When the initial rumors started circulating that the Opel Astra would come stateside as a Saturn with most of the goodies and features of its European counterpart, expectations started going sky-high (no pun intended) about this Euro-chic compact that would finally give the General the hardware to compete toe-to-toe with the Japanese, Koreans, and the Volkwagen Rabbit.

When the initial rumors started circulating that the Opel Astra would come stateside as a Saturn with most of the goodies and features of its European counterpart, expectations started going sky-high (no pun intended) about this Euro-chic compact that would finally give the General the hardware to compete toe-to-toe with the Japanese, Koreans, and the Volkwagen Rabbit.

Yet the initial reports are a little disappointing. 1.8L as the standard engine? Considering the displacement, its output of 140 horsepower is certainly acceptable. But when your key rivals’ powerplants are at least 2.0 liters, sometimes significantly bigger, an upgrade engine should be mandatory.

Let’s review. The Mazda3 5-door, or hatchback, offers a 2.3L engine as standard. (The sedan offers a 2.0 as a base powerplant.) The VW Rabbit offers a standard 2.5L five-cylinder. At 154 and 150 horsepower, respectively, neither are a huge leap above the Astra’s output, but their ace-in-the hole is torque. The Mazda3 has a 23 lb-ft edge, and the VW a whopping 44 lb-ft more.

It would be one thing if the Astra was a sub-2,500 lb. featherweight. Then 140 horsepower and 126 lb-ft would be plenty for that amount of poundage.

But it’s not. The 3-door weighs in at a stocky 2,833 lbs. and the 5-door at a substantial 2,921. That’s right, almost 3,000 lbs. and 140 horsepower. Perhaps it’s the pending 2008 EPA standards–and GM’s pre-emptive compensation–to put a smaller engine in to keep its figures up even under this tougher new standard.

Also, let’s not forget the Astra’s oddball and un-loved predecessor, the Ion, offered a 2.4 Ecotec as an option with a healthy 175 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque. Such a mill in the Astra would definitely make for an entertaining ride for those that don’t want to make the full leap to the Redline.

Speaking of which, little was spoken about a wild-child version of the new compact at the Chicago Auto Show. Maybe GM’s saving it for New York, or Detroit ‘08, or L.A. in late ‘07. I suppose it would be too much to hope that the division would show all its cards at once.

Also conspicuously absent in the press materials about the new model was any mention about an in-dash navigation system. Now, you might be tempted to say, “It’s an entry-level compact for crying out loud! What do you want, a Lexus?” Well, consider that the Honda Civic and Mazda Mazda3, two of the Astra’s primary competitors, as mentioned in GM’s very own press material, offer it as an option, it seems like an obvious oversight, especially considering Saturn’s recent upscale ambitions.

Conclusion? I really, really wanted to like GM’s new compact. I had high hopes for it in my previous blog posts. But it looks like my money’s going to stay with the Mazda3 or the tempting new Mitsubishi Lancer when I’m in the market for my next compact. Until GM adds the nav and the 2.4, I’m afraid the Astra is going to remain a peripheral player in the compact scene, not the “game-changer” that many hoped it would be.

- Edward A. Sanchez