Stepping Up a Division ; Saab's 9-3 has Long Been an Engaging, If Unambitious Performer. Andy Enright Assesses the Latest Changes

Summary

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THE Saab 9-3's place in the world was once quite clear. You bought one if you couldn't stretch to an Audi, a BMW or a Jaguar. The latest model has loftier aspirations and Saab is being empowered to shoot for the stars. It's still early days yet but the signs look very good for this revised 9-3. If the latest 9-3 model doesn't look too much different to the car that's been on sale here since 2002, then persevere. There are in fact over 2,000 part changes, all trying to give the latest car a nudge up market. The results are not totally unconvincing. Perhaps most convincing of these is Saab's clever XWD all-wheel drive system, now offered as standard on the improved flagship 2.8-litre petrol V6 Aero 280bhp model and as an option on the 2.0-litre petrol turbo 210bhp variant.

All of which is vital if Saab is to stand any chance of wresting sales from the compact executive sector class leaders, BMW's 3 Series, Audi's A4 and Mercedes' C-class. Hitherto, this car has only been able to battle with worthy but second tier players like Lexus' IS, Volvo's S60 and Jaguar's X-Type. Certainly against these cars, it now looks a much stronger proposition.

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Stepping Up a Division ; Saab's 9-3 has Long Been an Engaging, If Unambitious Performer. Andy Enright Assesses the Latest Changes

The two big engineering steps forward with this 9-3 come in terms of both all-wheel drive and diesel. Diesel first: th...

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