The only potential downside we found was a lack of storage areas for the front seats. True, the two-level glovebox and door pockets are useful and there is a small bin next to the lighter, but apart from the tray the handbrake rides in where your fingers will scoop out the contents, there aren't many places convenient to throw wallet, extra keys, phone, or MP3 player and handily retrieve them.
All Astras have good cabin space for their footprint, including footwells that won't make you sit artificially canted.
The front seats are covered in cloth and adjust manually for cushion height, reach, and infinite recline, and use a bolster shape that keeps you supported but doesn't pinch wider waistlines. Both front and rear seat cushion length are generous to avoid putting your behind to sleep.
The three-door has sportier front seats more in keeping with its style, mission, and firmer suspension, and they do a commendable job keeping you in place, even with the optional leather.
The rear bench seat in both body styles is broad with three belts. The back seat is better used for two adults or three children. The five-door will accommodate six-footers front and rear simultaneously. An optional twin-panel sunroof covers both rows in glass and an opaque shade; only the front panel opens yet all will benefit from the light or night views.
The three-door, with easy access front seat sliders, has somewhat less rear headroom but you'll still be surprised by how much space there is. Reading lights and outboard cupholders for back-seat riders complement the pair that pop forward out of the seat cushion. The center headrest is low-profile for rear vision but adjustable for safety. Coat hooks are provided, useful for picking up dry cleaning.
Dual outside mirrors are heated and power-adjustable on all models and narrow forward pillars contribute to excellent forward visibility yet all quarters are easy to see. The three-door's sloping rear windows are far enough from the driver they don't compromise lane-change vision, and the rear window is a bit shallower than the five-door. The rear wiper obscures rearward visibility on both models.
Instruments and driving controls are shared by the three-door and five-door versions. However, the three-door includes a large tachometer and speedometer flanking a small fuel gauge, all in amber illumination.
The comfortably thick steering wheel tilts and telescopes for good driving position and clear gauge viewing, and there is nothing hidden behind it. This is a nice feature because many compacts have only a tilting wheel. The light switch is to the left, and an information screen is in the center dash stack for radio, outside temperature, and trip computer data; when Instant Consumption is selected and the car is not moving, it reverts from miles per gallon to gallons per hour so you'll know idling in traffic burns up about a gallon every five hours; it will also read in kilometers.
Below the display and vents is a row of switches for optional seat heaters, turning off the electronic stability control system, hazard lights and so on. A large round central volume knob anchors the radio/display controls and it's a quick trip to whatever station or information you're looking for. Finally along the bottom, three climate system rings for air vent/temperature/fan and separate switches for AC and recirculation are provided for the utmost in control choices.
All Astras have OnStar buttons in the rear view mirror and lighted vanity mirrors. Press it and an OnStar operator will come on to direct you to the nearest Italian restaurant, plan your upcoming wedding or whatever else you need. OnStar operators will immediately summon and direct help to your precise location should your airbag go off and you not respond immediately to their calls, a great safety feature that eliminates the chance you'll drive off the road and down a ravine, never be heard from again.
Cargo space is aplenty in both body styles. Pop the hatch to access 12 cubic feet of cargo room with either model that expands to 38 cubic feet in the three-door and 44 cubic feet in the five-door when the split folding rear seats are dropped. Those back seats fold down with one touch and no headrests need to be moved, a nice feature. We noted, however, the three baby anchors on the trunk side of the seatback protrude from it and if you try to slide a duffel bag or other soft object over them they can rip or damage your stuff. The spare is under floor and there are four tie-down points to secure your junk, and the hatch is shallow enough it can be opened in almost any garage without getting caught overhead. Next Page