Road TestCar reviews - Saab - 9-3 - Vector sedanSaab modelsOverviewSaab's first ever compact sedan, the 9-3 "Sport Sedan", has BMW in its sights18 Feb 2003 THE long wait for a Saab 9-3 replacement has been rewarded with a thoroughly impressive new model that does well all the things done not so well by the previous 9-3. Dynamics are now among the best in class, interior space is unquestionably competitive and the car looks well proportioned where the previous model was always narrow-waisted. The only negative is that the 9-3 no longer offers commodious hatchback luggage space and is merely a reasonably handy sedan, pretty much like everybody else in the category. Still, it's a car with the potential to allow Saab to climb back into market prominence. Model release date: 1 November 2002 to 1 October 2007 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelAppearing Down Under in June 1998 in three and five-door hatch variants - as well as a two-door convertible - the previous 9-3 was itself a rehash of the early-90s-tech Saab 900 hatch. The most direct predecessor for the top-spec 9-3 Vector sedan tested here (excluding the forthcoming Aero), therefore, is the 9-3 S five-door, which first appeared with naturally aspirated 2.0 and 2.3-litre four-cylinder engines before receiving a turbocharged 110kW 2.0-litre in early 2001. |
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