Road Test

Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD 150

Test date 01 February 2005  Price as tested £23,730

Creating a credible sports saloon isn’t an easy task, but after a slow start, the current Saab 9-3 – launched in 2002 – has gathered a reputation as an alternative for those tired of the usual BMW or Audi choice. Last year, 9949 9-3 saloons were sold in the UK, helping Saab achieve impressive growth for 2004 – a 39 per cent increase in sales over 2003, second only to Kia in its rise in the volume market.

Even so, despite its place in a class where nearly half of all sales come with diesel engines, the Saab sold mainly in petrol guise: only 18 per cent of sales were for the old 2.2-litre turbodiesel. When it came to performance, emissions and refinement, that engine was seriously off the pace, and it didn’t help that potential buyers didn’t link the Saab brand with diesel power. But now Saab is confident it can tap into a seam of sales by fielding a competitive diesel 9-3.

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