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HEY GOOD LOOKING

Models Covered: (4 dr saloon, 2dr convertible 1.8, 2.0 petrol, 2.2 diesel [Entry, Airflow, Linear, Linear Sport, Linear SE, Arc, Vector, Vector Sport, Aero])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

There’s always a sizeable lag between reality and public perception. The Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon is a case in point. One of the best looking cars in the compact executive sector, it’s sales are nevertheless dented by those who dismiss Saabs as ‘funny looking’. The same thing happened when Volkswagen took over Skoda, with many still viewing the Czech marque as some sort of joke. Latterly a similar renaissance at Mazda has also passed many potential customers by. Fortunately for Saab, there were a contingent who were at the sharp end of automotive trendspotting and these early adopters of the 9-3 Sport Saloon got a very good car. Now that used examples are filtering onto the market, there’s no excuse for you not to find out quite what attracted them to this handsome Swede.

The 9-3 Sport Saloon marked a very definite change of direction for Saab. For years it had largely campaigned in this corner of the market with hatchback models and this five-doored assault on what was ostensibly four-door territory wasn’t reaping the required rewards. With General Motors money pouring in, the company launched the Sport Saloon in early 2002, offering the sort of sleek good looks that were required to go head to head with the established class leaders. While Saab tacitly admitted that tilting at the Audi A4, the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 Series was maybe beyond the 9-3 Sport Saloon, there was certainly no reason why it couldn’t have a good go at the Jaguar X-TYPE, the Alfa 156, the Volvo S60 and the Lexus IS200. The range opened with three petrol engines and a diesel, kicking off with a 150bhp 1.8t unit, moving on to an all-aluminium 175bhp 2.0t engine, with an upper case 2.0T denoting the 210bhp range topper. Those looking for low emissions and parsimonious thirst will appreciate the carry-over of the impressive 125bhp 2.2TiD diesel powerplant. 2003 saw the launch of a normally aspirated 122bhp 1.8-litre engine to flesh out the lower end of the range with an attractive Cabriolet model also making an appearance. Then, in the summer of 2004, the 2.2TiD engine was replaced by a pair of 1.9-litre TiD units developing 120 and 150bhp respectively. The trim levels were also rearranged around this time with Arc making way for Linear Sport and Vector Sport. The SportWagon estate model was unveiled in mid 2005 and a range topping 2.8-litre V6 unit packing 250bhp arrived shortly afterwards. A comprehensive interior facelift was carried out for the 2007 model year with rotary dials installed on the dash chrome detailing and a general rationalisation of the controls for a more straightforward user interface. Then, in mid 2007, further alterations were announced to the exterior styling and the engine range. The 180bhp TTiD diesel arrived with its two stage turbocharger and the 2.8T V6 engine was upgraded to 280bhp. More interestingly, the XWD 4x4 system also arrived and the 2.0t BioPower engine was introduced to capture the environmental zeitgeist with its capability to run on E85 bioethanol. All models got a restyled front-end with a clamshell bonnet, a revised grille and LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod.

Sleeker, more muscular and featuring some beautiful detailing, this model dispensed with the line’s traditional five-door layout in favour of a more conventional four doors and a boot. Hidden beneath the coupe-like lines is a rationale that brooks no argument. Saab realised some time ago that they were in effect dominating a market of one with their hatch-based executive car. Research had shown that buyers in this sector subconsciously associated hatchbacks with cars in the next class down. Although the body is much the same length as the old 9-3, the wheelbase has been stretched, the fashionable wheel at each corner stance freeing up a good deal of interior space. Rear seat space is far superior, but those who have traditionally plumped for Saabs due to their cavernous carrying capacities should note that the 9-3 Sports Saloon’s boot is a casualty of that airy cabin. At 425 litres it’s one of the smallest in the class, but the fitment of a 60/40 split/fold rear seat boosts versatility enormously. The cabin of the 9-3 follows Saab tradition with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. When Saab were swallowed up by the GM empire, enthusiasts of the Swedish marque were worried that the essential ‘Saab-ness’ would get watered down. They can rest assured. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. A whole array of functions can even be preset to personal driver preference including the anti theft alarm, parking radar settings, rain sensitive wiper control and the thresholds of the automatic climate control. Linear trim level offers alloy wheels and fabric trim. Arc ups the ante with bigger alloys, wood veneer cappings and leather upholstery while Vector has a sporting theme with more supportive leather seats and even bigger wheels. The Linear Sport model includes dual zone climate control, front foglamps, parking sensors and 16" alloy wheels over normal Linear trim while Vector Sport adds electronic stability control an upgraded stereo and 17" alloys the Vector. When work began on this 9-3 Convertible, Saab’s designers were determined to imbue it with the same handling characteristics as the acclaimed 9-3 Sports Saloon. In order to overcome the loss of rigidity caused by removing the roof, a secondary supplemental chassis was developed, effectively a ring of steel linking and reinforcing the front rear and side structures. The hood may not be of the trendy folding hard top variety, but for a ragtop it’s very impressive. Electrically operated, it requires no unlatching or arcane procedures to operate, and retracts in just 20 seconds, making it possible to drop the top at traffic lights without the potential embarrassment of being caught at half mast when the lights turn green. The hood’s operation is very slick indeed. Instead of flipping up, an aluminium tonneau cover raises itself and then slides back, making for a quicker operation and a better seal than a traditional hinged cover.

Prices for the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon open at £6,925 for a 2003 53-plated 1.8t in Linear trim. Opt for the Vector variant and that will set you back £7,900 with Arc models fetching just over £7,625. Expect to pay around £200 extra for a car fitted with an automatic gearbox. The 2.0t models start at £6,250 for the Linear and top out at £6,875 for the Arc on the 02 plate. The 2.2TiD diesel models have provoked some interest and these can be found from £6,600 for Linear trim with an 02-plated Vector fetching £7,625. Insurance for all 9-3 Sport Saloon models is distinctly reasonable with even the punchy 2.0t models only being rated at Group 14 and the diesels falling into a lowly Group 11.

Few other manufacturers share Saab’s reputation for longevity. Although the 9-3 Sport Saloon doesn’t feel quite so ridiculously over engineered as some Saabs of yore, it still feels like a car that’ll shrug off 150,000 miles with disdainful ease, so there’s no need to scratch off some of the higher mileage ex-fleet cars from your list. Just be sure that they’ve been given regular doses of main dealer TLC. One area that is worth checking, especially on the more powerful models, is front tyre wear. As with any powerful front wheel drive car, expecting the front tyres to cope with the demands of steering such a weighty beast and transmitting all that horsepower to the ground is a serious task. A heavy right foot can see front tyres waving the white flag within 5,000 miles, dependent upon make. With the convertible models, check the hood for signs of rips, leaks or damage. Raise and lower it a couple of times to make sure the electric motors are all in good shape and haven’t been damaged by ignorant users attempting to operate the hood manually. The hood is a fully insulated triple-layer item with a proper heated glass rear window, and is one of the best on the market for insulating against wind noise. If there’s a whistling or drumming at speed, the hood may well be damaged.

(approx based on a 2002 9-3 2.0t) It’s apparent where Saab have taken a delve into the capacious GM parts bin. Certain items are very cheap, especially for a car that competes in a premium sector. A clutch assembly is in the region of £275, and brake pads are £50 a set for the fronts and £35 a pair at the back. A radiator is a fairly reasonable £220, and a headlamp unit is comparable to most major rivals at £170. A starter motor won’t see change from £180, whilst an alternator will only see small change from £260. An exhaust system is around £310, again, not unreasonable for a classy executive car.

Some things, however, don’t change. The 9-3 still campaigns on the basis of bhp per pound, its all turbocharged engine line-up effectively blitzing anything from the established rivals at any given price point. Four petrol engines and a diesel are fitted to the 9-3 Sport Saloon, kicking off with a 122bhp 1.8-litre, then progressing to a 150bhp 1.8t unit, moving on to an all-aluminium 175bhp 2.0t engine, with an upper case 2.0T denoting the 210bhp range topper. Those looking for low emissions and parsimonious thirst will appreciate the carry-over of the impressive 125bhp 2.2TiD diesel powerplant. This diesel and the 2.0T Aero are the only models available with 6-speed transmission. Big performance has always been a 9-3 trademark and the Sport Saloon doesn’t deviate from this philosophy. The £16,995 entry level 1.8-litre is the least impressive with an 11.1-second interval needed to reach 60mph from standstill. The 150bhp 1.8t models will crack 60mph in a more impressive 9.3 seconds and they retailed new at some £4,000 less than a BMW 3 Series with equivalent power. The flagship Aero variant meanwhile, offers 210bhp of turbocharged wallop emanating from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant, catapulting this sports saloon to 60mph in 7.3 seconds and then on to 145mph. You’d certainly need a lot of BMW to outpace this Swede. Moreover, with a purposeful bodykit and a ground-hugging stance it makes anything shy of an M3 look decidedly effete.

