Saab 9-3

Saab 9-3 generations

The data records 3 generation records. Restyling is part of generation 2, not a third separate generation.

The data records 3 generation records. Restyling is part of generation 2, not a third separate generation.

1 generation ran 1998-01-01 to 2003-08-31 as a Cabrio, with 40 versions in the catalogue. The extract names 12 of them, all 2.0 or 2.3 Gasoline FWD cars: `2.0 MT` and `2.0 AT` at 130 hp (1985 cm³, No boost), `2.0 MT` at 150 hp (Turbo), `2.0 MT` and `2.0 AT` at 154 hp (Turbo), `2.0 MT` and `2.0 AT` at 185 hp (Turbo), `2.0 MT` and `2.0 AT` at 200 hp (Turbo), `2.0 MT` and `2.0 AT` at 205 hp (Turbo), and `2.3 MT` at 150 hp (2290 cm³, No boost). Automatics in this generation use 4 gears; manuals use 5.

2 generation ran 2002-01-01 to 2007-09-30 as an Estate 5-door, with 55 versions. The extract names 12: `1.8 MT` 122 hp (1797 cm³, No boost); `2.0 MT` / `2.0 AT` at 150 hp, 175 hp and 210 hp (1998 cm³, Turbo); `2.0 MT` / `2.0 AT` at 200 hp (1985 cm³, Turbo); `2.8 MT` / `2.8 AT` at 230 hp (2792 cm³, 6 V-shaped, Turbo); and `2.8 AT` at 250 hp (same 2792 cm³ V-shaped Turbo). All are FWD.

2 generation, restyling ran 2007-06-01 to 2011-12-31 as a Cabrio, with 69 versions. The extract names 12: `1.8 MT` 122 hp; `1.9 MT` 118 hp (Diesel, 1910 cm³, Turbo); `2.0 MT` / `2.0 AT` at 150 hp, 175 hp and 210 hp (1998 cm³, Turbo); `2.0 AT` at 200 hp (1985 cm³, Turbo); and `2.8 MT` / `2.8 AT` at 255 hp (2792 cm³, 6 V-shaped, Turbo). Where two rows share a name, they are told apart by horsepower (for example two `2.0 AT` rows at 175 hp and 210 hp, plus a third `2.0 AT` at 200 hp).

Saab 9-3 engines and specs

All engines sit Front, transverse. Gasoline versions use fuel 95 and, where the feed system is given, Distributed injection (multi-point). The `1.9 MT` Diesel uses fuel Diesel; its injection system is not measured. Cylinders are 4 Inline except the 2.8-litre units (6 V-shaped). Valves per cylinder are 4 where given. Drive is FWD on every row.

Peak power rpm examples from the data: `1.8 MT` 5800; `2.0 AT`/`2.0 MT` 175 hp 5500; `2.0 AT`/`2.0 MT` 210 hp 5300; `2.8` 255 hp 5500; `1.9 MT` 4000. Torque rpm: 2500 on the 1998 cm³ Turbo petrols at 175/210 hp; 2000 on `2.8` 255 hp and `1.9 MT`; 3800 on `1.8 MT`. Compression is 9.5 on the 1998/2792 Turbo petrols in the restyling Cabrio, 10.5 on `1.8 MT`, 9.2 on `2.0 AT` 200 hp (1985 cm³), 18 on `1.9 MT`. Bore × stroke examples: 86 × 86 (1998 cm³), 89 × 74.8 (2792 cm³), 80.5 × 88.5 (`1.8 MT`), 82 × 90.4 (`1.9 MT`), 90 × 78 (1985 cm³ Turbo rows).

Performance, top speed, fuel consumption (mpg / L/100 km)

Figures below are as measured in the data. Fuel use is city / highway / mixed in L/100 km. CO₂ is not measured on every version in this extract.

