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2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

*Est. $32,565 to $45,660
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2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Pros
  • Big cargo bay
  • Good fuel economy with base engine
Cons
  • Performance, luxury trail rivals
  • Worst-in-class fuel economy for higher trim levels
  • Unimpressive fit and finish
  • Crowded backseat
  • Average-to-low reliability
  • Bankruptcy filing could affect value
 
 
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March 2009. The 2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi wagon can't keep up with similarly priced luxury wagons such as the 2009 BMW 3 Series (*est. $36,025 to $37,925) and Audi A4 Avant (*est. $34,850) in reviews. Experts say it doesn't perform quite as well, and it's not as luxurious. Saab (owned by General Motors) filed for bankruptcy protection in Sweden in late February 2009, raising questions about whether a new Saab 9-3 station wagon will lose its value quickly -- or lose its warranty coverage.

For everything the Saab 9-3 wagon can do, critics can find another wagon that does it better. The five-passenger 9-3 wagon offers all-wheel drive and one of the biggest cargo bays of any wagon, but so does the much cheaper Subaru Outback (*est. $22,295 to $32,095). The base-model Saab 9-3 wagon gets good gas mileage for a full-size luxury wagon, but no better than the Audi A4 Avant wagon (*est. $34,850) -- and the Audi does better in crash tests.

Reviews often mention the "kooky Saab features," as Edmunds.com puts it. The ignition switch is on the floor console, for example, and Saab cars dim their instrument panels at night (except for the speedometer). But Saab's version of Scandinavian styling doesn't draw the same raves as Volvo's. The Saab 9-3 wagon's cramped backseat and sloppy interior fit-and-finish are common complaints in reviews.

Although Car and Driver testers say the Saab 9-3 wagon is fun to drive, other experts find its performance and handling just about average. The base front-wheel-drive Saab 9-3 2.0T SportCombi Touring (*est. $32,565) comes with a 210-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It delivers an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in mixed driving (19 mpg city/29 mpg highway with the six-speed manual transmission, 19 city/27 highway with the five-speed automatic). Power is adequate but "nothing special," Edmunds.com says. The Saab 9-3 2.0T Comfort trim (*est. $35,315) offers some optional amenities, such as xenon headlights, fog lamps and walnut interior accents. The 9-3 2.0T Sport (*est. $38,305) features a lowered, "sport-tuned" chassis.

For all-wheel drive, you'll have to step up to the Saab 9-3 2.0T SportCombi XWD (*est. $37,810), which drops the fuel economy to 21 mpg combined, (18 mpg city/26 mpg highway with the manual transmission, 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway with the automatic). Or you could opt for more power: All-wheel drive comes standard on the top-of-the-line Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi wagon (*est. $44,885). However, its 280-horsepower, 2.8-liter turbocharged six-cylinder drops fuel economy to just 18 mpg combined (15 mpg city/24 mpg highway) -- the worst of any small wagon, according to the EPA -- and it's still not as sporty as a BMW, reviewers say.

Between the sluggish economy and its bankruptcy filing, Saab has been offering some cash-back and zero-interest deals in an effort to move some of its slow-selling cars. But a Cars.com expert cautions that a Saab will probably lose its resale value quickly, thanks to brand uncertainty. As for the four-year/50,000-mile warranty, GM promises it will honor Saab warranties forever. However, a blogger at The New York Times points out bankruptcy scenarios that could force GM to break its promise. According to J.D. Power and Associates, Saabs are more likely to break down than other cars, although another top consumer organization says the Saab 9-3's reliability is about average.

ConsumerReports.org, Edmunds.com and ConsumerGuide.com all provide trustworthy, test-based reviews of the Saab 9-3, although they don't concentrate on the wagon version. Car and Driver does provide a separate review for the Saab 9-3 station wagon, but it is briefer than the others. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the high-powered versions of the Saab 9-3 are the most gas-guzzling small wagons you can buy, and J.D. Power and Associates finds Saab vehicles less reliable than most. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash-tests the 2009 Saab 9-3 wagon; the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gets contradictory results, but its Saab 9-3 crash tests are based on an older model. Write-ups at Cars.com and The New York Times provide advice for buyers who wonder whether they should buy a Saab, now that the company has filed for bankruptcy protection.
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2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

In a report accessible exclusively to subscribers, ConsumerReports.org tests the sedan model of the Saab 9-3, with the same base engine as the wagon. A full road test report provides details about the powertrain's performance, as well as other details (such as ride quality) that also pertain to the 9-3 wagon.

Review: Saab 9-3, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Edmunds.com

The Saab 9-3 is "still an able, attractive entry-luxury car," but not as good overall as its German and Japanese competitors -- some of which are less expensive, experts here point out. This review provides a good, brief overview of most aspects of the 9-3, complete with test drive results.

Review: 2009 Saab 9-3 Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

3. FuelEconomy.gov

This chart provides government fuel-economy estimates for more than 60 wagons and hatchbacks, including all eight versions of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi wagon. The Saab 9-3 is the least fuel-efficient small station wagon you can buy, according to this website run by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.

Review: 2009 Small Station Wagons, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov

4. SaferCar.gov

The Saab 9-3 wagon's government safety ratings are decent, but they are not as good as most wagons'. The 9-3 wagon earns almost all four-star ratings (out of five) in various crash tests, while other wagons earn mostly five-star ratings, according to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Review: 2009 Saab 9-3 Wagon, Editors of SaferCar.gov

5. J.D. Power & Associates

Saab is one of the least reliable car brands, according to this owner survey. It earns average scores for powertrain and features/accessories dependability, but lower scores for body/interior and overall dependability. Only five brands -- Suzuki, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Isuzu and Mazda (out of 37) -- fare worse.

Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Mar. 19, 2009

6. Car and Driver

Unlike some other experts who criticize the Saab 9-3 wagon's handling, testers here say it could "rival the Germans." They give the 9-3 wagon a higher Enthusiast Rating than most wagons get, adding that the base four-cylinder engine is a better value than the more powerful, expensive optional engine.

Review: 2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Editors of Car and Driver

7. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com has recently dropped the Saab 9-3 from its list of recommended premium compact cars. This page includes numeric scores and a few details from road tests of the 9-3 sedan and convertible, but not the wagon. However, the review points out some of the wagon's flaws, including thick pillars that impair visibility.

Review: 2009 Saab 9-3: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com

8. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The 2009 Saab 9-3 sedan and wagon are named Top Safety Picks at the IIHS, with overall good scores in front, side and rear crash tests. Ratings are based on tests of a 2004 Saab 9-3 sedan.

Review: Saab 9-3, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

9. Cars.com

Car shoppers may be tempted to grab a new Saab with lots of cash back, now that the carmaker has filed for bankruptcy protection. But a new Saab probably won't retain its value well because of the bankruptcy, Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder warns.

Review: Saab Files for Bankruptcy: What It Means to You, David Thomas, Feb. 20, 2009

10. The New York Times

In the wake of Saab's bankruptcy filing, The New York Times' blogger Christopher Jensen explains what could realistically happen to Saab warranties -- even though parent company General Motors promises it will always honor the warranties.

Review: Of Car Warranties and Chapter 11, Christopher Jensen, Feb. 20, 2009

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