Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £23,000 to £24,550
Distinctive styling, diesel economy.
Modest boot, small dealer network.
A Saab 9-3 in a sharp suit.
The basic diesel version returns the best fuel economy, with 47.9mpg on the combined cycle, or 42.2 for the auto. The 173bhp 2.0-litre petrol returns 34.0mpg (30.4mpg auto), the 207bhp version 34.0mpg (29.1mpg auto) and the 2.8-litre V6 just 26.7mpg (24.8 auto). The new, more powerful diesel gets 43.5mpg (37.7 for the auto).
The carbon dioxide emissions are pretty respectable, which will keep company car tax and road tax costs in check. Best is the 148bhp diesel, which produces 159g/km (or 179 for the auto), although the more powerful diesel isn't far off. Worst by a mile is the petrol V6, which belches out 274g/km in automatic form.
Insurance is reasonable, although the equivalent 9-3 tends to be in a lower group.
