Saab 9-3 2003 Review

Saab has always been tiny fish in a very big pond when it comes to its presence in the global car market. As Sweden's number two maker, now fully owned by General Motors, production numbers have for the past five years hovered around 100,000 - 120,000 cars a year from its Trollhattan factory. To put it in perspective it is about 10,000 to 20,000 less than Holden builds at Elizabeth.

But despite its small size, Saab has developed a global reputation as an innovator in many ways. It was the first company to introduce turbocharging for cars - with the complete 9-3 and 9-5 lineups now using turbo engines - and its safety technology is among the best in the world. The design of its cars has always been distinctive to say the least, with many features that you won't find on any other car (the ignition key is still in the centre behind the gear shift lever).

But being too individual does not help when it comes to raising the volume to viable levels to play in the global market. And that is the aim of the new 9-3. It is to form the basis for a lineup of new variants that GM hopes will lift the volumes of its Swedish subsidiary to over 200,000 a year.

So with that in mind, although the new 9-3 carries over some of the traditional hallmarks of the brand, there is no doubt it was conceived to cater to the more conservative tastes of the average BMW 3-series/Audi A4 buyer.

The most obvious factor in this regard is the move from a five-door hatch configuration to a four-door sedan. Saab claims that is what the prestige market wants and if you look at the rivals, you have to agree.

Saab has done a good job on the design though, as despite its four-door configuration, the 9-3 retains a stylish and solid presence with its wide and low body and big 17-inch wheels - on our Vector model test car - invoking a sporty look. Saab has gone so far as to call the car the 9-3 Sport Sedan.

Slide into the driver's seat and there are further familiar Saab trademarks. The seats are trimmed in a combination of leather and cloth and in the Vector model offer a fully electrically adjustable driver's pew. It is easy to set a good position and they offer plenty of comfort and support and feature Saab's active head restraints to help reduce whiplash injuries in the event of rear shunt.

The dash is similar to the previous model in that it is oriented towards the driver but with the availability of satnav, hands free phone and Bluetooth wireless systems, sees the addition of a screen and many more buttons that are smaller and not as immediately user-friendly as the simple dials and large buttons of the old 9-3.

There is plenty of room up front and the boot is quite large and expandable with a 60/40-split rear seat back, but rear adult passengers may have a bit of a whinge about legroom, which is not exactly generous.

There is no shortage of standard kit for comfort or safety with a list that includes dual climate control, cruise control, seven-speaker single in-dash CD player, remote locking, power windows and mirrors, ABS, traction control and six airbags.

All four models in the new 9-3 from the base Linear through Arc and Vector to the Aero use the same 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder engine, with three states of tune for different power and torque outputs. For Arc and Vector models the maximum outputs are 129kW at 5500rpm and 265Nm at 2500rpm.

The all alloy engine is smooth and refined but it needs at least about 1800 revs on board for a smooth start off the line. With little torque below this combined with a short take up zone for the clutch pedal, starting from standstill can be sluggish at best and stall-inducing at worst. It is a hiccup that could be overcome with plenty of practice but a decent boot from the right foot is still essential.

Once on the move however, the strong mid range torque from 2000rpm to 4000rpm can make the car quite an enjoyable driver, with judicious use of the reasonably smooth five-speed manual shift providing confident overtaking ability and a bit of fun on twisty roads.

The underpinnings of the all-new chassis make the car immediately vastly superior to its predecessor in the ride and handling stakes. The steering is quite sharp and direct although could do with a bit more feel, and pushing the car through tight corners, it stays solid and stable on the road with plenty of grip.

On the flip side, the ride is comfortable over all surfaces with low levels of noise vibration and harshness (NVH), ensuring quiet cruising. The brakes too are very good, pulling the car up quickly and effectively with a decent amount of pedal feel.

There is no doubt that the new 9-3 is a vast improvement on its predecessor in all the areas that count for the prestige buyer, and is a competent car in all respects. With its pricing - our Vector costs $56,900 - set below that of its German rivals, it is also good value. But without the badge cache or any particular factor that makes it stand out from the crowd, it remains to be seen whether it will be able to attract buyers out of the German Big Three.