Saab have long positioned themselves as a more free thinking alternative to the German premium brands. The 9-3 Sport Saloon finally backs up that assertion with some convincing hardware. Saab traditionalists may sniff that the quality isn’t as hot as in older models and that the car rides on a Vectra chassis, but there’s little doubt that the 9-3 Sport Saloon is Saab’s most competent product to date. In this market, as in many others, you get what you pay for and you shouldn’t therefore expect the Saab to feel like a BMW 3 Series. Accept that and you should get along with the 9-3 Sport Saloon just fine.

COMING OF AGE
Saab’s 9-3 has long been an engaging if somewhat unambitious performer. This time round, have the gloves come off? Andy Enright reports

The Saab 9-3’s place in the world was once quite clear. You bought one if you couldn’t stretch to an Audi, a BMW or a Jaguar. The latest model has loftier aspirations and Saab is being empowered to shoot for the stars. It’s still early days yet but the signs look very good for this revised 9-3.

If the latest 9-3 model doesn’t look too much different to the car that’s been on sale here since 2002, then persevere. There are in fact over 2,000 part changes, all trying to give the latest car a nudge upmarket. The results are not totally unconvincing. Perhaps most convincing of these is Saab’s clever XWD all-wheel drive system, now offered as standard on the improved flagship 2.8-litre petrol V6 Aero 280bhp model and as an option on the 2.0-litre petrol turbo 210bhp variant. All of which is vital if Saab is to stand any chance of wresting sales from the compact executive sector class leaders, BMW’s 3 Series, Audi’s A4 and Mercedes’ C-class. Hitherto, this car has only been able to battle with worthy but second tier players like Lexus’ IS, Volvo’s S60 and Jaguar’s X-TYPE. Certainly against these cars, it now looks a much stronger proposition. The two big engineering steps forward with this 9-3 come in terms of both all-wheel drive and diesel. Diesel first: there’s now a 180bhp TTiD 1.9-litre unit intended to really take the fight to the Germans, with a twin-stage turbo to deliver all that power. If that’s too much, there are also 120 and 150bhp diesel models with either eight or sixteen valves. Petrol buyers are catered for by a 122bhp 1.8i, a turbocharged 1.8t, and 175bhp and 210bhp versions of an all-aluminium 2.0-litre turbo as well as the big banger in the line up, the 280bhp V6 turbo. This will get to 60mph in 5.9s and run on to 152mph. There are also two BioPower engines that run on a bioethanol E85 mix – choose from either a 1.8t or a 2.0t here. If you want the XWD ‘cross wheel drive’ system – effectively an all-wheel drive set-up featuring a Haldex differential to direct drive to the rear wheels where necessary – you’ll need to opt either for the flagship 2.8-litre V6 Aero or specify it as an option on the 2.0T 210bhp model. With XWD in place, the rather wayward power deployment of range-topping front-wheel drive 9-3s should forever be solved.

"All the signs are that Saab is ready to take a big step forward…"

The driving experience hasn’t changed all that much. The ride and handling compromise is still very well judged and comfort inside the car is excellent thanks to great seats and a multi-adjustable driving position. Our only comment is that the pedals are a little clumsier than you’d expect in a car with enthusiast pretensions. The front end of the latest 9-3 isn’t quite so outré as its bigger brother, the 9-5. The Dame Edna spectacles are thankfully absent and in their place is a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod like an illuminated eyebrow. They do look very smart but after the Audi R8 and now this Saab, we could get a glut of the things. Call it the styling fetish of 2007/08, much like jewel effect lights and clear indicators have been in the mid Noughties. The clamshell bonnet is a very deft touch, at once drawing on Saab’s history and visually widening the front of the car. All external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look and the Saloon and Convertible both adopt the Sport Wagon’s smoked white rear light clusters. The cabin is a little more muted than before, Saab cutting back on the silver painted plastics which can only be a good thing. Otherwise there are still plenty of traditional Saab design cues such as the key located on the transmission tunnel and the slab-fronted fascia panel. Build quality is good if not quite as gratuitously overengineered as some premium rivals. In fact it’s possibly not as slick as a Ford Mondeo inside the 9-3, which probably says as much about Ford’s aspirations as it does Saab’s. Prices range between £18,575 and £34,495. With a Convertible, a Saloon and a Sport Wagon estate, the 9-3 covers a fair bit of ground which is crucially important for Saab, a company that has only two main product families. The Swedes have worked towards simplifying the model range a bit and they needed to as the old line up chopped and changed all the time. As it stands, there are four trim levels: Airflow, Liner SE, Vector Sport and Aero. All cars get features such as alloy wheels, twin front, side and curtain airbags, dual zone climate control and a seven-speaker CD stereo. Airflow models are the entry level variants and feature 16-inch alloy wheels. Step up to Liner SE and there’s also rear parking assist and a Saab comfort pack. Vector Sport adds a sportier chassis, ESP stability control and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Range topping Aero trim receives sleeker bumpers, sports exhausts, bi-xenon headlights, bigger brakes, heated front seats and at least one engine unique to Aero trim. These prices show that while Saab claims to be mixing it with the big boys, it has remained solidly pragmatic when it judges exactly what the market will bear. Saab tends to score reasonably well in terms of cost of ownership with decent if not spectacular residuals and low insurance ratings for the amount of brake horsepower available. The 9-3 is no exception. Perhaps the most interesting models in the range are the BioPower cars. Saab’s Trionic engine management system automatically detects whether you’re running on bioethanol or unleaded petrol, or indeed any conceivable mix of the two, and adjusts the car’s ignition for optimum efficiency. Ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 115) than ordinary petrol, so you go quicker and it also burns more efficiently. Saab estimate a 20 per cent gain in brake horsepower and a 16 per cent boost to torque. The 9-3 BioPower uses an 85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent petroleum mix. Therefore the fuel isn’t from a totally renewable source, but it represents a good start and 90 per cent of all 9-3s sold in Sweden run on E85. Those amongst you who paid attention in chemistry classes will know that the net products of ethanol combustion are carbon dioxide and water. So where’s the environmental benefit? Aside from being able to replenish the fuel stocks, the plants harvested to create the ethanol consume more carbon dioxide in their growth cycle than the resultant fuel will emit when burnt, meaning a net depletion of CO2. Now that is clever. There’s little doubt that Saab has worked hard to improve many aspects of the 9-3. With the wider introduction of XWD models, the sales proposition of top versions is much stronger, if not quite in the same league as some of its German rivals, but bear in mind that this car is priced accordingly. All the signs are that Saab is ready to take a big step forward. But does that make the 9-3 a car you should consider right now? The BioPower models most certainly. The 180bhp TTiD model is also interesting but is priced too close to BMW’s 197bhp 325d to make it a worthy buy. If you like the idea of all-wheel drive, then plushest versions of the 9-3 look good against comparable 2-wheel drive German alternatives, but otherwise, we’d argue that the 9-3 becomes a relatively more convincing proposition the less you spend.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 range PRICES: £19,475-£32,600 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 147-279g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.9TTiD] 0-60mph 8.7s / Max Speed 137mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9TTiD] (combined) 44.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (Saloon) 4635/2038/1466mm

XTRA TRACTION
Saab has made its clever XWD system more readily available with the 9-3 2.0T Aero XWD. Steve Walker reports

The Saab 9-3 looks a whole lot more desirable with the advanced XWD all-wheel-drive system included and the 2.0T Aero model even manages to keep running costs manageable.

