GM Saturn ASTRA - Manual (Page 25)

2008 Saturn ASTRA vs. Mazda3
Competitive Comparisons
23 2008 ASTRA Product Guide
ASTRA vs. Mazda3 5-Door
EXTERIOR DESIGN & STYLING
• Sportier 3-Door hatchback. ASTRA offers a much
sportier and more rakish looking 3-Door model.
Mazda3 is only offered as a traditional 4-Door sedan
or a 5-Door hatchback.
• Projector beam fog lamps. These are standard
on ASTRA XR. Mazda3 has standard reflector-style
fog lamps.
• Heated outside rearview mirrors. Standard on every
ASTRA but not available on Mazda3.
• Remote power locking fuel filler door. Standard on
every ASTRA but available on Mazda3.
PERFORMANCE, RIDE & HANDLING
• StabiliTrak – Electronic stability control with traction
control. Standard on ASTRA 3-Door and available on
every ASTRA 5-Door electronic stability control and
traction control are only included on the uplevel
Mazda3 s Touring and s Grand Touring models.
• Winter mode on auto transmission. Mazda3 does not
offer a similar feature on its automatic transmission.
• Better fuel economy. ASTRA edges out Mazda3 in fuel
economy (estimated).
• Larger available tires. ASTRA 5-Door’s available
P225/45R17 tires are wider than Mazda3’s P205/50R17
tires for improved road-gripping traction.
SAFETY & SECURITY
• OnStar with one-year Safe & Sound Plan. This
standard ASTRA feature is not available on Mazda3
at any price.
• Front side-impact air bags with thorax and pelvic
protection. Mazda3’s seat-mounted side-impact air
bags only provide thorax protection.
• Pedal Release System. Mazda3 does not offer this
standard ASTRA feature.
• Active front head restraints. Mazda3 does not offer
this standard ASTRA feature.
• Daytime Running Lamps. Mazda3 does not offer this
standard ASTRA feature.
• Head-curtain and side-impact air bags. These standard
ASTRA features are only included on Mazda3’s upper
trim levels.
COMFORT & CONVENIENCE
• Heated front seats. Available on ASTRA with either
cloth or leather seats. Only included on the top-of-the-
line Mazda3 s Grand Touring model.
• Overhead sunglass holders. Standard on ASTRA, but
not available on Mazda3.
• Dual panel sunroof. Available on ASTRA 5-Door, this
surprisingly large sunroof includes a power-operated
mesh sunshade. Mazda3 only offers a much smaller
sunroof with a manual sunshade.
COST OF OWNERSHIP
• Oil Life System. Standard ASTRA feature monitors
engine usage to determine oil/filter change interval
(not just mileage based). Not available on Mazda3.
• Longer powertrain limited warranty. ASTRA’s
5-year/100,000-mile warranty lasts 40,000 miles
longer than Mazda3’s coverage.
TECHNOLOGY
• RainSense windshield wipers. Standard on every
ASTRA, but only included on the top-of-the-line
Mazda3 s Grand Touring model.
• Driver Information Center with trip computer.
Standard on every ASTRA, but only included on
the top-of-the-line Mazda3 s Grand Touring model.
• Center ambience speaker. Included on ASTRA XR for
improved sound quality, but not available on Mazda3.
• MP3-formatted CD playback. Included on ASTRA XR,
but only available on Mazda3 with the optional
CD changer.
• Remote express-down windows. Lower all of ASTRA’s
windows with one touch of the key fob. Not available
on Mazda3.
• OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation. Available on every
ASTRA for a modest upgrade fee (see page 11 for
details). Mazda3 only offers navigation on the top
s Grand Touring model at a cost of $1,750.
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