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By
EWAN KENNEDY
17 April 2006
Saab is pushing hard in the station wagon market at present, recently
introducing a wagon with the title of SportCombi to its mid-sized 9-3
range.
The Saab's styling is both sporting and
attractive, though it’s not a huge load carrier. This is common
in Euro wagons where sleek style generally rules, unlike the
pragmatism we see in Australian-designed station wagons, where
load carrying is number one priority.
Though there's room for normal luggage, the
sloping rear roofline of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi can adversely
affect the ability to carry boxy items; for example large TV sets.
Roof rails are included as standard to help the 9-3 cope with
larger items, but we’re not sure we would like to see that
expensive new LCD wide-screen set being carted up there.
Versatility is the name of the game in the back
end of this wagon and Saab's designers have installed both a 60/40
split in the rear seat as well as a ski hatch. Additionally, the
front passenger seat folds flat allowing surprisingly long loads
to be carried inside.
Interior space in the passenger compartment is
good, but there's less legroom in the rear seat than you would
expect from a front-wheel drive car in this class.
The Saab 9-3 SportCombi comes in two variants:
Linear and Aero. The Linear is powered by a turbocharged110 kW
2.0-litre four-cylinder engine while the sporty Aero comes with
the new 184 kW 2.8-litre V6 turbo unit. Interestingly, the turbo
V6 is built by Holden at its Port Melbourne engine plant, then
shipped to Sweden from where Saab V6s are exported to many
countries.
Turbocharged engines mean more torque and the
Linear’s four-cylinder unit provides a healthy 240 Nm between
2000 rpm and 3500 rpm. Even better, the 2.8-litre V6 gives you 350
Nm all the way from 1800 to 4500 rpm.
It’s hardly surprising that all that torque
results in plenty of torque steer if you get stuck into the
accelerator pedal. This could be potentially dangerous with an
inexperienced driver at the wheel. Perhaps have the kids do an
advanced driving course if you’re concerned about this.
On the other hand good drivers will just love
the surge of virtually linear torque and the way it permits fast
safe overtaking.
Importantly in the present era of high petrol
prices neither engine requires premium unleaded fuel. We were
impressed with our overall average consumption of just on 10
litres per hundred kilometres for the full week’s test we have
just completed.
This did include a fair bit of motorway running;
most people would expect their V6 Saab auto to use about 11 to 13
litres per hundred in suburban driving, and could see consumption
drop below eight litres per hundred kilometres in easy paced
country travel.
The 9-3 Linear SportCombi comes with the choice
of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, the
Aero has the same choices but with both as six-speed. It’s
interesting to see that Saab follows the Euro line in continuing
to provide a manual gearbox as preferred by many drivers over
there. However, we wouldn’t anticipate a lot of sales of manuals
in Australia.
There's minor turbo lag in the V6 we have spent
a week road testing, but it’s well masked by the six-speed
automatic transmission. The auto comes with a tiptronic-type
manual override function that can be operated either via the gear
lever or steering wheel mounted paddles.
As we’ve come to expect from Swedish cars
there’s an impressive list of standard safety features. Both
models have ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution
and brake assist, traction and stability control, front,
head/thorax and roof-rail airbags.
Ride comfort is very good and the Saab 9-3 wagon
is able to soak up pretty well anything Australian roads can throw
at them. That’s a real advantage in any Swedish car as their
road system is huge and the surfaces often get knocked about by
severe winter weather conditions. Hence their suspension engineers
are right up with the Aussie ones in their ability to build cars
to suit rough roads.
The SportCombi doesn’t sound quite as quiet as
the sedan, with just a little drumming from the load area on
uneven roads. It’s certainly not bad, but is worth testing for
yourself if you do a lot of country running.
Saab may well have introduced its 9-3 SportCombi
at just the right time. There's a swing away from large 4WDs in
Australia at present as fuel prices continue at high levels.
Buyers accustomed to the space and versatility of their off-roaders
may now switch allegiance to more frugal station wagons exactly
like this prestige machine from Saab.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
9-3 Linear SportCombi 1.8t 2.0-litre five-door wagon - $45,400
9-3 Aero SportCombi 2.8-litre five-door wagon - $72,400
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard on all models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: $2100 option on all other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Saab 9-3 SportCombi 1.8t
Linear 2.0-litre five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.998 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 86.0 x 86.0mm
Maximum Power: 110kW @ 5500rpm
Maximum Torque: 240Nm @ 2000-3500rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 2.44:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4654mm
Wheelbase: 2675mm
Width: 1782mm
Height: 1507mm
Turning Circle: 10.5 metres
Kerb Mass: 1509kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 58 litres
Towing Ability: 750kg (1600kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, gas shock absorbers,
anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent four-link, coil springs, gas shock
absorbers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.9 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 17.1 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
City Cycle: 11.3 L/100km
Highway Cycle: 6.0 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
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Marque Publishing Company
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