A few hours slithering around traffic cones in a sprinkler soaked car park and a few more sliding past more traffic calming measures on some loose gravel were all it took for the assembled press corps to reach broad agreement. Saab’s XWD four-wheel-drive system worked. The launch of the latest facelifted 9-3 left most attendees with a favourable impression of the clever all-wheel-drive set-up but with it only scheduled to be made available in the pricey 2.8T V6 Aero models, it was an impression that few UK motorists would get the opportunity to share. Thankfully, Saab took steps to change all that and now the 9-3 2.0T Aero XWD brings the technology to a wider audience. Saab’s reluctance to venture down the all-wheel-drive route struck a lot of people as strange for a long time. Despite coming from a land with more than its fair share of dirt roads and slippery weather conditions, the Swedish marque stuck resolutely to its front-wheel-drive layout. To make matters worse, it also perused a policy of attempting to out muscle its German rivals with big power outputs but the pumped-up Saabs often struggled to deploy that power through their front wheels. Torque steer, wheel spin, overworked traction control systems and big tyre bills were the order of the day but that was all before XWD. Saab’s XWD isn’t your conventional four-wheel-drive system. Its ‘cross-wheel-drive’ configuration means that as well as distributing torque between the front and rear sets of wheels, it can also send differing quantities to each of the rear wheels. This is achieved through a second Haldex limited slip differential that Saab has christened the eLSD. If grip is lost at the front of the car, the XWD system can send up to 85% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels. That driving force can then be divided up again between the two rear wheels by the eLSD which can make a split as dramatic as 80:20. The result is an extremely stable and well-balanced driving experience as the XWD predicts road conditions and optimises the way in which the power is deployed. This has major safety advantages in wet or icy weather and will also help buyers of the 9-3 2.0t Aero XWD make the most of their engine’s 207bhp performance.

"Saab’s XWD isn’t your conventional four-wheel-drive system…."

The 2.0T engine (note the large T which indicates the more powerful 2.0-litre unit in Saab parlance) delivers 207bhp and can cover the 0-60mph sprint in less than 7.5s. There’s a 146mph top speed too. The ride and handling compromise of the 9-3 is very well judged, especially with the XWD system doing its thing. Comfort inside the car is excellent thanks to great seats and a multi-adjustable driving position but the pedals are a little clumsier than you’d expect in a car with enthusiast pretensions. The 9-3 Aero is also something of a looker. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. The Aero sits lower than any other 9-3, and the bi-xenon headlamps give it an imperious stare. There’s also a SportWagon estate model, offering extra carrying capacity for a £1,000 premium. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. All models feature dual zone climate control and most get an MP3-compatible CD player with an auxiliary audio input to attach your iPod. The Sportwagon is well worth looking into. Unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Saab offers some serious carrying capacity. There’s 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres of space available with the seats folded down. Standard specification in Aero trim includes the sports chassis, uprated brakes, sports bumpers, twin exhausts, bi-xenon headlamps with pressure washers and heated front seats. Safety provision runs to ESP stability control, active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. It’s a decent specification but the Saab will need all the help it can get if it’s to make headway against its talented rivals. The XWD system is crucial to the 9-3 and its inclusion aligns the 9-3 2.0T Aero XWD more against its premium brand rivals than those from the mainstream class below. The Saab’s problem is that you can get quite a lot of rear-wheel-drive BMW or Mercedes for the same money and the all-wheel-drive Audis are also in a comparable ball park. Buyers will need to choose the Saab over these rivals on its merits. Saab tends to score reasonably well in terms of cost of ownership with decent if not spectacular residuals and low insurance ratings for the amount of brake horsepower available. The 9-3 2.0T Aero XWD should be no exception. Insurance is around group 16 and you should average around 35mpg in regular use. CO2 emissions aren’t much different to those of the two-wheel drive version of this car (rated at 194g/km). The inclusion of the sophisticated XWD 4x4 system makes the Saab 9-3 sit a lot more comfortably alongside its premium brand rivals. The 2.0T Aero model offers the striking looks and powerful turbocharged performance that has always been key to the appeal of the fast 9-3 models but with XWD, the car looks much more appealing to the enthusiastic driver.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.0T Aero XWD PRICE: £26,995-£27,995 - on the road [est] INSURANCE GROUP: 16 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 202g/km [est] PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.3s / Max Speed 145mph [est] FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 33.2mpg [est] STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints [est] WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

TURBOCHARGED WITH A SMALL T
The Saab 9-3 Sports Saloon Offers A Threat To The Established Junior Executive Hierarchy. Andy Enright Samples the 2.0t Version To Judge How Serious…

Think Saab saloons and the brand image is a mixed one. Hugely safe, massively well built and stonkingly quick they may have traditionally been, but many buyers were deterred by styling best described as quirky. The Saab 9-5 changed all that and the 9-3 Sports Saloon has taken the baton and run with it. Indeed, the junior Saab is now one of the better looking cars in the junior executive sector, especially in light of the latest facelift. Now that the Swedish marque has exorcised the demon of dodgy design, can they clean up in this competitive corner of the market? The 175bhp 2.0t models are attracting significant interest, so it is to these that we turn for answers.

The old 9-3 made something of a speciality out of offering more performance per pound than anything from Germany could muster. True, build quality and chassis dynamics were often a couple of notches down on the Teutonic big three of BMW, Mercedes and Audi but in terms of sheer power, the Germans couldn’t hold a candle to the Saab. Thing was, buyers wanted more than a big wallop in the back. They wanted silky good looks, impeccable fit and finish and a chassis to match the class best. Saab listened and came back with the 9-3 Sport Saloon.

"When it comes to junior executive cars, as with anything else, you get what you pay for."

The philosophy of big power continues, due in no small part to the predominantly turbocharged engine line-up. Here we look at the mid-range 2.0t engine, which develops a not inconsiderable 175bhp and is available in BioPower form able to run on unleaded or renewable E85 BioEthanol. The ride and handling of the 9-3 are better than any previous mid range Saab model. Just when you think the ride has been optimised for high-speed cruising, the Saab’s suspension shows that it knows what to do when presented with a corner. It deploys its power noticeably better than Saabs of yore as well. The sprint to 60mph will detain you for 8.2 seconds and the top speed of 138mph is accompanied by some tyre noise but surprisingly little wind or engine roar. Things are a little less clear cut for the 2.0t models when it comes to running costs. There’s a price to be paid for all that grunt and it comes at the pumps, the Saab averaging 33.2mpg, which is significantly worse than comparative BMW and Audi models. Resale values can’t quite compete with the Germans (though they’re not far off) and a CO2 emission figure of 206g per kilometre renders the 9-3 a little expensive for the corporate user. The antidote to all this is the BioPower version which delivers a power boost to 200bhp as well as greatly reducing CO2 emissions. The 2.0t and 2.0t Biopower engines are only offered in plush Vector Sport trim. All 9-3 models feature cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard but the Vector Sport which supplements this with the sports chassis, stability control and a sports steering wheel. Buyers seeking extra practicality can also opt for the SportWagon estate model and there’s also the sleek convertible to bear in mind. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on themes from the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. The latest 2.0t Saab 9-3 is certainly a better proposition than before and one that’s well worth further investigation. The 175bhp engine serves up the goods but the BioPower option looks an even better bet if you have an E85 retailer in your area and you’ll be surprised how many of them there are. Whoever reckoned that if something looked good it probably was good might well have been a 9-3 driver at heart.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.0t range PRICES: £24,800-£26,385 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14 CO2 EMISSIONS: 199g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0t] 0-60mph 8.2s / Max Speed 138mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0t] (urban) 24.6 (extra urban) 44.8 (combined) 34.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

A CAPITAL INVESTMENT
The Saab 9-3 2.8T V6 Aero Sports Saloon offers a threat to the established junior executive hierarchy. Andy Enright judges how serious…

Test cars for a living and you quickly get a handle on their target clientele. Polo necked Guardianistas, cash-rich plumbers, old money on the slide or schoolgate mums – you can find a car aimed at each of them. Saab’s 9-3 2.8T V6 Aero is a tougher call. After driving it for a few hours, I got out, had a drink and drove it again. Still I was none the wiser, instead becoming fixated with the oleaginous, Bostonian Brahmin drawl of Loyd Grossman. "David," – extended dramatic pause - "Who would drive a car like this?"

Think about it. The 9-3, be it in Sport Saloon or SportWagon guise, tends to appeal to those customers who admire a BMW, Mercedes or Audi but who either can’t quite afford them or balk slightly at the rather brash image. Saab make great play of including themselves alongside these manufacturers in an artificial construct they dub the P7 (Premium Group of 7) which also encompasses Jaguar, Volvo and Lexus, but if they were entirely honest with themselves, they’d realise that from an image perspective they’d be propping up that particular table. That’s why the lower-end Saab models sell so well. Instead of poaching business from the German premium manufacturers, they instead siphon off sales from buyers who would have previously bought cars like the Ford Mondeo, the Honda Accord, the Toyota Avensis and the Peugeot 407. Trading up to a Saab 9-3 makes all sorts of sense in this instance. Instant status and a smug sense of superiority for minimal capital outlay seems a smart piece of business. Where the story becomes a little fuzzy at the edges is when splashing out for a top-end 9-3 and they don’t come any further up the scale than this 2.8T V6 Aero variant. The Sport Saloon is priced at £29,310 with the estate pitching in at £30,410. While still not exactly nosebleed pricing, it’s in the same territory as some quality stuff from BMW and Mercedes or, to put it another way, you’ve really got to want a Saab to sign up for this car.

