2010 Saab 9-3 Review
2010 Saab 9-3 Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Supportive front seats, wagon's huge cargo area, variety of body styles.
Cons
- Underwhelming power and fuel economy, subpar cabin materials and build quality, tech features are missing or antiquated, tight rear seat, ride can get rough, still on the pricey side.
What’s new
Saab is now under new ownership, but more important for consumers is the significant price drop for the 2010 Saab 9-3 sedan, convertible and wagon. Unfortunately, that price drop on the Aero models comes along with the elimination of last year's 280-horsepower V6 engine. New is the 9-3X SportCombi, a wagon model with a higher ride height, an electronic limited-slip differential and unique exterior trim.
Edmunds says
The next Saab 9-3 can't get here fast enough. A car that was once a quirky alternative is now just an also-ran in a crowded group of sport sedans. The SportCombi wagon is mildly intriguing, though.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2010 Saab 9-3 2.0T 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$218/mo for 9-3 2.0T
9-3 2.0T
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
Grab the Akvavit and construct your flat-pack Ikea furniture -- Saab is alive! Dutch supercar maker Spyker made a last-minute purchase of the brand in early 2010 before former parent company General Motors shelved Saab for good. Sweden and Holland: It seems like a match made in fair-haired heaven. Yet even if Saab is still alive, its volume-selling product -- the 2010 Saab 9-3 -- is hopelessly stale.
The current 9-3 dates back to 2003, when GM-owned Saab decided to ditch the previous car's unique hatchback design for a more conventional sedan layout to better compete against top sellers like BMW's 3 Series. Unfortunately, it couldn't compete with the BMW in terms of driving dynamics or customer desire; additionally, the 9-3 had been greatly stripped of the uniqueness that served as a selling point. Fast-forward seven years, and the 9-3 has been merely updated while all of its competitors have been completely redesigned.
For 2010, the Saab 9-3 Aero's 280-hp turbocharged V6 has been eliminated and replaced with the base trim's 210-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4. While it's true that Audi also dropped its A4's V6 for 2010, the A4's remaining 2.0T engine has a significant torque and acceleration advantage over the Saab's. Saab points out that the new Aero comes with a price reduction of roughly $5,000, but given that the 9-3 Aero was grossly overpriced to begin with, this doesn't seem like much of a deal.
There is a bright spot, however. The 9-3 SportCombi wagon has always been a more appealing alternative to other entry-level luxury wagons. Its unique styling and copious cargo space are draws, and in Aero trim, it handles reasonably well for a wagon. For 2010, a new trim known as the 9-3X SportCombi also debuts; basically an answer to the Subaru Outback and Volvo XC70, it features a raised ride height, a limited-slip differential and special black lower body cladding.
The current 2010 Saab 9-3 is simply outclassed. Aside from its powertrain, the 9-3 has unimpressive interior quality for the class, a lack of high-tech electronic features and nothing to really make it stand out in a crowded field with such stalwarts as the Audi A4/A5, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or cheaper premium cars like the Acura TSX, Nissan Maxima and Volkswagen's CC and Eos. Saab may be alive, but its long-term survival likely won't be the result of this 9-3. Thankfully, a new model is expected to arrive in early 2012.
Performance & mpg
Every Saab 9-3 is now powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 210 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard on all, while all-wheel drive (XWD) is optional on the sedan models and standard on the 9-3X SportCombi.
On the front-wheel-drive 2.0T models, a six-speed manual is standard and a five-speed automatic is optional. On the XWD sedans and 9-3X, a six-speed automatic is standard. Aero FWD models come standard with a five-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual is a no-cost option on all models with a standard automatic.
With the manual and front-wheel drive, the 9-3 sedan and SportCombi return an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. Getting all-wheel drive results in a drop to 17/27/21, while opting for the automatic or convertible returns fuel economy somewhere in between.
Safety
The 2010 Saab 9-3 comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, active front head restraints and side airbags. The sedan and SportCombi include side curtain airbags, while the convertible features taller side airbags that cover the head of each front occupant. OnStar is optional on the 2.0T and standard on the Aero.
In government crash tests, the 9-3 sedan and SportCombi received four out of five stars for frontal and side rear crash protection. They got five stars for driver side protection. The convertible was not tested. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 9-3 sedan the best rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset and side crash tests.
Driving
The Aero's old turbocharged V6 wasn't exactly a heavyweight in its class, but at least it gave the 9-3 a fighting chance. The remaining 2.0T is really only capable of knocking out the underachieving engine found in the Acura TSX.
The 2010 Saab 9-3's ride is smooth and quiet over most surfaces, though the suspension can lose composure over especially bumpy pavement. The steering is a bright spot, as it is light and quite accurate. Body roll around corners is excessive with the base 2.0T model -- so much so that the term "mushy" could be applied. The sport-tuned Aero model improves things considerably -- as does the added traction of XWD all-wheel drive -- though it can't quite match the athleticism of its rivals.
Interior
The Saab 9-3's cabin offers comfortable front seats (especially in the Aero) and good ergonomics, but the quality of the interior materials doesn't measure up to that of competitors in the class. Fit and finish also leaves something to be desired. The sedan and wagon are sufficiently roomy, but rear legroom is limited in the convertible.
Stereo and climate controls are a model of simplicity (a welcome departure from past Saabs), but in a class where topping the other guy's high-tech features is commonplace, the 9-3 is practically standing pat. There's no iPod interface, the navigation system is antiquated, there's no real-time traffic and Bluetooth is packaged with OnStar. At least there are few remaining kooky Saab features, like the console-mounted ignition and the "Night Panel" function that dims most instrument lighting (except most of the speedometer) for nighttime driving.
