Overview & Reviews
All 2008 Saab 9-3s benefit from an exterior refresh. Notably, all body trim is monochromatic this year. A more significant development is the January 2008 arrival of an optional all-wheel-drive system for 9-3 Aero sedans and wagons. These AWD 9-3s get a more potent, 280-horsepower version of the turbocharged V6. In addition, Saab will offer a limited-edition version of the AWD sedan and wagon called the Turbo X. Only 600 will come to the U.S. and they'll be identifiable by their black exterior paint, 18-inch wheels, lowered suspension, larger brakes and unique interior trim. The Turbo X sedan gains a rear spoiler. Other updates for 2008 include a 5-hp bump for front-drive Aeros and minor changes to the standard and optional equipment lists.
- Quiet ride, accurate steering, responsive all-wheel-drive system, supportive front seats, available in three body styles.
- Subpar interior materials and build quality, too much body roll on Aero model, ride can be choppy over bumps.
User Reviews:
Showing 21 through 30 of 78.00-
Fun to Drive...great value - 2008 Saab 9-3
By box3 - December 5 - 12:03 pmFun to drive...Great Bose system...Getting around 26 mpg on regular gas so far...Great value...Just got out of a Benz c class and am very happy.
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Great Gas Mileage - 2008 Saab 9-3
By rocky67 - November 29 - 1:13 pmI just purchased a 2008 Saab 9.3 2.0T. The car gets very good gas mileage.Overall, it gets 26 mpg mostly city driving. (Lots of stop/go red lights etc., speeds less than 45 mph). Straight all highway/no city you see over 33-34 mpg. Very good job Saab. My friends who have Mercedes Benz and BMW do not see good gas mileage like I do. Because most of the engines in the high-end German Luxury cars are close to 3L or 6 cylinders. My Saab has plenty of pick-up due to the turbo.
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Awesome Car! - 2008 Saab 9-3
By JoeyDropTop - November 8 - 10:30 amI am so happy with my purchase! I have been interested in this 93 for some time now! I shopped for a while, compared, and I am glad to say that my New Saab is amazing! Fun to drive, and FAST for a 4 cylinder! LOVE the turbo! Love the remote top down! And gotta love the ICE BLUE color!
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Young mans sport sedan - 2008 Saab 9-3
By Brian - November 8 - 4:36 amXWD, six-speed manual really make this car fun. It tracks very well in the snow and ice. It rides hard, even over medium quality metro freeways. So much so that on one bump I was tossed upward in the car and hit my head on the ceiling. I have been known to grunt in anticipation of road bumps. Maybe this is because of my bad back and age 43. I had an 87 Saab 900S several years ago in my youth and loved it. My new Saab is fast and fun to drive on smooth roads, but I may have bitten off more than I can chew. A loaded Accord would have been a better choice for me. Discounts made the car affordable, but I anticipate reliability will be below average; its in the shop as I write this review.
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Poor Saab quality - 2008 Saab 9-3
By Ray Mesa - July 25 - 6:53 pmSurprised and the poor quality of the car Saab overall - trunk lid squeaks when opened, front door speakers are very poor quality, rear airbag cover fell off. GM has definitely had a poor impact on Saab. Customer service isnt any better in trying to fix problems. OnStar definitely needs to be removed - in keeping with other cars in its class bluetooth would be much better. Navigation system definitely needs improvement.
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Driving is fun again - 2008 Saab 9-3
By double d - July 16 - 6:56 pmMy wife and I recently bought a still new 08 convertible for our fun car (at a very good price). The cars we drive for work are good but boring. Not so with the Saab. Im having a blast driving it. I havent had this much fun driving in many, many years. Always looking for an excuse to drive anywhere, especially with the top down. The car is nimble and has a nice throaty exhaust - so different from the Asian cars Ive owned. Exterior styling is not as thrilling as other cars in its class but thats OK because its unique styling has a timelessness about it that should make it a pleasure to own for many years.
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Good Car, Needs Improvement - 2008 Saab 9-3
By WI Saab Owner - June 2 - 12:30 pmThis is our second Saab 9-3. Its a great car all around, stylish and a great price. Handles great in the snow, and the standard heated seats are lifesavers in the winter. The gas mileage is the biggest problem - we do mainly city driving and are getting between 15-16 mpg on regular. This was a change from our 2003 Saab that was a manual. Ive also had it in the shop twice already for windshield wiper problems.
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Love my 2008 Saab - 2008 Saab 9-3
By Robert - February 5 - 3:40 pmOverall a really good car. Personally, I feel that the 2.0T is the best deal vs. the 2.8. I opted for all options except nav and auto transmission. The premium leather gives the sport seats that arent otherwise available on the 2.0T. This feature alone nearly makes it worth the extra $$$. The leather quality is very nice (especially the French stitching!!). The manual transmission is notchy but nonetheless fun to drive. I must admit that I never really liked Saabs before, however this redesign really makes the car look wonderful. The taillight surrounds take getting used to but otherwise a really good car. FYI: upgraded sound system is simply average so I assume the base sound is terrible.
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Great little car - 2008 Saab 9-3
By ron - January 30 - 2:40 pmThe 2008 Sport Combi is the 6th Saab I have owned and I have never had a bad one yet. Do they have some weird features? You bet but do those weird features make sense. Yep. I just drove the 08 9-3 476 miles yesterday in 100 degree heat with the Cruise set at 78 mph and the car averaged over 32 mpg. Tight, plenty of power, fun to drive. I just do not get why auto writers never give Saab the time of day. Saab is roaring back with the new ownership and they have some super cars forthcoming. If you are thinking of purchasing a near luxury car you owe it yourself to test drive a Saab vehicle. Very reliable and safe autos.
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9-3 2.0t sport sedan - 2008 Saab 9-3
By ralph - January 23 - 11:46 amI found the Saab 2.0t sport sedan to be the perfect fit for my needs. I looked at the VW GTI, Passat and Audit A4. The GTI handles like a sports car, but I needed something a bit more mature. The Passat felt like a Buick, not bad, but not what I wanted. I have a lot of respect for the Audi A4, but did not feel it warranted spending another $6K. The Saab 9-3 was perfect! The 2.0 turbo is powerful, responsive and fuel efficient ( 32mpg average). The six speed manual has well spaced gears, and the clutch is very smooth. Overall interior / exterior quality and fit and finish are excellent for the price.
