Overall Rating |  |
Stylish design and lots of standard equipment makes the 9-3 compact executive saloon great value for money. Comfort and safety are Saab strong points, and 9-3 offers real driving pleasure, too.
For
- Stylish, sturdy and very safe sports saloon
- Lively engines with handling to match
- Quality equipment in a roomy cabin
Against
- Will depreciate more swiftly than a 3-Series
- Service costs are quite high
- Purists may object to its Vectra heritage
Road Test
9-3 is starts well in the executive stakes because its finely sculpted body looks both classic and purposeful. Not only is 9-3 smooth on the outside, it's also a masterpiece of design on the inside.
Saab have always excelled in cockpit design, and 9-3's dashboard is probably their most effective one so far. All the controls fall to hand and dials are well placed and logical. The finely designed, well shaped seats (another Saab strength) means that every journey is a pleasure, not a back pain waiting to happen.
Dynamically, there's a range of increasingly powerful petrol engines plus a turbodiesel, all of which make progress quite rapid. The suspension can easily cope with over 200bhp.
Refinement, low noise and the minimum of vibration add to the already high comfort levels. Lots of standard equipment make 9-3 a good value buy, and it is all reassuringly well put together.
Need To Know
JD Power stars: 3
NCAP: 5
Best Models: 2.2 TiD
Worst Models: 1.8t Linear
Replacement: 2010
Alternatives
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Star Ratings
Handling Comfort Quality & Reliability Performance Roominess Running Costs  Value for Money Stereo/Sat Nav |
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