"Top end Saab 9-3s face a demanding market"

As usual, it conforms to the Saab philosophy of offering a lot more power than its rivals; in this case a turbocharged 280bhp is at your disposal. The limiting factor in the bhp arms race in this instance is the fact that unlike many of its P7 rivals, drive is directed to the front wheels and putting a whole heap of power through the front wheels can have rather disappointing results. Saab’s solution is their latest XWD all-wheel drive system which lays on active four-wheel drive and a 15% torque boost to the 2.8 V6 engine to make the most of the extra traction. That said, the standard 9-3 2.8T V6 does an excellent job of masking the fact of its front wheel drive. There’s no riotous torque-steer as you accelerate the car, the most extreme manifestation being a gentle tug at the tiller under full throttle. Likewise, there seems to be little in the way of wheelspin or obvious traction control intervention, on dry tarmac at least. If you must direct drive forwards, this is the way to do it. A normally-aspirated 2.8-litre V6 should be good for around 220bhp so the twin-scroll turbocharger is worth a good 60bhp. It works smoothly with very little lag and strong pick-up from low revs without the whines, hisses and other audible histrionics of other cars that lean heavily on their blowers to bump up the power figure. Saab quote a sprint to 60mph of just 5.4 seconds for the saloon model and it’ll run to a top speed in excess of 155mph. Make no mistake, this is a seriously rapid car, although one suspects that motorways and sweeping A-roads are more its forte than twisty country lanes. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic. Standard specification in Aero trim includes the sports chassis, uprated brakes, sports bumpers, twin exhausts, bi-xenon headlamps with pressure washers and heated front seats. Safety provision runs to ESP stability control, active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. The Sportwagon is well worth looking into. Unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Saab offers some serious carrying capacity. There’s 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres of space available with the seats folded down. The recessed sub floor allows valuables to be stowed out of the view of prying eyes and can also be used to store wet or dirty gear without muddying everything else up. Despite its sporting looks, the rear hatch is actually fairly steeply raked, allowing for additional carrying capacity. This is where some rivals fall down, favouring style over practicality. Saab aim to offer both. As long as you don’t mistake it for a no-compromises sportster, there’s little reason why you should be disappointed by the Saab 9-3 2.8T V6 Aero. It’s well built, civilised and very good value for money. It’s just difficult to see where the sales are going to come from. Those armed with a little knowledge may well decry it as a rebadged and made-over Vauxhall Vectra and it would be difficult to deny its roots. Those not so savvy will likely be swayed by an entry-level BMW or Mercedes and tick the badge delete box on the order form. Who does that leave? The nebulous leftovers are what Saab seem to be pursuing with the 9-3 2.8T V6. We wish them luck.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.8T V6 Aero range PRICES: £29,310-£30,410 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 239g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.4s / Max Speed 155mph+ FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 28.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS
Saab’s 9-3 Sport Saloon hugely benefits from an advanced but borrowed 1.9-litre diesel unit, thinks Andy Enright…

Many doomsayers predicted the death of Saab when the General Motors empire bought half of it in 1990 and the rest a decade later. That the essential character of the cars would be ironed pancake flat through a series of deathly committee decisions seemed to be the consensus amongst such cynics. The jury may still be out on certain aspects of this prediction but there’s no doubt that Saab has benefited in a number of ways from General Motors’ involvement. Innovations such as the 1.9-litre TiD diesel engines – as seen in the current 9-3 Sport Saloon line up – are a case in a point.

Saab acquired two top quality diesel powerplants developed in conjunction with Fiat and produced at the FMA plant in Italy. One, a 120bhp 8-valve unit that will appeal to the more cost conscious, the other a gutsy 150bhp 16-valve engine for those with a heavier right foot. It’s these engines that we concentrate on here but the latest facelift has also brought the 180bhp TTiD unit with a two-stage turbocharging that tops off the diesel range. With development budgets being what they are, if Saab were still an independent company they would never have been able to afford the design, testing and construction of engines as sophisticated as these. When they arrived, 1.9-litre TiD units replaced the 2.2-litre TiD engine that the current generation 9-3 had from launch, Trollhattan's first ever diesel. Four years hard development work went into that engine and it was a decent effort but despite continual improvements, it was never capable of matching the class best in terms of emissions and fuel economy. The 1.9-litre TiD units addressed those concerns very effectively. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the option of a six-speed auto for the 150bhp version, there’s plenty of scope for plugging the car straight into the meat of the torque curve. With at least 90% of peak torque available in a broad load running from 1,750 to 3,250rpm, you’ll be guaranteed respectable progress. After all, peak torque for the 16v engine is 315Nm and the 8v unit is only marginally weaker at 280Nm.

"Have cake. Eat it. It’s as simple as that..."

Compared to the old 2.2-litre TiD unit, the 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD generates 20 per cent more power, 12.5 per cent more torque and greater refinement with the added benefits of lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy. Have cake. Eat it. It’s as simple as that. It’ll notch off the sprint to 60mph in just 9.3 seconds but the in-gear acceleration times that really indicate a diesel engine’s torque response have been slashed dramatically. The eight-valve version offers superior fuel economy, notching up an impressive 49.2mpg on the combined cycle. The standard 1.9-litre TiD’s powertrain includes an advanced diesel particulate filter, enabling Euro IV emissions compliance, an essential requirement for many company car drivers. Unlike other particulate traps, it is maintenance-free and self-cleaning, requiring no additives or periodic replacement. In order to clean the filter and to keep the exhaust flow as free as possible, these deposits are periodically burnt off by short pulses of over-fuelling. These briefly raise exhaust temperatures to the required level of 600º C. The process is automatically initiated when back pressure in the exhaust system reaches a certain level and is completely undetectable by the driver. The self-cleaning process takes place whenever necessary, irrespective of throttle load or engine temperature. Whereas the original 9-3 made something of a speciality out of offering more performance per pound than anything from Germany could muster, the current Sport Saloon is a subtler instrument. The suspension and handling, for example, are better than any previous mid range Saab model. Just when you think the ride has been optimised for high-speed cruising, the car’s suspension shows that it knows what to do when presented with a corner. It deploys its power noticeably better than Saabs of yore as well. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. Three trim levels are available with these engines. As well as the £19,465 Airflow version, there are the more familiar Linear SE and Vector Sport variants. The Linear SE model weighs in at £21,475 with the Vector Sport versions costing from £23,025. Even the base Airflow variant is classily appointed with a cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard. Linear SE adds rear parking sensors and the Saab comfort pack. Then you have the Vector Sport which supplements this with the sports chassis, stability control and a sports steering wheel. Buyers seeking extra practicality can also opt for the SportWagon estate model and there’s also the sleek convertible to bear in mind. The 9-3 Sport Saloon has carved an enviable niche for itself amongst those looking for a sleek and individual compact executive car but without top class diesel power, sales figures were always going to struggle. With this in place, the 9-3 is a car you could justifiably recommend as a leftfield choice for someone bored with the usual 3 Series/A4/C-Class mould. .Assuming you can get the right specification at the right price, this is a car well worth trying.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.9TiD range PRICES: £19,465-£24,080 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 14 CO2 EMISSIONS: 154-159g/km PERFORMANCE: [150bhp] 0-60mph 9.2s / Max Speed 131mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [150bhp] (average) 48mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

WORKING 9 TO 3
In the fast-moving world of the modern automotive marketplace, the manufacturer that stands still is quickly reduced to a speck on the horizon. Saab hopes its TTiD engine can help its latest 9-3 keep pace with the compact executive elite. Steve Walker reports

The smooth, fast and economical TTiD twin-turbo diesel engine could be the best powerplant in the Saab 9-3 line-up. The car has been around for some time but it’s still a relevant compact executive saloon, even if it must rely on value for money and the fact that it isn’t German for most of its sales successes. It’s very comfortable and relaxing motorway car that can still raise a smile on twisty roads.

