Saab - 9-3

1998-03 2002 onwards

Stylish design and lots of standard equipment makes the 9-3 compact executive saloon great value for money. Comfort and safety are Saab strong points, and 9-3 offers real driving pleasure, too.

	Stylish, sturdy and very safe sports saloon
	Lively engines with handling to match
	Quality equipment in a roomy cabin
	Will depreciate more swiftly than a 3-Series
	Service costs are quite high
	Purists may object to its Vectra heritage

9-3 is starts well in the executive stakes because its finely sculpted body looks both classic and purposeful. Not only is 9-3 smooth on the outside, it's also a masterpiece of design on the inside.
Saab have always excelled in cockpit design, and 9-3's dashboard is probably their most effective one so far. All the controls fall to hand and dials are well placed and logical. The finely designed, well shaped seats (another Saab strength) means that every journey is a pleasure, not a back pain waiting to happen.
Dynamically, there's a range of increasingly powerful petrol engines plus a turbodiesel, all of which make progress quite rapid. The suspension can easily cope with over 200bhp.
Refinement, low noise and the minimum of vibration add to the already high comfort levels. Lots of standard equipment make 9-3 a good value buy, and it is all reassuringly well put together.