2008 Saab 9-3

For a luxury car, road noise is not as well dampened as reviewers would have expected. Turbocharged engines were prone to some turbo lag, and the suspension is viewed as too soft for a true sports sedan. The interior, while attractive and comfortable, reveals some budget-grade materials and panel gaps. Rear legroom can be restrictive. The 9-3 is also available in SportCombi wagon and convertible versions; 2.0T and Aero trims are offered on each, and all-wheel drive is an option. Reviewers find the Saab 9-3 too inconsistent a performer to match up to rivals like the similarly priced Audi A4 (*est. $28,900 to $47,900).

Credible, useful reviews for the Saab 9-3 sedan come from Consumer Reports and Car and Driver magazines for earlier model years. Car and Driver does offer more updated coverage in the form of a detailed "First Drive" review of the 2008 Saab 9-3, while editors at Edmunds.com provide a similarly comprehensive single-vehicle review as part of their 2008 buyer's guide. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine awards the Saab 9-3 its "First in Safety" designation for the $25,000-to-$30,000 segment; Cars.com recognizes the 9-3 on its list of 2008 "Best Bets." The Saab 9-3 is also a 2008 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "Top Safety Pick."

Reviews of the 2008 Saab 9-3 are mostly complimentary. Safety is a significant asset, with the 9-3 scoring top-notch marks in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing. Trunk space is also decent, particularly for a compact sedan, and a folding back seat increases available cargo capacity. Too many testers noted a lot of flex in the Saab 9-3's structure during testing, as well as a bumpy ride, a somewhat-unresponsive transmission and less-communicative steering.