Overview & Reviews
With so many entry-level luxury car choices from Germany, Japan and America, it's easy to overlook the Swedish Saab 9-3. Once upon a time, it was a great match for buyers looking for a spacious, safe and comfortable automobile with a proven safety record and a distinctly modern attitude. Actually, for used buyers, that's still the case, but new car shoppers looking for an entry-level luxury sedan will find the 9-3 now noticeably behind the times.
Though the unique and practical 9-3 hatchbacks were discontinued after the 2002 model year, the 9-3 family continues to be offered in multiple body styles: a four-door sedan, two-door convertible and four-door wagon, the latter called SportCombi. All utilize a small-displacement turbocharged engine that extracts decent power while salvaging respectable fuel economy.
Among the Saab 9-3's chief shortcomings are its lone, underwhelming engine choice, comparatively cut-rate interior quality, somewhat cramped cabin and an aging design that's lacking many increasingly common features. So, it's easy to overlook the 9-3 for a new-vehicle purchase, and that's probably not a bad thing.
Current Saab 9-3
Today's Saab 9-3 is sold in three body styles: sedan, SportCombi wagon and convertible. Each is broken into 2.0T and Aero trim levels, while the SportCombi is available in an additional all-wheel-drive trim known as 9-3X. Sedan and SportCombi models feel spacious, with low floors, upright windows and seating for five, though three in the rear seat can be tight. Legroom in particular is a sore spot. Convertible models have a rear seat for two adults of small-to-average size. Cargo room in all models is generous.
All 9-3s are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder that produces 210 horsepower. Front-wheel-drive 2.0T models come standard with a six-speed manual and are optional with a five-speed automatic. This is standard on the front-drive Aero. A six-speed automatic is standard on all-wheel-drive models, but any 9-3 with a standard automatic can be equipped with a no-cost optional manual.
The 9-3X gets an elevated ride height, an electronic limited-slip differential and different exterior and interior trim to make it a more all-terrain-suitable wagon. The front-wheel-drive Aero features a sport-tuned suspension, while the Aero XWD (sedan only) gets a limited-slip differential and a self-leveling suspension.
Inside, dramatic two-tone color schemes with lots of matte-black finishes create an intense, distinctly Scandinavian ambience -- though its look and materials are not as upscale as competitor luxury cars or even some run-of-the-mill family sedans. Longstanding Saab-isms remain, including a floor-mounted ignition switch and a "Night Panel" button that darkens all non-essential dashboard lights to reduce eye fatigue. However, the climate and audio controls are now generic, ergonomically friendly GM units.
Editorial reviews have praised the Saab 9-3 as one of the better-handling front-wheel-drive cars on the market, while taking note of its comfortable front seats and cavernous cargo areas, even in the convertible. The Aero in particular, although expensive, has a lightweight, agile feel missing from many of its competitors. Its low-powered engine, though, gives it a distinct disadvantage in a class where 300 hp is a common output. While the 9-3 isn't a bad car, you can definitely do better nowadays.
Used Saab 9-3 Models
Shoppers interested in a used Saab 9-3 should note that the vehicle has changed some since its introduction for 2003. Originally, the vehicle was available in three trim levels. The base Linear and more luxurious Arc shared a turbocharged 175-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and nearly identical styling. The Vector wore sportier clothes, rode lower and offered a 210-hp version of the same engine, which was also optional on the Arc. The 9-3 Convertible appeared for 2004, followed by the SportCombi wagon for 2006. Vector models were renamed Aero for 2005.
For 2006, the base Linear trim level and its weak motor were dropped, while the Arc was renamed 2.0T and gained the 210-hp engine as standard. The Aero received the 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 that year good for 280 hp. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions were available. All 9-3s got an interior freshening for '07, including less bizarre, GM-sourced climate and audio controls. The all-wheel-drive Aero sedan and wagon arrived for 2008, along with the limited (for-2008-only) "Turbo X" edition. It featured 18-inch wheels, black paint, a lowered and firmer suspension, self-leveling rear shock absorber, larger brakes, black leather seats and faux carbon-fiber interior trim.
For 2009 only, the 9-3 lineup was expanded to include a dizzying number of trim levels for the various body styles and engines. They were gone the following year when the 9-3X was introduced and the Aero's turbo V6 was unfortunately dropped from the lineup. The current transmission availability dawned at this time as well.
The original Saab 9-3 debuted in 1999. Less a new model than a new name, the 9-3 took over for its Saab 900 predecessor and featured a mildly upgraded interior and revised chassis turning. Other than that, this 9-3 was pretty much the same as the 1994-'98 years of the 900. It was available in three body styles: a two-door hatchback, a four-door hatchback and a convertible.
The first-generation 9-3 is considered one of the last true Saabs. Designed before General Motors took over Saab in 2000, the 9-3 possessed all the eccentricities and quirks that Saab-o-philes consider sacred: temperamental keyholes in the floor, rounded, jet-fighter-like wraparound windshields and bustle-back styling on the hatchbacks.
