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Good points: Base level pricing, nice ride, gas mileage, cargo room,
seats, appearance
Needs improvement: Ride height, emergency parking brake,
Pulling
into the parking lot of the large hospital we were stopped by the guard and
asked for some information. It was a routine request until he started to fill in
the paper work and could not find Saab listed. In fact, he had never heard of a
Saab. That, in a nutshell, is the problem Saab has been trying to crack with
their all-new 9-3.
Recent sales figures seem to indicate that they have done just that as new
buyers appear attracted to the more modern model. However, the resale of the
last of the old style Saab hatchbacks remains incredible strong giving rise to
the possibility that they have become classics for many who are fighting the
General Motorization of Saab.
We owned the older 9-3 and loved it dearly. We find that the new model has
nothing in common with its ancestor except for the centre console mounted
ignition key, some features such as the ability to black out all the gauges
except the speedometer at night, and the plethora of safety features. That is
both good news and bad. The bad part is that the new Saab looks like most other
upscale sedans and is nearly quirk free. The good news is that it is a much
better vehicle. It runs better, handles way better, has more comfortable seats,
and is priced less.
Another concern for Saab is that the popular Arc model sells above $50,000 and
that places it in some tough sales territory. Our recommendation is to check out
the low cost Linear model we tested if you want an exceptional buy. You are
going to get a very safe, attractive, and roomy ride for under $50,000.
If
you do order the base model Linear you get full leather seating, a 150-watt
stereo, keyless entry, stability control, and 15-inch alloy
wheels. On the other hand you only get 175 horsepower and with an automatic
equipped car that tips the scales at 3300 the acceleration is leisurely at
first.
But, once the turbo and transmission start getting serious the car accelerates
just fine and, perhaps more importantly, it reacts quickly when passing.
So the question is, why buy a Saab? Outside of its excellent gas mileage on
premium fuel and its 14.8 cubic feet of trunk and numerous storage areas,
powerful safety features, what is there to recommend this Swedish cutie. In a
word, comfort. The chassis, which suffers a bit of flex over medium sized bumps,
is relaxed and comforting.
The car is quiet, handles well, and even with the base 175 horsepower engine,
provides spunky performance. You might call that damned by faint praise, but the
family came back from a Beach Boys concert one evening and made a 50-mile
journey in 38 minutes without once noticing we were tempting the speed limit.
That is an achievement especially with three experienced backseat drivers in
attendance.
Mom’s view: There is a lot to recommend the 9-3. The five-speed automatic
transmission was excellent and the engine barely exhibited any turbo lag as I
felt immediately in love with this sexy gray machine. The seats were excellent
and the sound system worked very well once I figured out how to manipulate all
the buttons. I liked the driver’s computer information centre and felt
comfortable at all times. The glove compartment is large and its refrigerated,
but the opening button is nearly hidden. I hated the emergency brake lever’s
location. It looks like a grab handle next to the centre-mounted ignition, but
when you release the handle your thumb or finger gets caught. It hurts.
A
highlight for The Car Family was the cupholder that pops out of the dash. Very
clever, but it looks too fragile for our tastes. We also noted that the
passenger seat does not get the same power adjustments as the driver’s and the
heated seats do not offer multiple settings.
Reminds us of the
Lexus RX models that only had one switch for both front seats.
Now that was stupid of Lexus and I’m sure created many an argument.
The gauges were easy to read, but the climate and radio controls require time to
adjust too. But nothing requires more patience than the two centre-mounted
display screens on top of the dash. The Saab Information Centre LCD screen and
selection controls contain the time, miles per gallon, temperature, miles to
empty, and even a clock alarm.
You can also control other options such as the type of alarm, rear seat lock
check, ventilation, and more. The problem is that just below it is another
screen that harbours the stereo information. Thus you need to spend time
familiarizing yourself with this set-up or you have to take your eyes off the
road for much too long a time.
At night the lights are excellent. Every control is illuminated and the results
are a feeling that someone carried.
Although I liked the aggressive stance of the Saab, I felt it was too low to the
ground in front. Even on moderate driveways you have to be careful of hitting
the front spoiler.
Safety wise, the Saab has antilock brakes, front and side airbags, traction
control, and stability control. This is the first Saab to include side curtain
airbags for front and rear occupants. All outboard seatbelts are equipped with
pre-tensioners and load limiters.
The Saab 9-3 also includes active head restraints, antilock brakes, traction
control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and stability control. It is a very
comfortable car.
