31 Jan 06
The Saab wins out with its more fashionable exterior, too: it's become less understated over the years, but this model is younger, cooler and more streetwise-looking than the deeply conservative, unadventurous Volvo, without being as flash as either a 3-Series or a CLK, the obvious status-statements. It looks great in the bright turquoise-tinted Cerulean Blue metallic paint of the special-edition 20th anniversary models currently on offer.
On a practical note, there's little to choose between the two Swedes in terms of luggage space - neither have much, roof-up or roof-down - but the Saab has the more spacious-feeling cabin, with no intrusive full-length centre consoles, a higher roof and more rear legroom. And for all that it's heavy and prone to a bit of body roll on hard corners, the 9-3 is the more rewarding drive, too, being a more involving process.
This Saab is flawed, but all the more fun for it. It's just best with its own, true-to-the-original-formula, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol 2.0-litre engines than either of these new additions.