Early 9-3s were offered with lively turbocharged four-cylinder engines. In 1999, base models produced 185 hp, while next up the ladder were the SE models with 205 hp and 9-3 Viggen models with 230. By 2002, base models were dropped, leaving the SE as the entry-level 9-3.
The most extroverted of the original 9-3s was the convertible. One of the first convertibles to offer a completely one-touch power top, as well as the ability to open and close all four windows with one button, the Saab 9-3 convertible also boasted one of the largest trunks in its class and a generous amount of side glass for good outward vision.
First-generation 9-3s generally provide a decent amount of feature content and safety. Their body structures are built to last, but due to spotty assembly quality, their interiors may not be. Editors at the time couldn't overlook the original 9-3's numerous shortcomings, but nonetheless were smitten by the 9-3's charm and dare-to-be-different packaging. As long as a broken-in 9-3 isn't a broken 9-3, it could be a compelling used car option -- just be prepared for the generally high maintenance and repair costs that come with owning a European import.
User Reviews:
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saab 9-3 nightmare car - 2003 Saab 9-3
By Erik the great - May 17 - 10:00 amThis car WILL NOT and DOES NOT work or drive well after 85000 miles.....its worth more in parts and pieces than it is put together. If saab really makes jet fighters..............theyre FALLING OUT OF THE SKY. This is by far the most unrelaible foriegn car available in the us market, notwithstanding Jaguar.
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Saab 9.3 se is fantastic - 2003 Saab 9-3
By Alexandra Solomon - May 17 - 10:00 amA solid good looking fun car. Grabs the road tight and is very fast. Very comfortalbe and take curbs like a porshe.
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What a fun car - 2008 Saab 9-3
By turnlund - May 8 - 8:25 amI purchased a used 9-3 sedan a few months ago with the base 2.0T engine. Ive owned a few high performance cars and this one is the most fun. The only the thing the two BMWs I owned/own (a 95 540i and 08 535i respectively) have over this car is acceleration at 85+ MPH.
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Fun to drive, great mpg - 2003 Saab 9-3
By heilig - May 5 - 3:50 pmI have had some problems with this car (HVAC fan broke twice, emission control blower, front lights burned out), but all in all this has been a fun to drive, economical car. I drive between 75 and 80 MPH and regularly get 32 MPG at these speeds. Acceleration when driving 55 to 90 MPH is excellent.
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2004 Saab Aero convertible - 2004 Saab 9-3
By Steve Harrington - May 4 - 2:00 amThis is my 3rd Saab convertible (and my 5th Saab overall), and its quantum leap in quality over my previous cars.
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love it! - 2005 Saab 9-3
By dbl - April 30 - 7:06 amThis car was purchased during the incentive period of 2005. Had not thought much about a Saab at the time but was unimpressed by any of the GM, Ford, Chrysler cars. The incentives made the Saab affordable for us. Extremely happy with performance and design. This car has brought back the fun in driving. Have almost 4000 miles on the car and like it better each day.
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Steps in the right direction - 2004 Saab 9-3
By jchilds3 - April 28 - 2:00 amI love the body restyling. I actually have the Vector model. Its really fun to drive. I wish that Saab had taken a few more steps in redesigning the interior. I would like more brushed aluminum trim on the dash and the pedals to make the car even sportier.
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Solid, but Fun Car... - 2002 Saab 9-3
By nm - April 26 - 10:00 amWe looked at Nissans (Altima and Maxima), Toyotas (Camry and Corolla SE), Fords, Mini, and Volvos. We liked the Saab the best because they gave us a great lease deal and we did not have to mess around with all of those Option packages. The 9-3 Turbo has everything you will need right out of the gate. Its fast, nice-looking (midnight blue), functional (OnStar), luxurious (Leather, Power Everything, Sunroof), and reliable. I drive on the highway all day and this car is a joy at high speeds. At night, the dashboard lights are easy on the eyes.
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Solid, but Fun Car... - 2002 Saab 9-3
By NM - April 26 - 10:00 amWe looked at Nissans (Altima and Maxima), Toyotas (Camry and Corolla SE), Fords, Mini, and Volvos. We liked the Saab the best because they gave us a great lease deal and we did not have to mess around with all of those Option packages. The 9-3 Turbo has everything you will need right out of the gate. Its fast, nice-looking (midnight blue), functional (OnStar), luxurious (Leather, Power Everything, Sunroof), and reliable. I drive on the highway all day and this car is a joy at high speeds. At night, the dashboard lights are easy on the eyes.
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No wonder Saab is bankrupt - 2008 Saab 9-3
By TriHill - April 23 - 1:46 amThe city mileage totally stinks on this car, between 10-20 mpg. For some reason on the highway, theres a disparity jump to 30-40 mpg. Great car for road trips, but I am a city driver most of the year, so this is not a good car for that. A lot of the electronics and computer systems onboard have bugs in them. I have had to take the car in at least monthly for these annoying fixes. Customer service is poor for things that should be covered by the warranty, particularly within the first year of car ownership where most of the problems have been happening. I will tell you that the first repair service wasnt an oil change...it had to do with changing a light bulb.
