Saab 9-3 2006

By Benjamin Cyr

The best Saab to this date

On top of being the best Saab I ever drove, I must it’s also the best looking. The 9-3 is available in three versions: sedan, convertible and a wagon called « SportCombi ». The consumer can choose between a variety of options and two good engines. Saab finally delivered a product that can compete with the best of the industry. 

Long live the turbo

Swedish manufacturers have been specializing in the conception of turbocharged engine.  A few years ago, the main downside of a turbocharged engine was the time it took to spool before it delivered its thrust. The so called turbo lag… But technology and years of effort now enables Saab to offer engines that are powerful, reliable and smooth.

The base version offers a 2 litres four cylinders engine producing 210 hp. It delivers a decent amount of torque at low rpm and has good gas mileage considering its power. This engine is matched to either a manual or automatic five speed transmission. With a base price of 34 900$, this model rivals favourably with its competition.

If you prefer a more powerful car, the Aero version is available. The Aero with its V6 2.8 litres turbocharged engine. Two turbochargers are used to produce 250 hp and 258 ft-lb. I can assure you that engine response is immediate. Our test car, the CombiSport Aero, clocked a 6.5 sec in the 0-100 stint. I also have to tell you that this turbocharged V6 was named one of the top 10 engines in the world according to Ward’s magazine.

The Saab Aero offers a choice of two new transmissions, manual and automatic. Both have six speeds. The test vehicle was equipped with the automatic gear box. It is swift and responds rapidly when solicited. There is nothing bad I can say against this box when it comes to acceleration and ???.

As for sport group, it includes 17 inch wheels, leather seats, a sport tuned suspension, a moon roof, a 13 speakers 300 watts audio system, and a few aesthetics elements.

Enthusiast drivers will be find that the 9-3 Aero responds appropriately when pushed. It handles well and it sticks to the road. The Epsilon chassis (used on the Chevrolet Malibu) is quite rigid. But the driving sensations transmitted to the driver are not at par with its German counterparts. Torque steer is present under hard accelerations. Also, this V6 has tendency to absorb the content of the fuel tank rapidly when pushed.