Saab has long prided itself on the leftfield appeal of its vehicles, happy to operate on the margins as a sanctuary for freethinking individuals determined not to follow the crowd and buy German. Spooky reliability and dashboards modelled on your sideboard stood them in good stead for a long time but more recently, big horsepower figures and sharky styling have been relied upon to draw the customers in. The 9-3 TTiD model covered here is a variation on this theme, blessed with a 180bhp twin-turbocharged diesel powerplant and a front end that’s more aggressive than a basket of honey badgers. 180bhp is a useful amount to squeeze from a 1.9-litre diesel engine. TiD-badged versions of this unit that develop 120 and 150bhp are also available in the 9-3 but these lack the additional T of the TTiD and more crucially, its second turbocharger. Getting big power from a comparatively small capacity engine has helped Saab retain a strong fuel economy showing and keep weight down. This is weight over the front axel too, right where it could have highlighted the shortcomings of a powerful front-wheel-drive car in a market populated by rear-wheel-drive rivals. Where the Germans tend to employ six-cylinder diesels in order to achieve power of the TTiD’s magnitude, the 1.9TTiD looks a sensible solution for the 9-3, that enticing horsepower figure only overshadowed by the highly muscular 400Nm torque rating. Powerful Saab models of the past often had trouble deploying their hefty bhp outputs effectively. As the turbocharger got into its stride and the wave of torque hit, the front wheels would struggle for grip and violent torque steer would often ensue. Today’s front-wheel-drive 9-3 models effectively overcome these problems with a carefully-honed chassis achieving superior grip and the smooth power delivery of the TTiD unit.

"Getting big power from a small capacity engine has helped Saab retain strong fuel economy while keeping weight down…."

The engine uses a pair of turbochgargers working in sequence. A smaller blower spools up quickly to boost pulling power at low revs while the big hitter comes on stream once the engine’s into its stride. It means that turbo lag – that pregnant pause between throttle input and the power coming on stream – is effectively reduced. It all helps make the 9-3 TTiD an amiable companion for everyday driving. The committed enthusiast will probably always plump for a rear-wheel-drive alternative but the Saab’s composure and comfort on the motorway, coupled with its power and well-judged handling, give it a good balance for many drivers. The latest facelifted 9-3 inherited its dramatic frontal styling from the Aero X concept car that caused quite a stir at the 2006 Geneva motorshow. It’s definitely not short of aggression and the 9-3’s malevolent front end seems sure to have the desired effect on outside lane dawdlers when it looms up in their rear view mirrors. The extensive use of chrome to trim the grille and the bumper recesses that house the fog lights on plusher derivatives may not be to everyone’s taste, especially those who favoured Saab products because they were notably less ostentatious that the German alternatives. The smoked glass tail lights must also have a question mark over them, especially on the SportWagon estate bodystyle. For some they will smack too readily of the aftermarket equivalents often seen fitted to souped-up Citroen Saxos and Vauxhall Corsas. Unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the SportWagon estate version offers some serious carrying capacity. There’s 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres of space available with the seats folded down. The recessed sub floor allows valuables to be stowed out of the view of prying eyes and can also be used to store wet or dirty gear without muddying everything else up. Despite its sporting looks, the rear hatch is actually fairly steeply raked, allowing for additional carrying capacity. This is where rivals such as the Alfa 159 Sportwagon and BMW’s 3-Series Touring fall down, favouring style over practicality. Saab aims to offer both. The 9-3 has been campaigning since 2002 and it’s no longer feeling as fresh as it once did in comparison to the big guns in the compact executive sector. The interior is not without its merits, however, with excellent seats that give a comfortable driving position and simple controls that will come as a pleasant change to drivers baffled by the complexity of the latest compact executive crop. The plastics are reasonable in terms of quality but there’s rather too much of them with the ambiance inside the 9-3 missing the class of a 3 Series, A4 or C-Class. With a convertible, a saloon and a SportWagon estate, the 9-3 covers a fair bit of ground, which is crucially important for Saab, a company that has only two main product families. The range has been simplified of late and as it stands, there are four trim levels: Airflow, Liner SE, Vector Sport and Aero. The TTiD engine is only available in range-topping Aero form and prices start from £26,495 for the Sport Saloon. The SportWagon is £1,000 more and the Convertible commands a sizable £32,530 but equipment levels are quite high. This kind of pricing puts the 9-3 TTiD directly up against some very stiff competition. When you examine the BMW 3-Series line-up, for example, a big problem immediately leaps out. The 325d uses a six-cylinder diesel engine producing 197bhp and costs just over £1,000 more in SE trim. The Saab does 4mpg better in terms of fuel economy but the rear-wheel-drive BMW is going to be a tough nut for it to crack. The old bhp per Pound equation that Saab has traditionally used to leverage an advantage over the Germans doesn’t stack up in this instance. The 9-3 TTiD gives great fuel economy returns for a 180bhp compact executive saloon. The official combined cycle figure of 47.9mpg will appeal to company car users as will the 159g/km CO2 emissions. Residual values aren’t as strong as those of the German alternatives but the TTiD diesel should perform noticeably better than some of the other engine options, particularly in SportWagon estate form. The Saab 9-3 looks all the better for the inclusion of the 1.9-litre TTiD engine in it’s portfolio. It’s a smooth, refined powerplant that enhances the car’s already admirable long distance cruising abilities while also giving diesel buyers the option of some serious pace. The 9-3 is showing its age in some key areas when compared to its longstanding German adversaries but the refreshed styling and the car’s core strengths mean it still has something to offer. Average fuel economy of nearly 48mpg and an 8-second 0-60mph sprint are not to be sniffed at even in the ultra-competitive compact executive sector. If Saab could see its way clear to scaling back its prices for this engine a little or making the TTiD available in some of the more affordable trim levels, it could have a real winner on its hands. At £26,500, the TTiD Aero has some very capable rivals that are only slightly more expensive and this may serve to deprive it of some of the success it deserves. Overall, though, there’s a lot to like about the car, especially as a hardworking motorway tool, and the addition of Saab’s XWD 4x4 system could really up the fun factor.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD PRICES: £26,495-£27,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 14 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 159g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.0s / Max Speed 140mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (saloon) 4635/2038/1466mm

HOW TO RIGHT A BEST SELLER
The latest Saab 9-3 Convertible looks to continue the success of this enduring product line. By Andy Enright…

The Saab 9-3 Convertible is the car that many buyers turn to when they want a combination of practicality, quality and the wind in their hair. The latest version looks set to continue this sales trend, adding even more style and quality to the equation.

It features a front end facelift, there’s an improved range of engines that includes a clever 180bhp twin-turbo 1.9 diesel, as well as an uprated 280bhp 2.8 V6 turbo petrol unit that won’t be chosen by the Green party. They’ll instead prefer the 175bhp 2.0t Saab BioPower option, delivering 200bhp even when running on bioethanol E85 fuel. Sadly, Saab’s new XWD all-wheel drive system isn’t being offered on drop-top models. Apart from all of that, the 9-3 Convertible recipe is pretty much as before. With this generation model, the designers tried hard to change this car’s predecessor’s reputation for rather stodgy handling, imbuing it as far as they could with the same handling characteristics as the acclaimed 9-3 Sports Saloon. In order to overcome the loss of rigidity caused by removing the roof, a secondary supplemental chassis was developed, effectively a ring of steel linking and reinforcing the front rear and side structures. The result is a car devoid of the shake, rattle and roll of many convertibles. Of course, many drivers won’t care a lot about chassis stiffness, but the result is a car that drives more smoothly, that allows its suspension to work properly and which also permits designers to work to fine tolerances in the construction of components like the electric folding hood. Ah, the hood. The Saab’s hood may not be of the trendy folding hard top variety, but for a ragtop it’s very impressive. Electrically operated, it requires no unlatching or arcane procedures to operate, and retracts in just 20 seconds, making it possible to drop the top at traffic lights without the potential embarrassment of being caught at half mast when the lights turn green. The hood’s operation is very slick indeed. Instead of flipping up, an aluminium tonneau cover raises itself and then slides back, making for a quicker operation and a better seal than a traditional hinged cover. It can also be operated while the car is moving at up to 20 miles per hour.

