Saab 9-3 (2002-) Review

On the road

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Saab has always been hot on ergonomics (all those aircraft cockpits) and the new 9-3's cabin is clearly and intelligently laid out with a better-sorted driving position than in the outgoing model. Our only criticisms are of the trip computer, which is fiddly to use, and the handbrake, whose design makes it a real struggle to release. The biggest advance, however, is in its general tractability - none of the wayward scrabbling of the old model when you put your foot down hard, and steering feel and response are immeasurably better. This car feels altogether more solid, safe, responsive and, yes, state-of-the-art, than its dated predecessor. But, beware the (optional) combination of bigger wheels and the sport suspension - it makes the steering over-sensitive at motorway speeds, which can be wearing for passengers during lane changes.

With the standard wheels, the 9-3 feels reassuringly stable at speed. One excellent point - the aerodynamics are such that in bad weather, the side windows, rear screen and mirrors remain remarkably clean. Saab has tried to recapture some of the more sporting spirit of the old 900 Turbos of the '80s in the new 9-3, being eager to win the hearts of keen drivers who usually go for BMWs. And it's not a forlorn hope - the new 9-3 is very well behaved, unlike its predecessor, and proves quite satisfying to steer along a twisty road. But we couldn't quite call it fun. That said, it's only the most powerful 3-Series that prove truly entertaining, and given this, the Saab makes a good case for itself. The steering, though light, is sharp, precise and direct, the handling is beautifully balanced and poised, and there's plenty of roadholding, making it easy to exploit the power on offer without the fear of it biting back. The Aero is obviously the sportiest of them all, and the equivalent to the old T16, but buyers of the 2.0t (175bhp), likely to be the most popular model, won't be losing out much, nor will even owners of the entry-level, five-speed 1.8t (150bhp). Much more satisfying than the dull Audi A4 and the stodgy Mercedes C-Class, it gives a different buzz to a rear-wheel-drive 3-Series.

All the Saab in-house petrol engines - the 1.8t, which is actually a 150bhp 2.0-litre unit, the 2.0t (175bhp), and the Aero's 2.0T, 210bhp - are excellent: quiet, torquey and responsive in equal measure. They sound slightly gruff when pressed very hard, but such is the available torque that you will rarely have to really get angry with them. Even the 150bhp variant is more than sufficient - and in many ways, it's the sweetest and most Saab-like of them all, with its widely-spaced five-speed gearbox and gently-building turbo boost in the traditional format. The Aero, for the first time, manages to channel all its power through the front wheels without veering wildly from side-to-side with torque-steer (unless you provoke it in the sort of manner not suitable for public roads) and can be used to its full potential, while the 2.0t is good for both B-road fun and motorway cruising. The new 1.9 TiD diesel is a big improvement on the stodgy old 2.2 TiD, however, at least in 150bhp form; the economy-biased 120bhp version is less inspiring. The manual gearboxes (a six-speed in the Aero and 150bhp TiD) are fairly slick, though the five-speed 'box has rather a heavy, high-set clutch, and the auto 'box is responsive too, especially in sequential mode. 150bhp 1.9 TiD models come with the option of a new six-speed auto, smooth and quick.