ALTHOUGH Saab may no longer produce new cars, their final offering was certainly something worth considering. The 9-3 Sport Saloon marked a very definite change of direction for Saab. For years it had largely campaigned in this corner of the market with hatchback models and this five-doored assault on what was ostensibly four-door territory wasn't reaping the required rewards.
With General Motors money pouring in, the company launched the Sport Saloon in early 2002, offering the sort of sleek good looks that were required to go head-to-head with the established class leaders. While Saab tacitly admitted that tilting at the Audi A4, the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 Series was maybe beyond the 9-3 Sport Saloon, there was certainly no reason why it couldn't have a good go at the Jaguar X-TYPE, the Alfa 156, the Volvo S60 and the Lexus IS200.
A comprehensive interior facelift was carried out for the 2007 model year with rotary dials installed on the dash, chrome detailing and a general rationalisation of the controls for a more straightforward user interface. Then, in mid-2007, further alterations were announced to the exterior styling and the engine range. The 180bhp TTiD diesel arrived with its two-stage turbocharger and the 2.8T V6 engine was upgraded to 280bhp. More interestingly, the XWD 4x4 system also arrived and the 2.0t BioPower engine was introduced to capture the environmental zeitgeist with its capability to run on E85 bioethanol. All models got a restyled front-end with a clamshell bonnet, a revised grille and LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod. Sleeker, more muscular and featuring some beautiful detailing, this model dispensed with the line's traditional five-door layout in favour of a more conventional four doors and a boot.
The cabin of the 9-3 follows Saab tradition with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. When Saab were swallowed up by the GM empire, enthusiasts of the Swedish marque were worried that the essential "saab-ness" would get watered down. They can rest assured. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that's more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence.
To find out more about the Saab range and for the latest Saab servicing offers please contact Humberside Saab of Victoria Street Grimsby on 01472 348527.