Saab 9-3 SportWagon Review

Saab 9-3 SportWagon

Safety and Security

• EuroNCAP gives the Saab 9-3 SportWagon the highest rating of five stars.
• Saab was the first manufacturer to introduce seatbelts as standard in 1958.
• We liked the front seats and commend their back and neck support
• We liked the uncluttered drivers foot well

The following safety and security equipment is standard on the Saab 9-3 SportWagon Vector Sport:

Three-point rear seatbelts, all seats, front, seatbelt pre-tensioners/load limiters (front seats), Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR 2) front, remote central locking with dead locks, driver's and Passenger's dual-stage airbag, front, Mechanical Brake Assist, front seat side thorax airbags, ESP, DynaCage, EBD Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Cornering Brake Control & ABS, Immobiliser, Isofix child seat anchoring points rear, anti-submarining front & rear seats, adjustable head restraints rear, active seatbelt reminder front, centre-console mounted ignition, break-away pedals, child-safe rear door locks, load intrusion protection and 4 load-securing eyelets.

Comfort and Refinement

During our time with the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport SportWagon we were impressed with the level of thought that has gone into the ergonomics of the vehicle.

The cabin is spacious with excellent head and leg room in both the front and rear. The large flexible interior has ample cabin space for 4/5 people. The doors are large and open to reveal wide access points which make it a very easy car to get in and out of for both front and rear seat occupants making the Saab 9-3 an excellent choice for people with mobility problems.

We drove the SportWagon non-stop for over ten hours without complaint from driver or co-driver. The electric seats were easy to adjust enabling you to obtain the ideal driving position.

Careful thought has been given to the front seats, we particularly liked the level of support and that the (SAHR) Saab Active Head Restraint meets the back of the head, minimising the risk of whip lash injuries in the event of an accident.

Our car was fitted with the £1200 optional Convenience Plus Pack which included dual electric seats with driver’s memory, which also memorized the door mirrors. The mirrors tilted downwards when reserve gear was selected, but for some reason didn’t always return to their set position when driving off.

Strangely the rear centre head restraint is a £50 option, suggesting Saab only designed the car for four occupants. There are two ISOfix points in the rear for ISOfix child seats, additionally our child seat uses a top tether anchor, but these for some reason aren’t fitted in the UK.

Vector Sport models are equipped with dual zone climate control (air conditioning) which enables you to select different temperature zones for driver and passengers. Saab was one of the first manufacturers to introduce CFC free air conditioning as standard. Cooling of the glove box - for soft drinks, chocolate etc. is also included.

We benefited from electric folding mirrors, one-shot comfort closing windows, auto dimming interior and exterior mirrors which are part of the Convenience Plus Pack. The pack also includes rain sensing windscreen wipers which worked well, through the mixture of weather we received during our test period.

Saab 9-3 SportWagon