2011 Saab 9-3 sedan Reviews

The Saab 9-3 is available as a convertible, SportCombi (or wagon), sedan and a more-rugged wagon called the 9-3x. All models come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The Saab 9-3 gets a unique rear suspension called ReAxs, which features passive rear steering to quell understeer inherent to front-wheel-drive cars. Visually, the Saab 9-3 shares nothing with its cousins and its powertrain options are all turbocharged variants of GM motors that have been uniquely designed by Saab engineers.

The SportCombi wagon comes with the same 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder as all other  Saab 9-3 models in Turbo4 and Aero trim levels with front-wheel drive and as a version called the 9-3X with all-wheel drive.

All models are available with Saab's XWD (cross-wheel-drive) all-wheel-drive system. Standard equipment on all includes leather upholstery with a power driver’s seat, OnStar, an air conditioned glovebox, alloy wheels, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The convertible features the same chassis dynamics as the sedan. Leather seats are standard. In base models, a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic is available. Aero models offer a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

The Aero adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a Bose audio system, sports seats, XM Satellite radio and GM's OnStar system. A turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 is no longer offered. Front-wheel drive is standard on all three body styles, and all-wheel drive (what Saab calls XWD) is available on the sedan and Saab 9-3X SportCombi wagon.

The Turbo4's standard transmission is a six-speed manual. Both models are also available with a Haldex XWD all-wheel drive system, and when so equipped, both come with a six-speed automatic transmission. Base configurations for both the Turbo4 and Aero X are front-wheel drive.