2009 SAAB 9-3 SPORT SEDAN Review

Overview

The 2009 Saab 9-3 Sport is available as a four-door, five-passenger, luxury sports sedan in five trims - 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Touring, 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Comfort, 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan XWD, 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan, and 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan.

Powertrain And Performance

A 210-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine is standard on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Touring, 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Comfort, 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan XWD, and 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan. The 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan derives power from a standard 280-hp, 2.8-liter, 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Touring but optional on all other trims. A 5-speed Sentronic automatic transmission with manual mode is standard on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Comfort and 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan and optional on 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Touring. A 6-speed Sentronic automatic transmission with manual mode is standard on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan XWD and 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan. Cross-wheel drive system (XWD) and a lowered sport-tuned chassis are standard on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan XWD and 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan.

Build And Styling

Fourteen-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels (standard on 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Touring), 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels (standard on 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan Comfort), 17-inch five-spoke twin alloy wheels (standard on 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan XWD and 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan), 17-inch five-spoke split alloy wheels (standard on 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan), and 18-inch five-spoke twin alloy wheels (optional on 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan) are a few types of wheels fitted on this ace Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan. Aerodynamic headlamps; halogen projector beam; xenon cornering headlamps; high-pressure headlamp washers; front and rear fog lamps; 6-jet high-pressure windshield washers; side-mounted direction-indicator lamps; undercoating and anti-corrosion treatment; body-colored outer door handles; body-colored lower bumper and rocker sills; and dual bright-finish exhaust tailpipes are among the standard and optional features on the 2009 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan exterior. A few standard features on the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan include Premium audio system with 150W and seven speakers, XM Satellite Radio with three month trial, and Bluetooth Phone Integration System. Inside, premium natural leather upholstery is optional on the 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan and 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan. Also, adjustable headrests and rear center seat are optional on all five trims. Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, and a DVD-based navigation system are some optional entertainment features. Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, and Moonroof Package with various upscale features are available.

Safety Features

Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR); OnStar; 3-point safety belts for all seats; child-seat top-tether anchors on rear seats (LATCH); child safety locks on rear doors; and a tire-pressure monitoring system are among the standard safety and security features on the 2009 Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan. Electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) is standard on the 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan. Traction control system (TCS); electronic stability program (ESP); anti-lock braking system (ABS); and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) are standard on all 9-3 Sport Sedan trims.