Saab 9-3 Convertible 1.9TiD
Guilty as charged, Im afraid. When I first heard that Saab were endowing their 9-3 Convertible with a 1.9-litre diesel engine, I thought it would be a peaky little thing, all turbo lag and lunge and no flexibility. Putting an engine with this modest capacity into such a hefty drop top surely was a recipe for a dull and stodgy driving experience? Im glad to report that I was wrong.
This is a convertible with a surprising amount of get up and go.
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9-litre unit 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. This 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD unit addresses those concerns very effectively.
Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the option of a six-speed auto, theres 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, youll be guaranteed respectable progress. After all, peak torque for the 16v engine is 320Nm, which is more than you get from the unit renowned as the class benchmark, BMWs 2.0-litre diesel.
"Somewhat against the odds, this 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine makes a very accomplished partner to the 9-3 Convertible"
Compared to the old 2.2-litre TiD unit, the 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD generates 20 per cent more power with the added benefits of lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy. Importantly in a soft top car, it also offers significantly better refinement.
Saab have worked closely with turbocharger manufacturer Garrett to optimise the performance of this low inertia turbocharger and the result is very close to that target for all decent turbocharged cars, namely to feel like a normally aspirated bigger capacity engine. The variable geometry vanes in the turbo unit allow the pitch of the blades to be electronically adjusted for strong low-end torque and then tuned to offer a smooth transition into the turbos power phase. Although its not quite as good as Audis 2.0T engine in this regard, its certainly close and is one of the better turbo diesels in this sector.
Its respectably quick too, punting the big-boned Convertible to 60mph in just 10 seconds but the in-gear acceleration times that really indicate a diesel engines torque response have been slashed dramatically. Surging from 50 to 70mph in fifth gear a typical A-road manoeuvre takes just 8.7 seconds. This being Saab, the engine is clean too.
You wont want to be choking on your own expulsions and the powertrain includes the most advanced diesel particulate filter on the market, 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, deposits are periodically burnt off by short pulses of over-fuelling. These briefly raise exhaust temperatures to the required level of 600ΒΊ 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. When work began on this 9-3 Convertible, Saabs 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 result is a car devoid of the shake, rattle and roll of many convertibles. Of course, many drivers wont care a jot 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 Saabs hood may not be of the trendy folding hard top variety, but for a ragtop its 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 hoods 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.
The hood itself is triple skinned for improved noise and thermal insulation and is available in black or blue. In order to counter the dinginess that most convertibles suffer from when the roofs up, the Saabs 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 theres 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. Its finished in a crackle matt black paint but can also be specified in body colour. Its a neat design idea that works particularly well with brighter colours. The 9-3 Convertible is already the biggest selling premium four-seater drop top on the market.
Endowed with this fine diesel powerplant, the likes of BMW, Volvo and Audi will only have an even tougher nut to crack.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Saab 9-3 Convertible 1.9 TiD range
PRICES: £25,640-£28,135 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 169g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 10s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 44.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, Active Head Restraints, ABS, DynaCage, integrated front seat belts
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1435mm
