The 9-3 is not a big car, by North American standards a compact premium similar to the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Lexus IS, Mercedes C-Class and to a lesser extent Acura's TL, Infiniti's G37 and Volvo's S60/V50. It's the right size for urban environs, young families and disorganized professors, and while it hasn't the hatchback versatility of previous Saabs it does have a fold-down rear seat and the wagon is very versatile.
Both engines are tuned for daily driving yet still enthusiastic when you desire. Various suspension choices allow comfortable commuting or threading a twisty road, but neither end of the spectrum is extreme and sacrifices anything for it. The 9-3 feels very solid and stable on the road, easily handled by novices and not a bore for those who know how to handle cars.
Genuine world cars, the 9-3 uses major parts from Germany, Japan, Australia, and Sweden, and is assembled in Sweden (hardtops) and Austria (convertibles). Throw in some French or Italian tires and all you need to do is wave.
Features such as standard leather and dual-zone climate control are just the start, and the quality of the finishes and the clean styling won't leave you thinking you could have done better. Add to that the uniqueness that Saab brings, and you question if the 9-3 gets all the respect it deserves.
Saab 9-3 permutations can get a bit confusing because of the variety and because one version of the 9-3 Sport Sedan is called Sport. However, numerous choices mean you can get a sedan, convertible or wagon (SportCombi), with four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, a manual or automatic transmission, and excepting convertibles, front-drive or all-wheel drive. The least expensive 9-3 is about $31,000, a loaded Aero convertible more than $55,000; for 2009 all include complimentary scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Next Page