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2009 Saab 9-3 Review

July 13, 2009

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

distinctively fresh
Kelley Blue Book

distinct Scandinavian charm—refreshing break from the mainline aesthetic
Edmunds

radical new front and rear-end redesign
New York Times

Editors at TheCarConnection.com find that the 2009 Saab 9-3 has styling that sets it apart from the pack. It doesn't, however, stand out much from last year's model.

The 2009 Saab 9-3 Sedan receives only minor exterior touches. Vestiges of the last major redesign, then, are alive and well in the '09 version. The New York Times notes the "radical new front and rear-end redesign," which Kelley Blue Book finds "distinctively fresh." Autoblog feels it's "a handsome face for Saab." Edmunds cites its "distinct Scandinavian charm—refreshing break from the mainline aesthetic." Car and Driver, concurs, reporting that "the new face does what every freshening hopes to accomplish—make the old car look seriously dated."

In general, reviewers cheers the interior. Autoblog appreciates "a simpler interface with less buttons than recent Saabs we remember." Inside, the Turbo X model gets carbon-fiber trim and a different steering-wheel design, and it comes in only Jet Black Metallic.

Conclusion

The 2009 Saab 9-3 is a good-looking vehicle that stands out from the pack.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:distinctively freshKelley Blue Bookdistinct Scandinavian charm—refreshing break from the mainline aestheticEdmundsradical new front and rear-end redesignNew York Times Editors at TheCarConnection.com find that the 2009 Saab 9-3 has styling that sets it apart from the pack. It doesn't, however, stand out much from last year's model. The 2009 Saab 9-3 Sedan receives only minor exterior touches. Vestiges of the last major redesign, then, are alive and well in the '09 version. The New York Times notes the "radical new front and rear-end redesign," which Kelley Blue Book finds "distinctively fresh." Autoblog feels it's "a handsome face for Saab." Edmunds cites its "distinct Scandinavian charm—refreshing break from the mainline aesthetic." Car and Driver, concurs, reporting that "the new face does what every freshening hopes to accomplish—make the old car look seriously dated." In general, reviewers cheers the interior. Autoblog appreciates "a simpler interface with less buttons than recent Saabs we remember." Inside, the Turbo X model gets carbon-fiber trim and a different steering-wheel design, and it comes in only Jet Black Metallic. ConclusionThe 2009 Saab 9-3 is a good-looking vehicle that stands out from the pack. 2009 SAAB 9-3 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "distinctively fresh" Edmunds: "distinct Scandinavian charm—refreshing break from the mainline aesthetic" New York Times: "radical new front and rear-end redesign" Editors at TheCarConnection.com find that the 2009 Saab 9-3 has ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Saab's other Swedish rival, the Volvo S60, is worth consideration; the S60 has more passenger comfort but doesn't feel nearly as sporty. At the top end of the 9-3's range, the BMW 3-Series might also be taken into account, especially in top 335xi trim. This is where the less recognized 9-3 seems priced a little high, at about the same as the BMW. The base 2009 Saab 9-3 2.0T sedan competes with the A4 2.0T, which also comes with a torquey, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Next to the 9-3, the A4's interior is simply more stunning and opulent than that of the 9-3, even though the Saab's cabin feels pleasantly different. The Subaru Legacy GT, with its 250-hp turbocharged version of the automaker's flat-four engine, is priced about the same as the base 9-3 and offers similar performance, though it comes with standard all-wheel drive, a feature only offered on the top 9-3 Turbo X. Wagon shoppers looking at the SportCombi should also consider the Volvo V50, the BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon, or the Audi A4 Avant, while convertible shoppers might also look at the Volkswagen Eos.

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See the Saab 9-3 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

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