Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £19,995 to £28,751
Distinctive image; excellent new diesel engine; E85 option; well-designed cabin; value for money.
Thirsty petrol engines.
Substantially updated and ever more powerful, the Saab 9-3 can be a great drive as well as a practical, safe and sensible purchase. A very nicely thought-out all-rounder.
Fuel economy isn't great, even considering the power of these cars; the 255bhp 2WD 2.8 V6 manages a claimed 27.7mpg (manual saloon) and the 210bhp 2.0T 34.9mpg, but in real-life driving, you'd be very lucky to match that. The new 2.0t Biopower does 35.8mpg and the 1.8t 37.7mpg, which sounds more impressive, but, as there are no fiscal incentives (as yet) to use E85 in the UK, the diesels remain the economy options - 52.3mpg from the 120bhp TiD, 48.7mpg from the 150bhp version, and 47.9mpg from the 180bhp TTiD.
The diesels have much lower tax bandings, too, due to their reduced carbon dioxide outputs (147g/km, 156g/km and 159g/km respectively); even the auto versions of the 150bhp 1.8t are in Band F (186g/km-225g/km), along with the 2.0t (175bhp) and 2.0T (210bhp), and the 2.0T Sportwagon auto and 2.8 V6 Turbo are in Band G (225 g/km-plus) along with Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes and suchlike. With some local councils threatening extra gas-guzzler charges for parking permits for Band G cars, and Ken Livingstone's intentions to up the congestion charge to £25 a day for cars in this sector, be wary...
Saab dealers don't tend to be the cheapest around, but prices for servicing and parts are more affordable than at BMW, Audi and Mercedes franchises. There are also a number of very well-respected independent specialists.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Saab 9 3
wrote on 20 09 2007
wrote on 13 08 2007
wrote on 23 08 2006