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2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
Unconventional Wisdom
The Saab 9-3 SportCombi station wagon adds a dash of intelligent practicality to this (somewhat) quirky Scandinavian model.
Offered in two trim levels, the four-door Saab 9-3 SportCombi wagon is a more-practical alternative to the 9-3 model’s sedan and convertible versions (reviewed separately, although most mechanical details are the same).
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The base Saab 9-3 SportCombi 2.0T model comes powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates acceptable acceleration with reasonably good fuel economy.
For many years, Saab’s Swedish engineers insisted that a turbocharged four-cylinder engine was the ideal compromise of power and fuel consumption. To have more cylinders was overkill, almost sinful, they believed. Meanwhile, most American customers thought the more cylinders, the better. Under General Motors, Saab eventually accepted bigger engines.
For instance, the Saab 9-3 SportCombi Aero version features a 2.8-liter V6 that uses variable intake valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger to generate about 25 percent more muscle, with added torque for quick launches and secure highway passing abilities.
The Saab 9-3 SportCombi offers a slick-shifting, six-speed-manual transmission as standard equipment, which is recommended for driving enthusiasts. Most commuters, on the other hand, will likely prefer an automatic, which is a five-speed gearbox on the Saab 9-3 SportCombi 2.0T and a six-speed with the Aero. Both offer manual gear selection, for those who like to have it both ways.
Saab 9-3 SportCombi Vehicle Summary
A sport-tuned suspension and a standard stability control system ensure crisp and secure handling qualities with a relatively calm ride. In terms of overall sportiness, the Saab 9-3 SportCombi lands somewhere between the BMW 3 Series Wagon (which is more sporty) and the Audi A4 Avant (which is less). The Aero variant of the SportCombi emphasizes handling over ride comfort and leans more toward the BMW in this regard.
Auto safety is a proud Swedish tradition. The Saab 9-3 SportCombi upholds this with standard four-wheel disc antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, “active” head restraints and front side and side-curtain airbags. However, unlike some models in its class, like the Audi A4 Avant, all-wheel drive is not offered on the Saab 9-3 SportCombi.
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The Saab 9-3 SportCombi has a tidy, leather-clad cabin, which is sufficiently spacious for four adults, with a fifth able to squeeze into the backseat for short trips when the need arises. Rear riders benefit from easier access than in the sedan or convertible variants, given the wagon’s squared-off roof line. Unless you require AWD, the practical-minded Saab 9-3 SportCombi can substitute for a small SUV. Standard features cover all the bases, with assorted convenience items available via the options list, though the Saab 9-3 eschews many of the latest high-tech gadget features.
You want a quick and nimble European station wagon with just enough quirkiness to set it apart from the pack.
You want a larger and/or sportier vehicle; you prefer BMW or Mercedes brand cachet.
Four adults will fit comfortably, with fifth able to endure sitting in the backseat for shorter trips; a tilt and telescoping steering wheel is of special benefit to shorter motorists, though adjustable pedals are not offered.
For decades, Saab existed in the U.S. as a purveyor of autos that resided outside motoring’s mainstream, catering mainly to unconventional intellectuals who prized the Swedish automaker’s quirky product line. Its traditional eccentricities included an ignition key that was located on the floor between the two front seats. To get the key out of the ignition, you had to put the transmission into reverse. Existing for the most part as a line of crisp-handling sedans and wagons, a small sports coupe, the Sonett, was produced and sold during the late 1960s/early 1970s. General Motors absorbed Saab in 2000 (it had owned a 50 percent stake for a decade before that), and in the process the brand has grown ever closer to the conventional, much to the dismay of loyalists and automotive enthusiasts alike who maintain the marque is fast losing its identity. A small 9-2X wagon, which was released as a byproduct of GM’s short-lived equity stake in Subaru, was a very thinly disguised Subaru Impreza. Aficionados called it the “Saabaru.” Thankfully, it was discontinued at the end of the 2006 model year, soon after GM sold its stake in Subaru to Toyota.
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