September 4, 2007
FYI, The Car Connection is one of the longest standing automotive websites in the business, and its founder and publisher Paul Eisenstein is a fixture in the American automotive media.
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2008 Saab 9-3 Road Test – The Car Connection
By Paul Eisenstein – September 3, 2008
I broke with with tradition, this year. I normally wrap up the summer season with a day down at the big regional amusement park, noshing corn dogs and riding the rollercoasters. Instead, I spent a couple days with the Saab 9-3, and while they didn't have any junk food in hand, I certainly got in one wild ride - much to the new car's credit.
I admit being a bit of a Saab fan, ever since the days of the old two-stroke engines and five-door designs. Sadly, in recent years, the Swedish automaker lost a bit of its image and identity, walking away from its classic hatchback styling in favor of more conventional sedan shapes. Rather than lament the loss, the real question is whether the latest 9-3 is infused with that special "Saab-ness," if you will, a distinctive ride and feel that justifies its existence in a market full of solid, sporty import alternatives - from the BMW 3-Series to the Lexus IS.
To a large degree, the answer is, "yes." The '08 update delivers 2,157 changes, by Saab's count, including a new shape strongly influenced by the popular Aero X concept vehicle. The car is decidedly more distinctive looking. But more significant is the ride. Gone is the turbo lag and torque steer of prior-generation Saabs; the 9-3 now does a credible job of arguing in favor of front-drive, even in the performance luxury segment.
(But for those not ready to swallow that argument, stand by. A new all-wheel-drive system is in the works, and we'll get to that in a moment.)
Stopping the show
The Aero X was a real show-stopper, when it made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, in early 2006. The design came as close as possible to justifying Saab's advertising tagline, "Born From Jets." With the 2008 9-3, Saab has incorporated some of the most striking, but realistic details from the show car, starting with a bolder, trapezoid, three-hole grille, a wider face, and browed headlamps that wrap into the fenders and flow into the gracefully sculpted grille.
The Aero edition, meanwhile, gets a unique front spoiler and bumpers, as well as its own rear bumper with integrated dual exhaust. The bodywork is entirely new, on all models, from the A-pillar forward. And there are new flared side sills, as well.
The cabin, however, is largely unchanged for '08, as Saab chose to hold the redesign that emerged on 2007 models. In traditional Saab style, the emphasis is on function, with a rather vertical and slab-like instrument panel that positions all knobs and other controls within quick reach. Last year's revision resulted in a cleaner look and newer materials that are both easier on the eye and friendly to the touch.
The handbrake in the Aero we first tested was notably a bit out of alignment, but inside and out, with only a few exceptions, the new 9-3 boasts a more precise feel, with fit-and-finish levels that are finally world-class.
Credit goes to General Motors for that. The 9-3 borrows one of GM's world "architectures," engineer-speak for its chassis. And that has permitted the Swedish automaker to get a better grip on its manufacturing system.
Cross-wheel drive?
On the downside, it can be challenging to take a platform shared by everyone from Opel to Chevy to Saturn and make it distinctly Saab. Yet our time behind the wheel would suggest that Saab has admirably succeeded.
We headed out, on a late summer morning, from downtown Washington, D.C., heading for the Virginia countryside. Our route took us /through ancient farmland where the roads hadn't evolved much in 300 years. Our 9-3, however, was more than up to the task, slicing through the tightest of corners, and holding solidly to the road as we charged into a series of slingshot corners and daredevil hills that would have been right at home at the Cedar Point amusement park. Steering proved precise, with no need to correct, and a well-balanced level of boost, plenty in parking situations, but unobtrusive on the highway.
We were especially impressed by the new Sport Mode feature - activated by a button on the dashboard. When activated, it will hold the current gear longer, even if you briefly lift off the throttle. That provides an additional measure of cornering stability, along with more effective engine braking, and good acceleration when you step down again. The system also downshifts more quickly when you're braking, again adding more engine braking to your maneuvers.
The Aero features McPherson struts up front, with gas shocks anti-roll bars and a stiff, hydroformed subchassis. In back, it's an independent four-link design with Saab's Re-Axs rear-wheel steering system. It kicks in just enough to help hold a set in sharp corners without being as intrusive as other four-wheel-steer systems we've driven.
It's become conventional wisdom that European-style sport sedans (and coupes and wagons) should be rear-wheel drive. With the latest tweaks to the 9-3's steering and suspension, it's hard to argue that point with any conviction.
We are, meanwhile, anxiously waiting the formal launch, in calendar-year 2008, of the Swedish automaker's new Cross-Wheel Drive , or XWD, which will be available on the entire 9-3 lineup for somewhere, it's being hinted, under $2000. The system, it appears, will provide a little more sport feel than most of the all-wheel-drive packages now on the market and, notably, Saab will now take the lead in developing all-wheel drive for all of GM's front-drive, transverse-engine products.
Lining up power
With XWD, Saab's release claims, "the Sport Sedan (will have a) projected 0-to-62 mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds and 50 mph to 75 mph (fifth gear) in 7.9 seconds."
With XWD, the 9-3 will initially offer a 280-horsepower version of its turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6. In front-drive trim, the engine makes 255 hp, or five more than the '07 edition. Saab is also offering the 9-3 with a fuel-sipping 2.0-liter turbo four, the 2.0T, that makes a more-than-acceptable 210 hp and gets a combined 28 mpg.
There's a six-speed stick available for all models, while the 2.0T can be paired with a five-speed automatic. The 2.8T has an optional six-speed "manumatic," an automatic with manual shift capability.
For 2008, Saab adds a number of desirable new standard features, including XM Satellite Radio, OnStar, a new tire pressure monitoring system, rain-sensing wipers and a new "Quiet Tuning" noise package. The latter does a reasonably good job. The 2008 is notably more quiet than before, though nowhere near the tomb-like silence of a Lexus.
Maintenance, meanwhile, is now free for three years or 36,000 miles, a smart move considering Saab's struggle to gain recognition in a crowded market. For those who opt for the sportier Aero package, Saab also kicks in a two-day driving course at the challenging Road Atlanta race track.
In terms of safety, Saab offers the segment-standard front, side and roof-mounted airbags, a body-and-frame structure designed to deflect crash loads away from the passenger compartment, active head restraints, and the usual assortment of electronic brake and chassis controls, such as anti-lock braking and stability control.
Saab has had some serious trouble gaining real traction in today's crowded market. That's not surprising, perhaps, considering its limited lineup and past quality problems. The new 9-3 won't be able to overcome Saab's image problems on its own, but those who take the time to check the new model out, whether in sedan or SportCombi wagon trim, could be pleasantly surprised.
The 2008 Saab 9-3 is nimble, attractive and just plain fun to drive.
2008 Saab 9-3 sedan
Base price: $28,385 - $35,365
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line four, 210 hp/221-lb-ft; turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6, 255 hp/258 lb-ft (2.8T with FWD); turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6, 280 hp/295 lb-ft (2.8T XWD)
Transmission: Six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, front- or all-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 182.5 x 69.0 x 56.4 in
Wheelbase: 105.3 in
Curb weight: 3175 - 3700 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): N/A
Major standard features: Power windows/locks/mirrors; AM/FM/CD stereo; steering wheel-mounted audio controls; digital climate control; power seats; remote keyless entry; alloy wheels
Safety features: Anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control; tire pressure monitors; dual front, side and curtain airbags
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
