shaped buttons of the climate and audio controls are attractive and symmetrical, but these very qualities make them more difficult to use. The optional touchscreen navigation system now includes a rear back-up camera, which helps with rearward visibility in a vehicle of this size, but it comes with a hefty $2,340 price tag.

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