"The hood’s operation is very slick indeed"

Saab’s CargoSET system is another innovation of which the Swedes seem proud. This ‘self expanding trunk’ frees up a useful amount of luggage space in the boot – the kind of space that convertible owners in this class must usually forgo. The hood itself is triple skinned for improved noise and thermal insulation and is available in black, sand or blue. In order to counter the dinginess that most convertibles suffer from when the hood’s up, the Saab’s hood is internally trimmed in either beige or light grey. The attention to detail is laudable. A small gutter has been sewn into the side of the fabric to prevent water droplets dripping onto the seats and there’s also what Saab calls a ‘surround trim’. This is basically a horseshoe-shaped line that runs from the base of each door pillar and incorporates the panels on top of the doors, the rear side trims and most of the tonneau cover. It’s finished in a crackle matt black paint but can also be specified in body colour. It’s a neat design idea that works particularly well with brighter colours. A wide range of engines is available in the 9-3 Covertible. These include the 150bhp 1.8t (from £25,980), the 175bhp 2.0t (from £29,780), the 210bhp 2.0T (from £32,035) and the 280bhp 2.8T V6 (£34,595), plus two diesels: the 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD (£26,435) and the 180bhp 1.9-litre TTiD (from £32,535). The other options are Saab’s 1.8 and 2.0-litre BioPower offerings which can run on E85 bioethanol. All the engines are lifted from the current 9-3 Sports Saloon line up and all are tough, punchy powerplants. The 2.0T Aero manages a 7.7-second 0-60mph time and a 143mph top speed. Combined fuel consumption figures for all three four cylinder 9-3 Convertible petrol engines are virtually indistinguishable - 32.2, 32.1 and 31mpg respectively. The diesels, predictably, are significantly superior with a 44.8mpg average for the 150bhp TiD option. Aside from the flagship Aero models, two trim levels – Linear SE and Vector Sport - are offered, the main difference for Vector Sport models being the sports chassis. Front and side airbags, active head restraints, central locking, alloys and a remote control alarm with immobiliser are standard fare, even if you go with Linear SE trim. The Aero features bi-xenon headlamps with pressure washers, redesigned bumpers and more aggressive alloy wheels. As we’ve said, all the latest Saab 9-3 Convertible models benefit from a facelift, this is based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic. Saab has developed a system they refer to as ReAxs, which passively steers the rear wheels to cut out the turgid understeer many powerful front wheel drive cars suffer from. Other novelties include DynaCage; Saab-speak for two spring-loaded rollover hoops that are recessed behind the rear head restraints which automatically deploy if the car thinks its falling over. Perhaps the most intriguing development is CargoWing, a rear spoiler that can convert into a ski or snowboard holder! The 9-3 Convertible has always looked a winner in the image-conscious premium drop-top market. Revisions to the engine range plus the latest styling changes mean it remains near the top of the pile.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Convertible range PRICES: £25,980-£34,595 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 154-266g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0T Aero] Max Speed 143mph / 0-60mph 7.7s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0T Aero] (urban) 23.2mpg / (extra urban) 38.7mpg / (combined) 31.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, Active Head Restraints, ABS, DynaCage, integrated front seat belts WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1435mm

T MOBILE
The Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon is no respecter of reputations. Even the 1.8t versions are causing sleepless nights in Germany. By Andy Enright

The formula for success in the compact executive sector is easy. Your car needs to be quick, well-built, comfortable, good looking, handle well and be vaguely affordable. It also needed a prestigious German badge on its bonnet. Just lately, however, we’ve seen a slight shift in the status quo and models like Saab's 9-3 Sport Saloon have what it takes to meet and beat the Germans at their own game. The 1.8t versions are positioned towards the affordable end of the 9-3 scale and are, therefore, hugely important for the Swedish company.

It's no secret that car manufacturers generate column inches with range-topping 'halo' models but it's the more prosaic volume-selling models that have a more significant effect on the bottom line. Starting at a tempting £20,050, the 1.8t Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon's pricing effectively prices Mercedes Benz out of direct contention and makes the purchase of a basic Audi A4 or an entry-level BMW 3-Series appear something of a wilful extravagance. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on themes from the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic.

"There's no getting away from the fact that this is currently the best buy in the junior executive class"

Saab has been successful in honing the 9-3 Sport Saloon's driving dynamics as well as clothing the car in some of the slinkiest styling ever to grace a Saab. The previous generation 9-3 made something of a speciality out of offering more performance per pound than anything from Germany could muster and the Sport Saloon continues this theme, the 150bhp engine fitted to the 1.8t models good for a sprint to 60mph in 9.5s and on to a top speed of 131mph. What's most impressive is the fact that turbo lag - that annoying pause whilst you wait for the turbo to do its thing - is as good as absent in the Saab. The engine feels more like a decently sized V6 than a 1.8-litre four-cylinder unit. Torque is also prodigious, the Saab returning a figure of 177lb/ft. Small wonder the engine feels so muscular for one of such modest capacity. The combined fuel consumption figure of 34.4mpg is good going indeed considering the verve of the 1.8-litre unit. The ride and handling are better than any previous mid range Saab model. Just when you think the ride has been optimised for high-speed cruising, the Saab's suspension shows that it knows what to do when presented with a corner. It deploys its power noticeably better than Saabs of yore as well. Three trim levels are available with this engine. As well as the £20,050 Airflow version, there are the more familiar Linear SE and Vector Sport variants. The Linear SE model weighs in at £22,060 with the Vector Sport versions costing from £23,610. Even the base Airflow variant is classily appointed with a cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard. Linear SE adds rear parking sensors and the Saab comfort pack. Then you have the Vector Sport which supplements this with the sports chassis, stability control and a sports steering wheel. Buyers seeking extra practicality can also opt for the SportWagon estate model and there’s also the sleek convertible to bear in mind. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. Although you may find this hard to believe, if you add up the test scores and take into account the 9-3 1.8t's value proposition, there's no getting away from the fact that this is currently one of the best buys in the junior executive class. Many other options look either too dear, not good enough or both by comparason. For years the 9-3 was a nearly car, the sort of car that had its merits but which couldn't compete head on with the best of the rest. Those days are long gone. With just enough essential Saab DNA and enough of everything else to put a lick on established rivals, the 9-3 Sports Saloon 1.8t has the power to convert even the most hardened sceptic.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8t range PRICES: £20,050-£23,610 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 12 CO2 EMISSIONS: 195g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.5s / Max Speed 131mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 34.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

NATURAL ASPIRATIONS
Saab Have High Hopes For The Entry Level 9-3 Sport Saloon. In 1.8-Litre Guise This Car Makes Premium Rivals Look Exorbitantly Priced. Andy Enright Reports…

It’s amazing the stuff you can find down the back of the cushions on your sofa. I knew my future wife’s parents were good sorts when a surreptitious delve down the back of their couch yielded a platinum Amex card and a confirmation note for the full Sky Sports channel setup. There’s an equivalent to this limbo in the automotive world which can turn up little gems like the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8i.

Think of it as the gap between the mainstream family saloons and their premium badged executive equivalents. Somewhere between the upspec Ford Mondeos and Vauxhall Vectras and the swish BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus models is a market sector where manufacturers traditionally send their products to die a horrible death. Into this netherworld were dispatched the Jaguar X-Type, the Volvo S60, upspec Volkswagen Passats and swankier versions of the Honda Accord. Some fared better than others but squeezed between the paupers and the princes is a tough place to be. Saab’s 9-3 has been fighting hard to keep its head above water in precisely this sector but the latest 1.8-litre versions complete with facelifted styling could do well by sheer dint of their sparkling value for money. Prior to this normally aspirated 1.8-litre model arriving on the market, the entry level point to the 9-3 Sport Saloon range was the turbocharged 150bhp 1.8t at over £20,000. True, you got a whole lot more bang for your buck than with the blown Saab than with the starting points on the BMW/Mercedes/Audi ladder but the price was more than BMW were asking for the 316i ES of the day and this caused more than a few waverers. The 122bhp 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8 opens proceedings at a mere £18,575, against which the premium badges have no answer whatsoever.

