Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Review | Part Two

The Saab 9-3 Aero is powered by a 2.0T high output turbo engine which produces 210 bhp at 5300 r/min and offers 300 NM of torque across a a wide rev range enabling the Saab 9-3 Aero to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds (automatic 8.3 seconds) and continue to a top speed of 146 mph (automatic 143 mph).

The all-aluminum 2.0 litre turbo engine features Saab's in-house developed Trionic 8 engine management system which provides adaptive torque control and power on/power off management to eliminate shunting or jerks under sudden throttle movements. This system works well and irons out any unwanted jerky throttle inputs.

The engine is a delight being both quiet and refined - if you change down a gear or two it becomes more vocally pleasing and rewards you with a reassuring growl and more than enough power to satisfy. The dual sports exhaust also emits a noticeably throaty exhaust note.

Saab first adopted turbo technology more than 25 years ago and it is now an iconic part of its heritage. The Aero does suffer slightly from the inevitable turbo lag at low speeds but you soon get used to this characteristic and enjoy the engine for its impressive reserves of power. Mid range response is almost instantaneous facilitating quick and clean overtaking.

The six-speed manual gearbox (£200 option) is superb offering precise close ratio gear changes. When cruising on the Motorway at 70 mph in 6th gear the engine revs a little over 2000 rpm and you needn't worry about the fuel economy of the high performance Aero model as it returns an excellent 32.8 mpg on a combined cycle.