Well, they’ve done it again. The Saab 9-3 has managed to capture the “Jill’s favorite car” title for another year.
If you read my 2007 9-3 review, you’ll know this title has been tenuous at best over the past couple years as Saab has been undergoing the GMification process. For 2008, however, with the complete redesign of the 9-3, the car and the entire Saab brand went up a couple notches.
2008 Saab 9-3
Favorite features:
- Headlights
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Seat comfort
- Interior Saabness maintained
Needs improvement:
- Taillights
- Cup holder situation
- Audio interface
Thank goodness. I’d hate to see a title five years and running go down the drain.
Quite accidentally, I parked next to a previous generation 9-3, and the contrast between the two models was startling. As you may know, I’ve always thought the 9-3 had a cute little body with nice exterior styling. Yet when I saw the two generations side-by-side, I thought the previous generation was downright dull in comparison. The headlights change the whole front end of the vehicle. While the previous generation was cute and fun, this new model is all business right down to the glinty glare created by the grille and headlights.
The wide sweeping lines on the hood and the well-defined grille, take cute out of the equation and give the 9-3 a mean, sporty flair. The only exterior feature that put me off was the black edging surrounding the taillights. I thought this looked very aftermarket, and it didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the exterior styling. It’s definitely edgy, but not the same kind of edgy as the headlights.
The interior is less noticeably redesigned, yet it seems the GMification process has halted. I was afraid after the 2007 model year, that I’d get behind the wheel of the 9-3, and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from a Chevrolet Malibu or a Pontiac G6. But the waffle-cone air vents, quirky key and ignition switch between the driver and passenger seats are still in place.
Not to mention the fact that the seat comfort is still tops – not only for someone of my size but also for people who are much larger. During the test period, my dad, my brother-in-law and I took a road trip to Toledo from Indianapolis to visit my uncle. That was 6 hours round trip, and all three of us – ranging in size from petite female to larger-than-average male (you may remember my brother-in-law is a firefighter) – found comfort in the seats for the whole trip. Both front and back seats are well-bolstered, and the seat bottom is just the right size for both tall and small drivers and passengers.
Seat comfort aside, I’ve always found that I get a super driving position in the 9-3 with minimal blind spots. From the height adjustable seats to the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, this car adjusts to multiple drivers, which is a big reason why the 9-3 is still tops on the fav list. I also like the driver-centric controls. With audio controls on the steering wheel and easy-to-reach buttons and dials on the center stack, I never felt like I had to reach too far to make any kind of an adjustment to the radio or HVAC.
There are, however, a couple of niggling interior features that cause a pause. But, again, anyone who’s ever read any of my articles on the 9-3 won’t be surprised to hear me say that I still dislike the GMified audio interface. I don’t like it in general (i.e. in any GM vehicle), but I specifically don’t like it in the Saab 9-3 because the base interface sans the navigation system always comes off looking a bit cheap. I think a luxury vehicle like a Saab deserves something better.
The cup holder situation is another area of concern. I like the idea of the in-dash cup holder that pops out with a simple button push, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The construction is a bit flimsy, and the size of beverages that will fit in the holder is limited. Which brings us to the “cup” holder behind the gearshift. I use the term “cup” lightly here because it doesn’t have anything in the holder that actually grips the cup in place. So, beware a quick turn with a grande latte in the holder. You just might be wearing it.
While the 9-3 has the outward appearance of a somewhat sedate sedan, it’s the ride and handling that set it apart. The test vehicle was an Aero model equipped with the up-level 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 engine that delivers 255 horsepower. But the base four-cylinder with 210 horsepower is nothing to sneeze at either. I’ve driven both briefly on a racetrack, and while the Aero model is far and away tops, the 2.0T model still provides plenty of stomach dropping fun.
The Aero model has EPA fuel estimates of 16 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. I averaged 23.8 during the test week with 12 hours of highway driving under my belt as well as my fair share of Chicago stop-and-go city driving.
I’ve driven both the automatic and manual transmissions in this car, but my preference will always be the six-speed manual. It’s a very smooth short-throw shifter that doesn’t struggle into each gear and has an easy clutch.
Since the 9-3 is both peppy and small, it’s easy to maneuver on trafficked highways as well as in tight city spaces. It was easy to parallel park as well as back into any space.
While you can get behind the wheel of a 2.0T model for the base price of $28,825, the Aero test vehicle started with a price tag of $35,960. The test vehicle added about $2K in options, including the Cold Weather Package ($550), Touring Package ($895) and the Jet Black metallic paint ($550). Thus the final MSRP range in at $37,360. I would never turn down a package that includes heated seats (Cold Weather), but the other two items I could take or leave.
In many ways, the 9-3 is my idea of the perfect car. Which is why it is always the first answer I give when someone asks me what I’d buy if I had to get a new car tomorrow. It’s got this great dual personality that reeks of functional responsibility on the outside but screams sporty fun when you get behind the wheel. It has great trunk space, plenty of horsepower in both models, body-gripping seat bolsters and plenty of Saab quirk.
Yep, the 9-3 is still the favorite. Here’s to hoping 2009 will provide more of the same.
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