Saab 9-3 SPORT SALOON      Women's view

(2005-11-03)
Saab's 9-3 Makes A Different Statement From Its German and Swedish Rivals But Is It One Youll Be Happy With? Vanessa Hinkley decides

I must confess to never having been the Saab type whatever that is. You know, slightly quirky, ignition-key-by-the-handbrake kind of individualistic. Back when Saab was privately owned, the fact that people like me didnt want to own one didnt really matter. But when General Motors took over the reins, everything changed.

First, we had the Vauxhall Vectra-based Saab 900, which then became the 9-3. In its original form, it has to be said that this car was a bit of a disappointment, neither individual or mainstream classy. And so it didnt sell. Thats not a mistake that the people from Trollhattan in Sweden can afford to make again.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
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Performance
Styling
Value

When I first clapped eyes on the new 9-3 Sport Saloon, I was favourably impressed and inclined to believe the marketing hype that inevitably accompanies a launch of this type. It looks great though for many owners, the fact that theres no hatchback bodystyle will be a drawback. An estate version and the inevitable convertible are planned for the future however.

Sleeker, more muscular and featuring some beautiful detailing, this new generation 9-3 has coupe-like lines that will appeal to the owners of target rivals like BMWs 3 Series, Audis A4 and Mercedes C-class. Youll probably be aware that none of these alternatives come in five-door hatchback form one reason why Saab ditched that bodystyle. Having said that, this was the one thing that set the old 9-3 apart. Although the body is much the same length as the old 9-3, its obvious when you sit inside that the wheelbase has been stretched, the fashionable wheel-at-each-corner stance freeing up a good deal of interior space.

I thought the rear seat space to be far superior than that of the previous model, though at the expense of what is traditionally a Saab strong point boot space. At 425 litres, the trunk is one of the smallest in the class, but the fitment of a 60/40 split/fold rear seat boosts versatility enormously. The other option is the 9-3 SportWagon estate offers extra practicality at a £1,000 premium. Behind the wheel, I liked the fact that all the controls are angled towards the driver.

I even liked the traditionally Saab-orientated slab-sided dashboard. And yes, the ignition is still next to the handbrake: you get used to it. 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.

I was pleased to find that 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. Five petrol engines and two diesels 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. At the top of the range, theres a 250bhp 2.8-litre petrol turbocharged V6.

On the diesel side, theres a 1.9-litre TiD diesel engine offered in 120 or 150bhp forms. In standard guise, both versions of this common-rail turbo diesel unit are Euro 4-compliant and both are mated to 6-speed manual gearboxes. Big performance has always been a 9-3 trademark and the Sport Saloon doesnt 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 start at £20,020. The 9-3 certainly felt responsive while driving through country lanes. The turbo 2.

0-litre I tried furnished excellent acceleration around town and good cruising speeds. For the money, you get far more sheer grunt in terms of horsepower than the same budget would entitle you to in either an equivalent BMW, Audi or Mercedes.

Prices lie in the £17,000-£27,500 bracket and other than the base 1.8i model, five trim levels are available. Linear opens proceedings with alloy wheels and fabric trim but opt for the Linear Sport and bigger alloys, front fog lamps and dual zone climate control are added. Vector has a sporting theme with more supportive leather seats and even bigger wheels, while the Vector Sport supplements this with stability control, parking sensors and an upgraded stereo.

The flagship Aero variant has a purposeful bodykit and a ground-hugging stance it makes anything shy of a BMW M3 look decidedly wimpy. Like all Swedish cars, safety is a priority. As such, all 9-3 Sport Saloons are fitted with ESP stability control, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, cornering brake control and traction control. Youd have to do something very stupid to end up in the bushes with this car.

With an appealing blend of value, pace and style, Saab latest 9-3 grows on you. I might be converted yet.

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