2008 Saturn Astra

"In the past, we haven't gotten this [the Americanization of European models] thing right," admits Don Straitiff, lead design engineer of the Saturn Astra-nee Opel Astra. "This time, our goal was to leave the Opel version virtually intact." Cue the golden ray of heavenly light and the fingers sweeping over harp strings that should accompany such epiphanies.

But would we really still swoon if smart-driving Eurocars were Xeroxed directly onto America's potholed streets and speed-strangled freeways? Because what we've got here is exactly what any of us who's ever rented a basic car in Europe has silently pleaded for to ourselves: Please, please, import this little honey.

Wish granted. GM has taken Europe's second-best-selling car and done a minimalist twiddle to the nose to meet American headlight and front-impact regulations and modestly retuned the suspension options. Not much more. The rebranded Saturn Astra arrives as either a three- or five-door hatchback with a 1.8-liter, 138-horse engine turning a five-speed manual or a meager four-speed automatic. Trims include the XE (five-door only) and better-outfitted XR (both models), while a sport suspension, which includes 17-inch wheels (pictured below) replacing the stock 16s, is standard on the smaller car and optional on the bigger one. Need more? Order up a set of snappy 18-inch wheels, available on the three-door. Starting prices range from $16,615 to $19,115. Cheap.

The trouble comes in when you spike-open the 1.8-liter's throttle. American drivers, while typically complacent around corners, accelerate like crazy. The Astra doesn't. Its 138 ponies produce a sizzleless 8.6-second to 60 run when stirred from a mechanical-acting manual shifter. The Astra's stopping distance is also modest: 128 feet from 60 mph, though its brakes are happily sensitive and its 0.84 g of lateral grip is Velcrolike.

The Astra's interior is attractive, but curiously implemented given that its U.S. target is the Honda Civic. For instance, the cupholders are a backward reach, and all the center-stack knobbery is angled slightly downward, as if shy.

Basically, the Astra is what it is: a solid, sharp-looking, and great-value choice in these times of sky-high gas prices-and notably, it's a strong Ford Focus-fighter. But it's also a notable lesson that Euro econocars, even giant-sellers, can need the extra firepower here to keep up.