SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Saab's facelifted 9-3 Sportwagon continues to bring its own brand of style to the executive estate sector. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Conspicuous good looks and big practicality make the Saab 9-3 SportWagon a desirable choice for compact executive buyers looking for some extra space in the rear. Technologically, the Saab still trails the top German models but in terms of everyday usability, it has a lot going for it and the lower running costs in this latest model are impressive.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Saab's 9-3 Sportwagon probably won't be the first car that springs to mind if you're looking for a premium-badged compact executive estate. But perhaps it should be. Can the car you're thinking of offer up to 180bhp of diesel power yet still return 119g/km of CO2 to keep your tax bill down and eke out nearly 63mpg on a regular basis? We're guessing not. But low running costs aren't everything. If they were, you'd have bought something a lot more boring than this. And boring, the Sportwagon certainly isn't.

We're about to go into details as to why as you read on, but let me just give you a taster. Its Twin Floor Storage facility. Here's a press pack quote: "By pulling a chrome, aircraft-shaped handle, the main boot floor can be folded and relocated for access to a recessed sub-floor." This instantly gave rise to the intriguing question of just what shape is an aircraft? Was this boot floor handle a delicate chromed Vickers Vimy biplane that popped up or could it be a sleek Saab Gripen? The straight wings and chunky stub ordnance hardpoints of a Northrop A-10 Tankbuster would be a whole lot easier to grasp. Unfortunately, the truth was a little more prosaic and 'aircraft-style' would probably have been somewhat nearer the mark. That's about all that does give serious cause for disappointment about the 9-3 Sportwagon.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Under the bonnet, new 2.0-litre petrol engines give 163hp and 220 hp and include direct injection, variable valve timing and twin scroll turbocharging. Combined cycle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced on average by 4% across the range.

In recent times, Saab has given the 9-3 a welcome shot in the arm with a couple of big steps forward in terms of engineering and the trend continues with the most recent revisions that accompany the facelift for model year 2012. Big news under the bonnet are the two new 2.0-litre petrol engines available in 163 or 220bhp tune. Both have direct injection, variable valve timing and twin scroll turbocharging and help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by an average of 4 per cent across the range. Most buyers, however, opt for the current 130/160/180 bhp 1.9-litre TTiD twin turbo diesel line-up - unsurprisingly given the very competitive CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km, a figure Saab claims to be class-leading in terms of CO2 per unit of horsepower for the 180 bhp variant, thus making it the most powerful zero VED estate car available. Further fine tuning has now also delivered a remarkable 62.8mpg combined cycle fuel consumption.

There's also the XWD 'cross wheel drive' model - effectively an all-wheel drive version with a Haldex differential to direct drive to the rear wheels where necessary. This will forever solve the rather wayward power deployment of range-topping front-wheel drive 9-3s.

Despite all this, the driving experience hasn't changed all that much - which means that it's as good as an Audi or a Mercedes but a little less involving than a BMW 3 Series. The ride and handling compromise remains very well judged but the more powerful models highlight the pressing requirement for all-wheel drive which Saab has rather belatedly woken up to. Comfort inside the car is excellent thanks to great seats and a multi-adjustable driving position.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Like the Sport Saloon and Convertible models, the Wagon has always been one of the best-looking cars in its class, the tight overhangs and chunky proportioning giving it a real presence while the clamshell bonnet, with all external rubbing strips removed, give the car a cleaner look.

For its first major facelift since its introduction, the 9-3 Sportwagon gets the 'ice block' headlamp effect introduced on the new 9-5 saloon and inspired by the Aero X concept car, while the grille features a more prominent, wing-shaped central bar carrying the SAAB badge, again like the 9-5 Saloon. The new bumpers incorporate deeper intakes and fog lamps are fitted as standard. New 17- inch and 18-inch wheel designs are also offered on SE and Aero respectively.

The cabin makeover sees titanium metallic-effect trim around the instrument panel, gearshift molding, doors and glove box, and as an option for the instrument panel fascia, while the Aero's interior features a graphite fibre-effect for all these items, including the fascia. SE models get leather-trimmed 'comfort' seats and the Aero leather 'sports' seats with contrasting stitching, inspired by the Aero X concept car.

Unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Saab offers some serious carrying capacity. There's 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres of space available with the seats folded down. The recessed sub floor allows valuables to be stowed out of the view of prying eyes and can also be used to store wet or dirty gear without muddying everything else up. Despite its sporting looks, the rear hatch is actually fairly steeply raked, allowing for additional carrying capacity. This is where rivals such as the Alfa 159 Sportwagon and BMW's 3-Series Touring fall down, favouring style over practicality. Saab aims to offer both.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Sportwagon prices sit in the £23,500 to £32,000 bracket and represent an £1,100 premium over equivalent 9-3 saloon models. These figures show that while Saab claims to be mixing it with the big boys, it has remained solidly pragmatic when it judges exactly what the market will bear. Trim levels go from SE to Aero. The SE variants are classily appointed with cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard.

With a backlash forming against the dowdy driving characteristics of many 4x4 and MPV-style vehicles, premium mid-sized estates have seen an increase in popularity in recent years and Saab hope to capitalise upon a market that demographics suggest is often younger and more affluent than the traditional saloon and hatchback sectors. What's more, diesel engines - a growing area of Saab expertise - account for most of the estate sector's sales.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Running costs are where Saab has managed to make the biggest step forward in recent times when it comes to the 9-3. All its diesel engines have more advanced twin turbocharged engines and, in the Sportwagon, all three engines give CO2 emissions of just 119g/km and the 130bhp version an exceptionally low combined cycle fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg. The most powerful variant, the 180bhp 1.9 TTiD, now delivers the most efficient performance for a four cylinder diesel engine in the marketplace in terms of CO2 per unit of horsepower.

The new, more efficient 2.0-litre petrol engines deliver an average combined cycle improvement of 4 per cent in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This is in addition to a 10 hp increase over the superseded 210 hp top-of-the-line offer. The use of variable valve timing and direct injection improves fuel consumption, emissions and performance. Hydraulically operated vane-type cam phasers enable both the inlet and exhaust valve timing to be adjusted independently, according to varying engine speed and load. Claimed benefits include a broader spread of torque, higher maximum power and improved fuel consumption. Both the163 and 220 bhp versions of the new engines are available with front-wheel drive and XWD, Saab's advanced all-wheel-drive system.

SAAB 9-3 SALOON 1.8T VECTOR SPORT 4DR

Although there are some very well established rivals in the compact executive estate class, they will look nervously over their shoulders as the 9-3 Sportwagon hoves into view. With the usual aggressive Saab pricing retaining the marque's usual excellent horsepower per pound factor, this now even smarter Swede is well worth considering.

Smart load carrying features, a usefully proportioned cargo area and unsullied driving dynamics of the Saab 9-3 Sportwagon make a very attractive combination for those looking for something suitably lifestyle with an esteemed badge on the bonnet and this car deserves to command a useful piece of that action.