Saab 9-3 Linear Sport TiD 2007 Review

Road Test

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 2.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.5/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 2.5/5.0

In the past two years, Australia's diesel passenger car sales have grown in leaps and bounds fuelled, in part, by an alarming rise in the price of petrol. And while the market was originally populated by marques that have long had big diesel line-ups in Europe (ie: the French and Germans) there has also been a slow infiltration of diesel passenger cars from less traditional origins. Diesel engines can also now be found in models you might not expect to boot.

GM-owned Swedish maker Saab fits the bill on two counts. Not only has the Scandinavian north been a relatively late adopter of the diesel engine for passenger cars, Saab is also unique in Australia by offering a diesel 9-3 convertible soft top.

For the Carsales Network, however, our diesel Swede was the 9-3 Linear Sport sedan. Powered by a 1.9-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit, this is not the 9-3's first diesel -- that honour went to the rattly unrefined 2.2 that was thankfully never sold here. This new engine is the product of the GM-Fiat engine alliance -- you'll also find it in the Alfa 147 and Astra Diesel -- and on paper at least, it seems to stack up well against its rivals in the Australian market.

With outputs of 110kW and 320Nm it is in the same ballpark as Audi's A4 and BMW's 320d 2.0-litre turbodiesels but the 9-3 undercuts them by nearly $10K. Indeed, in price, the 9-3 TiD sedan is closer to the likes of 'near-premium' diesel sedans (Volkswagen Passat, Renault Laguna, etc) but turn the key, and at least on start up, it doesn't appear to be up to the standard of most of its European counterparts.

At idle there is a very discernible diesel tick both outside and inside and the lack of refinement shows through in the steering with slight vibrations reverberating through the wheel. Once on the move things do settle down, but the engine still doesn't seem as smooth and refined as the bulk of the latest generation four-cylinder diesels on the market.

Dump the right foot and acceleration off the line is adequate but a degree of turbo lag means that you don't feel the full force of the torque until the engine is spinning at around 2000rpm. From there, however, it has a fairly wide spread and will keep pulling strongly through to the 4500rpm red line.

Saab claims an official ADR combined fuel consumption of 5.8lt/100km which would make it among the best in class. Over 250km of mixed city and country driving our car's trip computer showed a more realistic 7.8lt/100km.

Keep the engine spinning through the power zone and it does offer reasonable flexibility and solid in-gear acceleration but you don't want to get caught short in too high a gear if the revs drop below about 2000rpm. Thankfully, the strong midrange torque means you don't have to shift gears too regularly as it could become a bit of a chore with the shift being a touch notchy.

As the Linear Sports model, our 9-3 sat on a more sporty suspension riding and 17-inch alloys and while the ride is on the firm side, under most conditions, its remains comfortable, helped by the excellent leather-trimmed seats.

The only surfaces to upset the quality of the ride were those punctuated by short sharp ruts which became more noticeable at lower speeds.

With stiffer spring and damper settings, the 9-3 sits fairly flat through corners, handling with predictable and well-mannered poise. Push on a bit using the abovementioned strong midrange torque and the car feels stable and solid on the road, particularly at higher speeds, although the steering lacks any real feel or feedback.

Inside, there is little to differentiate the car from its petrol kin and for the price, it comes well-specced with a stylish and ergonomic design and a good level of fit and finish. Standard kit includes climate control, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and driver's seat, a decent single slot CD player and a full complement of safety features.

Having driven the previous generation 9-3 diesel in the UK, this first foray for Australia is a marked improvement. That said, though it represents good value against its prestige rivals, it is let down by driveline refinement that is just average and bettered by most in this market.

To comment on this story click here.