It's finally been announced what I have been speculating for quite some time. There will be no 2009 Saturn Astra for sale because of the large amount of 2008 Astra's still on dealer lots.

The Astra never caught on in the United States for some odd reason, even though it was Europe's best selling car in 2007. Some blame the lousy sales on poor advertising, that it wasn't changed enough to meet the needs  of Americans, and some say it was just too damn expensive for its size. All of those might be true, so we wonder if Saturn is working to solve those issues for 2010.

Personally, the Astra is a beautiful car. It doesn't feel underpowered like other auto enthusiast sites say, and it's actually a blast to drive. Interior quality, craftsmanship, and seat comfort are some of the best in its class, and overall it simply feels like a solid vehicle. It can be purchased as a 3 or 5-door hatch, and offers a generous 44.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.

Options like a panoramic sunroof, heated cloth or leather seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a sport package that actually modifies driving characteristics, definitely set it apart.

One big mistake though, was not making an AUX port or iPod connection available. The Astra's demographic loves their music, and so I'm sure it was a deal breaker for many. There is always the option of adding in a custom head unit, but many dislike the less integrated look of such additions.

I hope that General Motors and the Saturn division work hard to fix all of these issues for the 2010MY because this truly is a great vehicle for the money.