Great alternative!
Pros:
Fresh, sporty look. Great handling and engine! Superb seats, interior geometry/layout and sound system!
Cons:
Interior quality is not among the best! Bridge stones makes for a bumpy ride!
The Bottom Line:
This car is as good as the Audi A4! What it lacks in interior quality it makes up for with its superior seats and the fantastic engine! Fresh, different look!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I must say I really enjoyed both the look and feel of this car! It's exterior is a surprisingly pleasing mix of Italian-like lines and German-like robustness. In fact this is one of the most robust looking cars I've ever tested!
The interior is not as exiting, but geometry and layout is close to perfect! The seats strikes the perfect balance between comfort and support and is by far the best seats in it's class! Interior quality is at the same level as the BMW 320, but not up the standard of the Audi A4 and Mercedes C 200.
So far so good.
Not the most spacious car built, it can feel a little claustrophobic. The dashboard is very up-close, which may take some time getting used to. However this also means that everything is within easy reach. Long legged people might find the back seat to be less than satisfying, unless those sitting in front are willing to compromise. To be fair, the latter is true for all European cars in it's class (Volvo V50, BMW 320 and the Audi A4.). Otherwise back seat comfort is top-notch!
The sound quality of the stereo system is sensational! Vocal lines came across both full-bodied and clear and bass lines were much less muddy than I would have expected. Most manufacturers tune car audio to sound "Impressive" (Read: Tons of bass!). Because they work on a budget they tend to sacrifice clarity for bottom. This may sound impressive on a first listen but may prove to be a nightmare in the long run, especially on rhythmically complex music (Like Rush's "Power Windows" album). The Saab's sound system were very well balanced. Both powerful and tight, I'd expect to pay ALOT of money in order to improve sound quality. Awesome!
Driving dynamics is not up to that of the BMW 320, but for a front wheel driven car it's phenomenal! A much more satisfying drive than both the Avensis, Mondeo, Vectra and Mercedes it ranks up alongside the mighty Audi A4! -Belive me I've tried them all! Its handling is sharp, precise and neutral and when pushed hard it responds beautifully and safe with a mild understeer. The overall comfort level is also on level with the best, but across bridge stone and other sharp bumps it performs less than satisfying compared to it's German brothers.
One of the 9-3's best features is certainly its strong, 175hp, turbo charged engine! This jewel performs admirably on all levels!
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