"Saab have retained their traditionally muscular feel in the engine’s low and middle ranges without the expense of a turbocharger"

By using an electronic throttle and a variable length intake manifold, Saab have retained their traditionally muscular feel in the engine’s low and middle ranges without the expense of a turbocharger. The added benefit is that the 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8i offers competitive economy and emissions figures. With a combined fuel figure of 35.8mpg and emissions of 188g/km, the 9-3 1.8 isn’t going to break the bank in terms of running costs. The engine offers sprightly if not ballistic acceleration, accelerating through the 60mph benchmark in 11.1 seconds and topping out at 123mph. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there’s a more muted effect with less silver plastic. The 9-3’s ride and handling are better than any previous mid-range Saab model. Just when you think the ride has been optimised for high-speed cruising, the Saab's suspension shows that it knows what to do when presented with a corner. It deploys its power noticeably better than Saabs of yore as well. Despite being fitted with traction control electronics, the 9-3 is rarely forced to fall back on their safety net. Three trim levels are available with this engine. As well as the £18,575 Airflow version, there are the more familiar Linear SE and Vector Sport variants. The Linear SE model weighs in at £20,585 with the Vector Sport versions costing from £22,135. Even the base Airflow variant is classily appointed with a cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard. Linear SE adds rear parking sensors and the Saab comfort pack. Then you have the Vector Sport which supplements this with the sports chassis, stability control and a sports steering wheel. Buyers seeking extra practicality can also opt for the SportWagon estate model and there’s also the sleek convertible to bear in mind. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. The 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8i offers the same 5-star Euro NCAP safety ratings as the rest of the range. If you appreciate a car that’s a little different from the run of the mill but which won’t wallop you in the wallet as a consequence, the 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8i makes a safe bet.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8i PRICES: £18,575 - £23,135 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 11 CO2 EMISSIONS: 188g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.1s / Max Speed 123mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 26.4 (extra urban) 45.6 (combined) 35.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

BUBBLE JET SPRINTER
Saab’s 9-3 Aero 2.0T now has looks and grip to match its pace. Andy Enright checks it out

It’s fair to say that the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon ruffled a few feathers upon the occasion of its launch. Notching up test wins against rivals from BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo and Audi hasn’t always been a position of familiarity for Saab. Even today, with the other marques having hit back at the 9-3 in some style, Saab’s facelifted offering remains a dark horse destination for the junior executive’s car allowance. The sporting flagship of the current four cylinder range, the 2.0T Aero, offers Saab’s usual recipe of huge power per pound but in this instance it also factors in a welcome dose of sophistication.

Whilst many will be familiar with the Saab 9-3 Aero designation, few will appreciate quite how much work Saab have done to turn this car into a sporting saloon worthy of note. The overriding memory of the old 9-3 Aero 2.0T was a car that had a little too much engine for its chassis, a car that, when you planted the accelerator, either spun its front wheels impotently or gave in to manic torque steer. Subtle it was not. This 9-3 consigned this sort of behaviour to history, based as it is on an entirely different chassis and suspension set up. The engine remains largely the same, 210bhp of turbocharged wallop emanating from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant and it’s as good as ever, catapulting the £26,485 Aero 2.0T to 60mph in 7.3 seconds and then on to 145mph. If you want to make sure that all that power gets to the tarmac whatever the weather, then you’ll want to tick the options box for Saab’s latest XWD all-wheel drive system. XWD’s ‘cross-wheel-drive’ configuration means that as well as distributing torque between the front and rear sets of wheels, it can also send differing quantities to each of the rear wheels. This is achieved through a second Haldex limited slip differential that Saab has christened the eLSD.

"You’d certainly need a lot of BMW to outpace the Aero"

If grip is lost at the front of the car, the XWD system can send up to 85% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels. That driving force can then be divided up again between the two rear wheels by the eLSD which can make a split as dramatic as 80:20. The result is an extremely stable and well-balanced driving experience as the XWD predicts road conditions and optimises the way in which the power is deployed. This has major safety advantages in wet or icy weather and will also help buyers of the 9-3 2.0t Aero XWD make the most of their engine’s 207bhp performance. If you want grip and more power, there’s a 2.8T V6 Aero model which comes with XWD as standard, capable of rest to 60mph in 5.9s. Either way, Saab’s quoted performance figures are usually decidedly conservative. You’d certainly need a lot of BMW to outpace the Aero. This is where the Saab drives home what looks to be an irrepressible advantage. To get a BMW 3 Series that can equal even the 2.0T’s performance figures and offer a similar level of trim, you’ll need to find around £28,000. Audi will charge you around the same for a broadly equivalent A4 and Mercedes will want a larger sum still for a C-Class. Purists trying the standard 2-wheel drive version will point to the fact that drive is directed to the front wheels and sniffily dismiss it as a less balanced set up than a rear or a four-wheel drive. This issue is of course solved by the XWD version but in any case, these purists will invariably be the ones who’ve yet to drive a modern front wheel drive car like the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon. In absolute terms, rear or all-wheel drive is a superior solution, but in every day driving we never deal in absolutes. Instead, we work with compromise and the Saab 9-3 Aero manages those compromises better than most. A combination of clever chassis and suspension design coupled with formidable electronics mean that traction is rarely a problem and such is the safety net available, the Saab engenders a huge feeling of confidence. Passenger space is exemplary, with superbly designed seats and easily enough room for three abreast in the back. It’s also one of the few cars in its class that offers a standard split/fold rear seat, operable by a pair of levers in the boot. Along with the ever-astonishing cupholders, notch this up as another example of smart design from Saab. The Aero is also something of a looker. The familiar clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and this variant of course features the most recent 9-3 revisions, all external rubbing strips having been removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. The Aero sits lower than any other 9-3, and the bi-xenon headlamps give it an imperious look. There’s also a SportWagon estate model, offering extra carrying capacity for a £1,000 premium. The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that’s more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags. All models feature dual zone climate control and most get an MP3-compatible CD player with an auxiliary audio input to attach your iPod. The Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon has proved itself a worthy addition at the top table of compact executive cars and the 2.0T Aero variant is well worth a look in its latest guise. Forget what you may have heard about powerful Saabs. This car rewrites the rules.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.0T Aero PRICE: £26,485-£27,585 [2WD models] - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 202g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.3s / Max Speed 145mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 33.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

COMING OF AGE
Saab’s 9-3 has long been an engaging if somewhat unambitious performer. This time round, have the gloves come off? Andy Enright reports

The Saab 9-3’s place in the world was once quite clear. You bought one if you couldn’t stretch to an Audi, a BMW or a Jaguar. The latest model has loftier aspirations and Saab is being empowered to shoot for the stars. It’s still early days yet but the signs look very good for this revised 9-3.

One recurring nightmare for any motoring journalist is to be flown away to a press launch only for the realisation to dawn that they are in fact there to drive an all-new grille and headlights. You sit for two days while an increasingly desperate PR tries to convince you that with this new grille and headlights, their depressing billet of mediocrity is about to haul itself from the slough of despond to the top of the class. This charade happens more often than you’d think and I began to suspect that Saab had hoodwinked me into just such an exercise with their revised 9-3. Yes, it does have a revised grille and headlights but there are also over 2,000 other part changes. Most observant customers will notice at least ten differences and while the 9-3 was never the runt of the compact executive litter, it knew its place, hovering between the mainstream and the premium in a sort of aspirational limbo. Saab is, predictably, trying to give the latest car a nudge upmarket. The results are not totally unconvincing. Saab has given the 9-3 a welcome shot in the arm with a couple of big steps forward in terms of engineering. As well as a 180bhp TTiD 1.9-litre diesel engine, there’s also the XWD ‘cross wheel drive’ model on the horizon – effectively an all-wheel drive version with a Haldex differential to direct drive to the rear wheels where necessary. This will forever solve the rather wayward power deployment of range-topping front-wheel drive 9-3s. Aside from the impressive diesel, which uses a twin-stage turbo to deliver all that power, there are more conventional turbo models. The 1.9-litre 16v is good for 150bhp, while a cheaper 8v engine serves up 120bhp. Petrol buyers are catered for by a 122bhp 1.8i, a turbocharged 1.8t, and 175bhp and 210bhp versions of an all-aluminium 2.0-litre turbo as well as the big banger in the line up, the 280bhp V6 turbo. This will get to 60mph in 5.9s and run on to 152mph. There are also two BioPower engines that run on a bioethanol E85 mix – choose from either a 1.8t or a 2.0t here.

"Saab has given the 9-3 a welcome shot in the arm…."

