2006 Saab 9-3 Interior Review at Automotive.com
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2006 Saab 9-3 Review: Interior

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2006 Saab 9-3 Review

More power, new SportCombi wagon.
Interior
The Saab9-3's interior is pretty much what one would expect in a near-luxury car, although certain Saab styling cues remain. The ignition key goes into the lock between the bucket seats, on the floor console. Some consider this awkward, but Saab aficionados would have it no other way. The instruments are arrayed in an easy-to-view layout with a big speedometer in a sweeping instrument panel that blends into the center console. It's a relatively high dashboard compared to that in most other cars, but that's long been a signature styling cue of Saab cars.

In keeping with the narrow confines and intimate nature of the interior, the buttons and switches in the 9-3 are smaller than those in many cars. Nonetheless they are all well placed for the driver to reach while driving. An extra set of warning gauges is mounted on top of the dashboard in the center in a small pod, locating them more directly in the driver's line of sight. Radio settings are also displayed here. The glovebox is one of the largest in the class, very useful.

Overall quality of the 9-3's interior is very good. The sedan and SportCombi feature wood trim, while the convertible goes with more matte-black finish. Door handles and the center console shifter surround are trimmed in brushed chrome. The Aero steering wheel is wrapped in leather with brushed chrome trim on the spokes.

The front bucket seats are firm but comfortable, with side bolsters that restrain during spirited motoring without restricting while climbing in and out. The available Sport seats are more aggressive and best suited to slimmer, narrower bodies.

Rear-seat passengers in the two-door convertible do not fare as well as those in the four-door sedan, of course: The convertible gives up nearly 10 inches of hip room and nearly 3 inches of legroom. A center console can be folded down between the rear seats that contains cup holders and a map storage area.

Cargo space in the sedan is 14.8 cubic feet. The SportCombi has an impressive 29.7 cubic feet, or 72.3 cubic feet with the back seats down, and it's a broad, deep, tall usable space. The cargo floor is split into two covers that lift to reveal additional hidden storage, and the flexible cargo cover has a closed position and a semi-closed position. The 60/40 split rear seats can be folded for versatility when carrying one rear-seat passenger and cargo. Trunk space drops to 12.4 cubic feet in the convertible with just 8.3 cubic feet available with the top down. Next Page



2006 Saab 9-3
  
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