One thing the 9-3 does not offer is a complete styling makeover. Saab designers took an evolutionary approach to the 9-3, so there's still a lot of 900 evident in the sheet metal. Saab boasts more than a thousand technical improvements to this 1999 edition, but most of those changes are buried beneath the skin.
We drove the 5-door sedan, but there's also a Coupe and a Convertible available. In keeping with Saab's aerospace heritage, the most notable new styling cue on the 9-3 is its wing-shaped center profile. Color-keyed bumpers, lower air intakes and a front spoiler with integrated fog and cornering lamps add to the sporty look.
The tailgate has been redesigned, but it will take a keen eye to spot most of the changes. The license plate, for example, is now placed squarely between the taillights. The high-mounted taillight has been raised and now uses LEDs for enhanced visibility. The tailgate yawns wide to make it easier to load and unload the 9-3. Whether packing for a cross-country trip or simply hauling a week's worth of groceries, it's easy to appreciate the cavernous cargo hold. Fold down the split rear seat and a nearly 50 cubic feet of storage space is revealed. There's also a rear-seat pass-through for carrying skis and other long objects.
While the styling changes are subtle, the 9-3 offers a more distinctive, sporty and aggressive look than the previous 900; the last time the 900 was redesigned was in 1994. And the functionality of the 9-3 has been substantially improved.
Heading out of Prudhoe Bay took us down 500 jouncing miles of gravel road. It's the type of place where you learn to appreciate good seats, and the 9-3 deserves unabashed praise. The backrests are better contoured than those of the 900, which improves side support, and the widened seat is perfectly sized for an American derriere. There's plenty of thigh support, which you really appreciate after the first 1500 miles.
Saab has added several new interior colors, available with both the velour and optional leather packages, but the dominant hue is still black. Saab stylists suggest black makes it easier to find buttons and other controls.
Saab upgraded door and window seals on the 9-3. But while the new car is definitely quieter than the old 900, it's still not quite as quiet as some of the other vehicles in its class. There was a bit more road noise than we might have expected, but that might have been attributable to the aggressive set of developmental snow tires we had mounted for our cross-continental trip.
Traveling from Alaska to Florida was a great way to test the efficiency of the climate control system, and after 5,800 miles we had no complaints. It provided plenty of heat, good defrost distribution, and its improved air conditioning system clearly came through as we reached sweltering south Florida.
The unusual Night Panel display (an upgraded version of the 900's Black Panel), proved a blessing during our all-night death marches. After a few hours driving in the dark, even the most well-designed instrument panel can become harsh and distracting. With the Night Panel, simply press a button to black out everything except the speedometer. If there's a problem, such as low coolant or fuel, a warning light will automatically pop on.
Saab has traditionally emphasized both active and passive safety features, and the 9-3 won't disappoint those who consider safety a key attribute. Dual front airbags are complemented by head and thorax side-impact airbags. But the most innovative addition to the redesigned 9-3 is the Saab Active Head Restraint system. In a rear impact, the headrests swing forward just enough to catch and cradle your cranium, reducing the odds of whiplash and other head and neck injuries.
All 9-3 models come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that develops 185 horsepower, while delivering better-than-average fuel economy and lower-than-normal emissions.
Earlier turbocharged engines were accompanied by turbo lag-a distinct bog in power before the turbo spooled up-and torque steer--a phenomenon that causes the steering to tug to one side. But the new 9-3 engine is equipped with a low-inertia turbocharger that helps eliminate both of these traits. The 9-3 offers good throttle response at all engine speeds.
The standard five-speed manual transmission is precise and easy to shift. The hydraulic clutch system helps aids in this regard and is self-adjusting. An optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic allows the driver to select among three shift modes, sport, normal and winter.
We were especially impressed by the 9-3's stability during our drive through Calgary, Alberta. A record snowstorm had dumped nearly three feet of snow on the roads and dense fog made it nearly impossible to see more than a few hundred feet. But the handling of the 9-3 inspired confidence and we were able to drive it with precision.
The 9-3 doesn't feel quite as sporty as a comparably priced BMW 328I, but the steering is precise, the handling is predictable, and the overall road feel is one of being firmly in control.