1 generation Cabrio. `2.0 MT`/`2.0 AT` 130 hp: 0–100 11 s, top speed 200 km/h; city, highway and mixed not measured. `2.0 MT` 150 hp: 8.5 s, 215 km/h, 12.7 / 6.3 / 8.5. `2.0 MT`/`2.0 AT` 154 hp: 8.8 s, 210 km/h; consumption not measured. `2.0 MT` 185 hp: 8.0 s, 230 km/h; consumption not measured. `2.0 AT` 185 hp: 9.6 s, 220 km/h, 14.6 / 7.4 / 10.1. `2.0 MT` 200 hp: 10.0 s, 210 km/h; consumption not measured. `2.0 AT` 200 hp: 9.1 s, 225 km/h, 14.8 / 7.1 / 10.0. `2.0 MT` 205 hp: 7.3 s, 230 km/h, 14.8 / 7.1 / 10.0. `2.0 AT` 205 hp: 9.1 s, 225 km/h, 14.8 / 7.1 / 10.0. `2.3 MT` 150 hp: 10.0 s, 210 km/h, 14.2 / 7.3 / 9.8.

2 generation Estate 5-door. `1.8 MT` 122 hp: 12.5 s, 195 km/h, 10.5 / 6.1 / 8.1. `2.0 MT` 150 hp: 10.2 s, 205 km/h, 10.9 / 5.9 / 7.8. `2.0 AT` 150 hp: 11.3 s, 200 km/h, 13.0 / 6.6 / 8.9. `2.0 MT` 175 hp: 8.8 s, 215 km/h, 11.5 / 6.4 / 8.3. `2.0 AT` 175 hp: 10.0 s, 210 km/h, 13.3 / 6.9 / 9.3. `2.0 MT` 200 hp: 7.9 s, 230 km/h, 9.8 / 5.4 / 7.0. `2.0 AT` 200 hp: 8.9 s, 225 km/h, 12.9 / 6.7 / 9.0. `2.0 MT` 210 hp: 7.9 s, 230 km/h, 11.1 / 6.0 / 7.9. `2.0 AT` 210 hp: 9.2 s, 220 km/h, 13.7 / 7.0 / 9.5. `2.8 MT` 230 hp: 7.5 s, 235 km/h; consumption not measured. `2.8 AT` 230 hp: 8.7 s, 230 km/h; consumption not measured. `2.8 AT` 250 hp: 7.8 s, 240 km/h, 17.2 / 7.2 / 11.0.

2 generation restyling Cabrio. `1.8 MT` 122 hp: 10.5 s, 215 km/h, 13.1 / 7.7 / 9.7. `1.9 MT` 118 hp: 10.5 s, 215 km/h, 13.1 / 7.7 / 9.7. `2.0 MT` 150 hp: 10.5 s, 205 km/h, 11.3 / 6.7 / 8.6. `2.0 AT` 150 hp: 11.5 s, 200 km/h, 13.4 / 7.6 / 9.7. `2.0 MT` 175 hp: 9.0 s, 220 km/h, 11.9 / 7.1 / 8.9. `2.0 AT` 175 hp (measured row): 10.5 s, 215 km/h, 13.1 / 7.7 / 9.7. A second `2.0 AT` 175 hp row is Euro 4; 0–100, top speed and consumption are not measured. `2.0 AT` 200 hp: 0–100, top speed and consumption not measured. `2.0 MT` 210 hp: 7.9 s, 235 km/h, 12.0 / 7.1 / 9.1. `2.0 AT` 210 hp: 8.8 s, 230 km/h, 14.0 / 7.1 / 9.6. `2.8 MT` 255 hp: 7.2 s, 254 km/h, 15.5 / 7.1 / 10.2. `2.8 AT` 255 hp: 8.1 s, 266 km/h, 16.9 / 7.2 / 10.8.

Euro 4 is recorded on restyling `1.8 MT`, `1.9 MT`, `2.0 AT` 200 hp, the unmeasured `2.0 AT` 175 hp row, and Estate `2.0 MT`/`2.0 AT` 200 hp plus Estate `2.0 MT` 150 hp. Other rows: eco class not measured.

Dimensions, weight, ground clearance, tank

Wheel size is not measured on every version here. Front and rear suspension, where given, are Independent, spring. Front brakes are Disc or Ventilated disc; rear brakes are Disc.