Three body styles are offered – Saloon, Sport Wagon and Convertible – along with four trim levels which, combined with the nine engines, makes for a massive range. The driving experience hasn’t changed all that much. The ride and handling compromise is still very well judged but the more powerful models highlight the pressing requirement for all-wheel drive which Saab has belatedly woken up to. Comfort inside the car is excellent thanks to great seats and a multi-adjustable driving position but the pedals are a little clumsier than you’d expect in a car with enthusiast pretensions. The front end of the latest 9-3 isn’t quite so outré as its bigger brother, the 9-5. The Dame Edna spectacles are thankfully absent and in their place is a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod like an illuminated eyebrow. They do look very smart but after the Audi R8 and now this Saab, we could get a glut of the things. Call it the styling fetish of 2007/08, much like jewel effect lights and clear indicators have been in the mid Noughties. The clamshell bonnet is a very deft touch, at once drawing on Saab’s history and visually widening the front of the car. All external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look and the Saloon and Convertible both adopt the Sport Wagon’s smoked white rear light clusters. The cabin is a little more muted than before, Saab cutting back on the silver painted plastics which can only be a good thing. Otherwise there are still plenty of traditional Saab design cues such as the key located on the transmission tunnel and the slab-fronted fascia panel. Build quality is good if not quite as gratuitously overengineered as some premium rivals. In fact it’s possibly not as slick as a Ford Mondeo inside the 9-3, which probably says as much about Ford’s aspirations as it does Saab’s. With a Convertible, a Saloon and a Sport Wagon estate, the 9-3 covers a fair bit of ground which is crucially important for Saab, a company that has only two main product families. The Swedes have worked towards simplifying the model range a bit and they needed to as the old line up chopped and changed all the time. As it stands, there are four trim levels: Airflow, Liner SE, Vector Sport and Aero. All cars get features such as alloy wheels, twin front, side and curtain airbags, dual zone climate control and a seven-speaker CD stereo. Airflow models are the entry level variants and feature 16-inch alloy wheels. Step up to Liner SE and there’s also rear parking assist and a Saab comfort pack. Vector Sport adds a sportier chassis, ESP stability control and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Range topping Aero trim receives sleeker bumpers, sports exhausts, bi-xenon headlights, bigger brakes, heated front seats and at least one engine unique to Aero trim. Prices start at £18,575 for a 1.8i Airflow Saloon and top out at £34,495 for an Aero2.8 V6 Convertible. These prices show that while Saab claims to be mixing it with the big boys, it has remained solidly pragmatic when it judges exactly what the market will bear. Saab tends to score reasonably well in terms of cost of ownership with decent if not spectacular residuals and low insurance ratings for the amount of brake horsepower available. The 9-3 is no exception. Perhaps the most interesting models in the range are the BioPower cars. Saab’s Trionic engine management system automatically detects whether you’re running on bioethanol or unleaded petrol, or indeed any conceivable mix of the two, and adjusts the car’s ignition for optimum efficiency. Ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 115) than ordinary petrol, so you go quicker and it also burns more efficiently. Saab estimate a 20 per cent gain in brake horsepower and a 16 per cent boost to torque. The 9-3 BioPower uses an 85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent petroleum mix. Therefore the fuel isn’t from a totally renewable source, but it represents a good start and 90 per cent of all 9-3s sold in Sweden run on E85. Those amongst you who paid attention in chemistry classes will know that the net products of ethanol combustion are carbon dioxide and water. So where’s the environmental benefit? Aside from being able to replenish the fuel stocks, the plants harvested to create the ethanol consume more carbon dioxide in their growth cycle than the resultant fuel will emit when burnt, meaning a net depletion of CO2. Now that is clever. There’s little doubt that Saab has worked hard to improve many aspects of the 9-3. It’s also true that the 9-3 isn’t quite in the same league as its German rivals just yet and is priced accordingly. The signs on the horizon suggest that Saab may soon be ready to take a big step forward. An expansion of the model range, the introduction of four-wheel drive models that will permit more powerful engines and the increasing autonomy that General Motors has granted Saab due to its encouraging profit figures all augur well for the company. But does it make the 9-3 a car you should consider right now? The BioPower models most certainly. The 180bhp TTiD model is also interesting but is priced too close to BMW’s 197bhp 325d to make it a worthy buy. In fact the 9-3 becomes a relatively more convincing proposition the less you spend.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 range PRICES: £18,575-£34,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 147-279g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.9TTiD] 0-60mph 8.7s / Max Speed 137mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9TTiD] (combined) 44.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (Saloon) 4635/2038/1466mm

BRING LOAD, SWEDE CHARIOT
Saab’s 9-3 Sportwagon brings a welcome dash of style to the executive estate sector. Andy Enright takes a look

A lot of data passes across my desk each day. Most of it is deathly dull but just occasionally a nugget of information brings everything else to a standstill. Somewhat staggeringly, such a thing happened when considering the Saab 9-3 Sportwagon’s boot floor handle. I had to read the press release again just to make sure I’d got it right. "The Sportwagon comes with a Twin Floor Storage facility. By pulling a chrome, aircraft-shaped handle, the main boot floor can be folded and relocated for access to a recessed sub-floor."

This instantly gave rise to the intriguing question of just what shape is an aircraft? Was this boot floor handle a delicate chromed Vickers Vimy biplane that popped up or could it be a sleek Saab Gripen? The straight wings and chunky stub ordnance hardpoints of a Northrop A-10 Tankbuster would be a whole lot easier to grasp. Unfortunately, the truth was a little more prosaic and aircraft-style would probably have been somewhat nearer the mark. That’s about all that does give serious cause for disappointment about the 9-3 Sportwagon. Like the Sport Saloon and Convertible models, the Wagon is one of the best-looking cars in its class, the tight overhangs and chunky proportioning giving it a real presence and the latest models also feature the clamshell bonnet with all external rubbing strips removed to give a cleaner look. There’s a classier finish to the front grille too and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod. Prices start at £20,025, which represents a premium of around £1,000 over the comparable saloon variant.

"If you’re a sucker for a good looking car but funds are limited, look the other way when you drive past a Saab dealer"

With a backlash forming against the dowdy driving characteristics of many 4x4 and MPV-style vehicles, premium mid-sized estates have seen an increase in popularity in recent years and Saab hope to capitalise upon a market that demographics suggest is often younger and more affluent than the traditional saloon and hatchback sectors. What’s more, diesel engines – a growing area of Saab expertise – accounted for most of the estate sector’s sales. Smart load carrying features, a usefully proportioned cargo area and unsullied driving dynamics make a very attractive combination for those looking for something suitably lifestyle with an esteemed badge on the bonnet and the 9-3 Sportwagon deserves to command a sizeable piece of that action. Unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Saab offers some serious carrying capacity. There’s 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres of space available with the seats folded down. The recessed sub floor allows valuables to be stowed out of the view of prying eyes and can also be used to store wet or dirty gear without muddying everything else up. Despite its sporting looks, the rear hatch is actually fairly steeply raked, allowing for additional carrying capacity. This is where rivals such as the Alfa 159 Sportwagon and BMW’s 3-Series Touring fall down, favouring style over practicality. Saab aims to offer both. The first Saab model to offer zero lift over both axles, the 9-3 SportWagon isn’t just a pretty shape. Although some may question the fitment of the integrated rooftop spoiler, it does serve a function, preventing unwelcome vortices at the back of the car, helping high speed stability and contributing to the car’s creditable 0.33Cd drag figure. Whereas many hatchbacked cars are a good deal less rigid than their booted equivalents, the 9-3 Sportwagon generates the same 21,000Nm/degree torsional rigidity figure as its salon siblings. What this means in practice is that the suspension and ReAxs rear wheel steering system can work to the best of their abilities without having to take into account deformation of the chassis during hard cornering. Some things, however, don’t change. The 9-3 still campaigns on the basis of bhp per pound, its predominantly turbocharged engine line-up effectively blitzing anything from the established rivals at any given price point. Five petrol engines and three diesels are offered with the 9-3 SportWagon, kicking off with a 122bhp 1.8-litre, then progressing to a 150bhp 1.8t unit, moving on to an all-aluminium 175bhp 2.0t engine, with an upper case 2.0T denoting the 210bhp version that’s offered with the option of Saab’s latest XWD all-wheel drive system. The big buzz is the 280bhp turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine which really flies and comes as standard with XWD. The 1.9-litre TiD common rail diesel engines offered in 120 or 150bhp form are both Euro 4-compliant and both are mated to 6-speed manual gearboxes. The range-topping diesel is also a 1.9-litre unit but the TTiD uses a two stage turbocharger for a more progressive power delivery of its 180bhp. The only other option is the intriguing 2.0t Biopower engine which has 200bhp and can run on renewable E85 Bioethanol as well as unleaded. Four trim levels are available. As well as the basic Airflow version, there are the more familiar Linear SE and Vector Sport variants plus the range-topping Aero. Even the base Airflow variant is classily appointed with a cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard. Although there are some very well established rivals in this class, they will look nervously over their shoulders as the 9-3 Sportwagon hoves into view. With the usual aggressive Saab pricing retaining the marque’s usual excellent horsepower per pound factor, the Swedes could well be onto a winner.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-3 Sportwagon range PRICES: £20,025-£33,600 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 149-250g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0T] 0-60mph 7.5s / Max Speed 145mph [est] FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8i] (combined) 35.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4685/2038/1466mm