Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 75%

The 9-3 is a huge success story for Saab. For many buyers, it’s a competent rival to the BMW 3-Series without the divisive image.

Company car drivers and private owners love the blend of understated style and strong heritage which started with the Swedish company's aviation business.

Read on for the full review of the Saab 9-3, or click the links below to skip to a section.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals

1. Looks
The 9-3 has been on sale since 2002 with very few changes. The sleek lines are stylish but understated, and help the car to be one of the few non-German saloon cars to sell in huge numbers in the UK. The 9-3 has a smooth front end, with Saab's trademark three section grill, and a noticeable lack of clutter – badges, keyholes and untidy handles are kept to a minimum. It’s a similar story at the back, with an elegant and unfussy look. Our high-spec Vector Sport model also features six-spoke 17 inch alloys.

7/10

2. Looks inside
Some criticise Saab for its bland interiors, but in a country obsessed by fellow Swedish company Ikea, UK buyers like the 9-3's simple and clear dashboard design. The air vents are a clever piece of design, with a series of criss-cross panels behind the front vents direct the air, rather than conventional untidy flaps which move up, down and to the sides. The grey leather seats on our Vector Sport test car complemented the silver paintwork well and were very comfortable on a series of long motorway journeys. The only points to upset the interior's karma was the reflections of the parcel shelf in the rear window and the silver dashboard edge trim in the front.

7/10

3. Practicality
A big car should offer big practicality, but the 9-3 falls where so many other saloon cars falter. Although it has a big 425-litre boot, the bootlid lifts alone – rather than the entire tailgate – meaning bulky objects are tricky to load. However, there's plenty of space in the front and rear for passengers or luggage, and plenty of cubbyholes in reach of the driver proved useful.

7/10

4. Ride and Handling
Smoothness is the name of the game here. We've driven Saabs with bigger wheels, but the 17 inch alloys on our test car make it feel more controlled. It's quiet, with only tyre roar over bad road surfaces breaking into the cabin. The 9-3 is most at home on motorway and A-road journeys, with the cruise control set dead on the speed limit. It can still be hustled along twisting tarmac at a reasonable pace, although it needs to be manhandled around tighter bends at speed.

8/10

5. Performance
With 150bhp and a decent 236b/ft of pulling power produced from the 1.9-litre turbodiesel, the Saab should be a strong performer. Sadly it feels lethargic pulling from low speeds, only revealing its abilities at motorway speeds. The six-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise; although it’s a shame it rarely gets used on winding roads – given a choice of roads and the average 9-3 driver will pick the one with the least bends.

7/10

6. Running Costs
More than 40 miles per gallon is impressive given the size of the 9-3; and even more so given our unsympathetic stop-start journeys, and the occasional motorway-speed runs. And at a shade over £23,000 new, the 9-3 is pretty good value when pitched against its German rivals. The 1.9 Vector Sport's group 12 insurance, and Band D road tax makes it an appealing car too. Saab say the 9-3 only needs servicing every 18,000 miles, or two years, whichever comes first – about in line with other car makers. Like many cars of this size, depreciation will be the biggest enemy, with it retaining just 38 per cent of its value over three years.

8/10

7. Reliability
Saabs have proven themselves as reliable tools, and the GM engines, gearboxes and chassis are strong performers in other cars; not least the Vauxhall Vectra with which it shares a number of components. The car feels well built, and the number of old Saabs still on the road is testament to this. The 9-3 scores far better than average in the Reliability Index for the costs and frequencies of breakdowns.

8/10

8. Safety
Like its Swedish rival Volvo, Saab has a reputation for performing well in a crash. The 9-3 range achieved a full five star rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests too. Our Vector Sport test car featured dual-stage airbags for driver and passenger as well as side 'bags in the front seats. Active head restraints are standard on the Vector Sport model to reduce whiplash and its fitted with skid-preventing ESP to stop a crash in the first place.

8/10

9. Equipment
Our well-specced Vector Sport test car is one of the sportier models in the 9-3 range, with fancy alloy wheels, sports seats and racy silver trim around the interior. It has Saab's ES-2 'Infotainment Upgrade', although our test car had an optional sat-nav system in its place. The navigation performed well, although proved slow to react on occasion and was unable to locate at least one village on a day out. Dual-zone climate control keeps the cabin cool, while a cooled glovebox keeps gloves even colder.

8/10

10. X-Factor
Drivers looking for a reliable and thoroughly competent car will find all this and more in the 9-3. It might not excite the soul like some of its rivals, but for many Saab owners, getting to their destination relaxed is right at the top of the list.

7/10

Rivals
You might also want to consider:
Ford Mondeo
Honda Accord
Volkswagen Passat

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