SAAB took a load of criticism over the steering characteristics of the first new generation 900s, but the 9-3 answered a lot of this with a faster ratio and some re-engineering of the mechanism's mounting points. The result is a better feel than the 900, and less reluctance to turn into a corner. More power assistance helped cancel out the effects of the faster steering ratio although the 9-3 still asks for a bit of effort at the wheel.