Dad’s view: The Linear is propelled by a 16-valve, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with
a light-pressure Garrett GT20 turbocharger. The engine has plenty of extras
including a special cylinder head, camshafts, counter-rotating balancer shafts,
dual-mass flywheel, to produce 175 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 pound-feet of
torque at 2,500 rpm. It is a lively car once underway, but clearly lacks low-end
power. For that you need to opt for its more expensive family members who have
210 horsepower, and perhaps a special model that might produce over 250. For
most the base engine is enough, especially with a government 31-mpg rating on
the highway.
Driving
the Linear is relaxing with the automatic transmission. You can also order a
five speed manual trans, but we recommend you think about this decision after an
afternoon in commuter traffic. The ride is slightly rough over bumpy roads, but
it only gets nervous when you hit a few frost heaves.
Other than those problems the handling is first rate and the brakes are
impressive. Saab has produced a notable vehicle for the price. I especially
liked the way it gobbled up miles and the easy of parking it offered.
Two items I found weren’t too my liking were the console mounted ignition key
that took valuable room away from the centre console area, and many buttons and
switches in the centre dash area. Otherwise, this is a first-rate ride and
family friendly.
College
going male's view: There is an average stereo in the Linear Saab, but it was easy to
manage. I did not find the driver’s information centre as easy. The basic stereo
functions are easy to understand, but the LCD layout for the CD player and push
button radio station presets weren’t attractively done. I felt the back seat
lacked headroom, although the window controls and cupholders were adequate.
Driving this Saab was not emotional. It looks better than it acts. My first
impression was that this was a sexy looking lady that meant business with its
low stance and wide tires. That wasn’t the case. Once you drive it you realize
this is just a good old gal in a fancy dress. Personally, I’d pay the extra and
buy her more fun Aero sister with lots more power and a need to go out on the
town.
Young
career woman’s view: I miss my old Saab. But, I was impressed by the nature of
the new 9-3. The easy-to-fold 60/40-split-folding rear seats as well as a
separate ski pass-through helped compensate for the hatchback that got me
through graduate school. There are also a lot of storage areas. The front seat
area includes two rubber-lined storage wells, which I recommend be used as
cupholders, door bins, two power points, a very large and cooled glove box, and
a small centre console.
In
the back there are additional door bins, map pockets behind the seats,
cupholders in the centre console, and nicely designed clothes hangers. This last
feature is something other manufactures don’t spend enough time designing. No
one likes to wear their nice suit jacket while driving and so they hang it
behind the driver’s seat. This location avoids creating a blind spot and makes
it easy to retrieve once you are parked. By the way, this Saab is very easy to
park.
So, do I want the new 9-3? Maybe. It was certainly comfortable and spunky. And,
to be honest, there was nothing I felt uncomfortable with while driving this
fresh Saab. But, I’m not sure what it represents anymore. In the past when I
arrived in a Saab it carried a clear message of practicality, safety, and
independence. I’m not sure that last trait is reflective in the new model. On
the other hand, it is certainly the best car I have ever driven that leased for
under $300 a month and so maybe sensibility should replace independence as a
watchword of the new 9-3.
Family conference: Despite this excellent sales incentive, there are at least 25 other
competitive sedans in the $40-$60,000 price category. So Saab is trying to use
its front wheel drive, turbocharged expertise to haul in such competitors as the
Lexus ES, Mercedes C Class, Toyota Avalon, and Volvo’s S60 as well as its fellow
General Motors products.
We
feel that Saab ranks in the top three of these and its warranty, superior gas
mileage, proven safety record, and spaciousness make it a must drive for those
willing to listen to the beat of a different drummer.
Saab representatives said that 75 percent of the 9-3's target market is looking
for a sedan, not a hatchback. Furthermore, Saab says it has seen a dramatic
increase in sales for the
9-5 sedan compared to the previous 9000, which was a
five-door hatchback. This may be true, but as owners of the previous model we
are hard pressed to warm up to the attractive new Saab’s shape and more sporty
approach. Even the increased room inside, although the backseat still is a tight
fit for a six-footer, is appreciated but not the reason most people are going to
buy this model instead of its predecessor.
We
feel that the sleek, 0.28 coefficient of drag of the body, the hearty feel of
the switch gear and wonderful seats are not going to be appreciated unless Saab
does more to get its brand name in front of the public.
So, we recommend that Saab consider racing this model both on road and off. If
they want to shake off the shackles of the utilitarian previous hatchback 9-3
and play up the new models vibrant and fresh looks, the new buyers need to be
able to identify Saab as a winner.
Finally, if you are interested in a Saab you have to be foolish not too take a
long look into the lease deals Saab is offering. Combine this with the
four-year warranty and you have yourself miles of very inexpensive motoring.
Written by the Car Family |
