Saab 9-3 Convertible (2003 – ) expert review

Saab doesn’t do cars that drop jaws; it builds stylish, classy cars that look as sleek as the fighter jets its aircraft division builds. Unlike most big convertibles, the Saab 9-3 looks as good with the roof up as it does with it down. When you’re in summer mode, the hood folds away neatly, creating one flat line along the entire length of the car. Apart from the windscreen and the seat backs, it’s only the occupants that spoil the flowing looks. The roof folds electrically, and never fails to entertain. The process takes 20 seconds.

The subtle, yet sophisticated looks continue inside. All of the controls are clearly labelled and precisely where you’d expect them to be. The 9-3 is the first convertible to use a light-coloured roof lining to make the interior appear lighter. Our test car came with the optional satnav/telephone unit and worked faultlessly, and a secondary display on top of the dash provided information on fuel consumption, temperature and navigation. All in all, it’s a pleasant and relaxing environment to drive in.

Up front, the 9-3 is as practical as any other car in its class. There’s bags of space, and plenty of storage opportunities. The seats are comfortable, and on our top-of-the-range Aero, the seats moved about electrically. It’s a different story in the back, where the twin seats are strictly for small people. Taking the roof off is no problem at all. Simply move a dash-mounted switch up or down depending on where you want the roof. The switch needs to be held for the whole performance in case someone manages to get their head stuck in the mechanism.

Another of the 9-3’s strong points is the way it drives. Despite our £800 optional 18-inch alloy wheels, the ride was superb. It’s not a sportscar, but it could be hustled along winding roads without fuss, and enough grip not to rely on the traction control.

Unsurprisingly for a 2.8-litre, turbocharged V6 engine, performance is brisk. The 60mph marker will be passed from rest in 7.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 152mph. The Saab is most at home stretching its legs on the motorway, where its low-revving engine thrums along for mile after mile allowing you to arrive refreshed. We had the manual, but its cruising demeanour means it feels more at home with its excellent automatic ‘box.

This 9-3 Aero isn’t cheap, and it’s got some serious rivals. That said it will retain more than half its value after three years, which is slightly better than average. We were clocking around 22mpg, which was mainly in stop-start traffic and the occasional fast run. Saab says it’ll do an average of 26.6mpg, a figure which could be attainable with a light foot and careful use of the cruise control. Insurance is on the heavy side at group 18.

The 9-3 is better than most for breakdowns and repair costs according to the Reliability Index, most of its faults relating to suspension or electrical problems. Servicing is less frequent than most at every two years or 20,000 miles, and Saab says it has made it easier to fix, to keep the time spent in the workshop to a minimum.

The 9-3 is the first convertible to gain a five-star EuroNCAP rating, thanks to pop-up rear roll bars and strengthened windscreen pillars. It also comes with whiplash-reducing active headrests and adaptive front airbags which deploy depending on how serious the collision is. Two-stage side airbags have separate parts for head and chest protection.

Our test car wasn’t short on spec, with xenon headlamps, electronic stability programme, cruise control and the on-board trip computer all standard. If, like our test car, you specify all the options, you can have them for a price. The ‘Infotainment Plus’ system includes sat-nav and voice-activated telephone. We also had the convenience pack, which includes rain-sensing wipers, electric front seats, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and folding door mirror.

The Saab 9-3 Convertible is a funny car. Some people love it, while others just don’t understand the point of a convertible which isn’t an extrovert or pure driver’s car. However, if you’re a motorist who feels comfortable in their choice of car, without feeling the need for justifying or apologising for it, this is the perfect car for you.