The Saab 9-3 does carry more cargo than many cars in its class; it offers 15 cubic feet of trunk space in the sedan and 12.4 cubes in the convertible. The wagon offers 29.7 cubic feet of storage space with the backseat up and an impressive 72.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. That's more than most compact crossover SUVs.
2010 Saab 9-3 models
The 2010 Saab 9-3 is available in sedan, convertible and wagon (SportCombi) body styles. Each is broken into 2.0T and Aero trim levels, while the SportCombi is available in an additional all-wheel-drive trim known as 9-3X. Front-wheel drive is standard on all, but both sedan models can be equipped with all-wheel drive (dubbed XWD).
The base 2.0T sedan comes standard with 16-inch wheels, automatic wipers, cruise control, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, a 60/40-split rear seatback, leather upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a seven-speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The all-wheel-drive 2.0T XWD sedan gets 17-inch wheels, dual exhaust outlets and upgraded brakes. The 9-3X SportCombi also gets those items, plus an elevated ride height, an electronic limited-slip differential and different exterior and interior trim. The 2.0T Convertible gets a power-operated soft top, auto up/down windows and 17-inch wheels.
The Comfort package adds a sunroof, heated front seats, headlamp washers and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Premium Sound package on the 2.0T Convertible bundles an 11-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer and satellite radio. The 2.0T Convertible Special Edition package adds xenon headlights, a special leather-wrapped steering wheel and satellite radio. Also optional on all 2.0T models is OnStar, which also includes Bluetooth.
The 9-3 Aero includes the Comfort package and OnStar, plus 17-inch wheels, xenon headlights, front foglamps, an eight-way power passenger seat, upgraded leather upholstery, sport seats, different interior trim and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system (optional on the 2.0T sedan and SportCombi) with a six-CD changer and satellite radio. The front-wheel-drive Aero features a sport-tuned suspension, while the Aero XWD (sedan only) gets a limited-slip differential and a self-leveling suspension.
Optional on the Aero is the Premium package, which includes driver memory functions, power-folding and auto-dimming outside mirrors and rear parking sensors. The 9-3X Premium package adds many of the items from the Aero. Eighteen-inch wheels are optional on all 9-3s.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Saab 9-3.
5 star(75%)
4 star(25%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
32 reviews
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Most helpful consumer reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars
No better ragtop for the price
Ken Krutsch, 05/29/2010
2009 Saab 9-3 Comfort 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
Love my Saab convertible. Went from a Mercedes C-class to a 9-3 Bumblebee Yellow 2.0T convertible. I miss the acceleration of the MB, but the Saab 2.0T is not off by much. The handling actually seems to be improved from the 2006 C-class, possibly due to the shorter wheel base and ReAxis feature (passive turning rear wheels). I get a lot of looks in this car, which is fun, and the … subtle design bells and whistles are everywhere. For example, with the top down, either in hot or cold weather, the climate control seems to just magically adjust all of the settings for a comfortable ride - including the automated heated seats. You can tell this is a car designed by people that live in the snow
5 out of 5 stars
Extremely reliable even after 160,000 miles!
Mills, 01/07/2016
2010 Saab 9-3 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
I purchased this car new in 2010 for $32,000. I currently have 162,000 miles on it and it has been extremely reliable. The engine runs great and so far the transmission has worked fine as well. I had to replace a drive shaft at 100K miles and a wheel bearing at 140K miles. As of today with 160K miles, I do need rear CV boots, a front vacuum pump and a transfer case seal. It would cost me … approximately $1,850 to repair all of those items. I don't know if I will bother spending the money to fix these issues since I have so many miles on the car. I have to say though, it has been a fun car to drive and it has never failed me. I have always serviced it as per the manufacturers specs and I'm sure that's partly why it has run so well. .... A little about me, I am 5'-6" tall and the seats and cabin room are perfect for me!
4 out of 5 stars
ok car for the money, very reliable!
chris_gallucci, 02/02/2011
2009 Saab 9-3 XWD 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Performance: great in snow! turbo lag is very high though
Comfort: over roads freshly paved-perfect, anything else-horrid!
Value: compared to other cars I have driven/ ridden around in it is not the best, seats are rock hard
Fun to Drive: Oh yeah!
Interior Design: great the first year it was out, but got old fast
Exterior Design: they are like Chevy, they keep almost the same design for … a few years, then finally get the idea that people want to see something new
Build Quality: the best, except for a tank, I was behind a dump truck hauling logs (one lane road) it dropped a log 6" in diameter, I ran it over, the car suffered no damage
Reliability: I can do everything at home (change oil, etc.)
3.88 out of 5 stars
Good All-Around Sports Sedan
jbrockwell, 01/16/2011
2010 Saab 9-3 2.0T 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Someone in review forum talking about future of the brand wrote that Saab should position itself as the $25K European sports sedan -- whether that is where the future is for Saab or not, I think it is a good way to position this model. It doesn't have a great interior compared to say an Audi A4 (my previous car), engine is not sublime, handling is OK (AWD helps considerably though I … bought FWD version), brand cache is struggling and I will have to see on reliability. But after 2,000+ miles of driving, I have no major complaints. It's a good all around performer and if it doesn't quite excel in any obvious automotive review category, does enough to satisfy and bring the occasional smile.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Saab 9-3, so we've included reviews for other years of the 9-3 since its last redesign.
2010 9-3 Highlights
Convertible
2.0T
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $39,990 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $231/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the 9-3 include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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