Kerb weight in the extract: 1320 kg (`2.0 MT`/`2.0 AT` 130 hp, 1 gen Cabrio) to 1705 kg (`2.8 AT` 255 hp, restyling Cabrio). Gross weight: 1790 kg (several 1 gen Turbo Cabrio rows) to 2130 kg (`2.8 AT` 255 hp). One 1 gen row, `2.0 MT` 200 hp, has gross weight not measured.

Ground clearance: 140 mm (1 gen Cabrio; also restyling `2.0 AT` 150 hp), 145 mm (2 gen Estate 5-door; restyling `1.8 MT`, `1.9 MT`, `2.0 AT` 200 hp and the Euro 4 `2.0 AT` 175 hp), 150 mm (most restyling 2.0 Turbo and both 2.8 Cabrio rows).

Tank: 68 L (1 gen Cabrio), 58 L (2 gen Estate 5-door), 61 L (2 gen restyling Cabrio).

Which Saab 9-3 version to choose

Differences below are arithmetic on the numbers above.

If the goal is the lowest 0–100 in this extract, `2.8 MT` 255 hp (restyling Cabrio) at 7.2 s beats `2.0 MT` 205 hp (1 gen, 7.3 s) by 0.1 s and `2.8 MT` 230 hp (Estate, 7.5 s) by 0.3 s. If the goal is the highest measured top speed, `2.8 AT` 255 hp at 266 km/h is 12 km/h above the same engine with Manual (`2.8 MT` 255 hp, 254 km/h) and 26 km/h above Estate `2.8 AT` 250 hp (240 km/h).

If the goal is the lowest mixed consumption among measured rows, Estate `2.0 MT` 200 hp at 7.0 L/100 km is 0.8 below Estate `2.0 MT` 150 hp (7.8) and 4.0 below Estate `2.8 AT` 250 hp (11.0). Restyling Cabrio mixed figures sit higher for the same names: `2.0 MT` 175 hp is 8.9 versus 8.3 on the Estate; `2.0 AT` 210 hp is 9.6 versus 9.5.

`1.8 MT` 122 hp is the same 1797 cm³, No boost, 167 Nm engine in two bodies: Estate 0–100 is 12.5 s and mixed 8.1 L/100 km at 1405 kg; restyling Cabrio 0–100 is 10.5 s (2.0 s quicker) but mixed 9.7 at 1580 kg (175 kg heavier). The only Diesel in the extract is restyling `1.9 MT` 118 hp: 280 Nm at 2000 rpm, matching the 280 Nm of several 2.0 Turbo petrols while making 118 hp, 87 kW.

Same-name pairs: restyling `2.0 MT` 175 hp is 1.5 s quicker to 100 than `2.0 AT` 175 hp (9.0 vs 10.5) and 5 km/h faster (220 vs 215). Restyling `2.0 MT` 210 hp vs `2.0 AT` 210 hp: 7.9 vs 8.8 s, 235 vs 230 km/h, mixed 9.1 vs 9.6. Estate `2.0 MT` 210 hp matches the Cabrio manual’s 7.9 s but tops out 5 km/h lower (230 vs 235) and uses 7.9 mixed versus 9.1.

For an open car with a light engine, 1 gen `2.0 MT`/`2.0 AT` 130 hp are the lightest (1320 kg) and use No boost. For an Estate with a six-cylinder, `2.8 AT` 250 hp is the only 2.8 row with measured consumption (11.0 mixed); the 230 hp `2.8 MT`/`2.8 AT` leave consumption not measured.

Saab 9-3 problems and reliability

This dataset does not list failure modes, service intervals, or reliability scores. Those items are not measured here. What the numbers do show for ownership maths: tanks of 58 / 61 / 68 L; mixed use from 7.0 to 11.0 L/100 km where measured; kerb mass from 1320 to 1705 kg; and several rows where 0–100, top speed, consumption, CO₂, eco class, gross weight, or wheel size is not measured and must not be treated as zero.