The Saab 9-3 Has Plenty Of Style
Saab has developed a global reputation as an innovator in many ways. It was the first company to introduce turbocharging for cars and its safety technology is among the best in the world. The design of its cars has always been distinctive to say the least, with many features that you won’t find on any other car So with that in mind, although the new 9-3 carries over some of the traditional hallmarks of the brand, there is no doubt it was conceived to cater to the more conservative tastes of the average BMW 3-series/Audi A4 buyer.
The most obvious factor in this regard is the change from a five-door hatch to a four-door sedan. Saab claims that is what the prestige market needs and if you look at the rivals, you have to agree.
Saab has done a good job on the design,The 9-3 retains a stylish and solid presence with its wide and low body and big 17-inch wheels invoking a sporty look. Slide into the driver’s seat and there are further familiar Saab trademarks. The seats are trimmed in a combination of leather and cloth and in the Vector model give a fully electrically adjustable driver’s pew. The dash is similar to the previous model in that it is oriented towards the driver but with the availability of satnav, hands free phone and Bluetooth wireless systems, sees the addition of a screen and many more buttons that are smaller and not as immediately user-friendly as the simple dials and large buttons of the old 9-3.
There is plenty of room up front and the boot is quite large and expandable with a 60/40-split rear seat back, but rear adult passengers may have a bit of a whinge about legroom, which is not exactly generous.
There is no shortage of standard kit for comfort or safety with a checklist that includes dual climate control, cruise control, seven-speaker single in-dash CD player, remote locking, power windows and mirrors, ABS, traction control and six airbags.
The all alloy engine is smooth and refined With little torque below this combined with a short take up zone for the clutch pedal, starting from standstill can be sluggish at best and stall-inducing at worst..
The steering is quite sharp and direct although could do with a bit more feel, and shoving the car through tight corners, it stays solid and stable on the road with lots of grip.
On the flip side, the ride is comfortable over all surfaces with low levels of noise vibration and harshness (NVH), ensuring quiet cruising. The brakes too are very good, pulling the car up quickly and effectively with a decent amount of pedal feel.
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