Review of the new Saab 9-3 Range

The Saab 9-3's place in the world was once quite clear. You bought one if you couldn't stretch to an Audi, a BMW or a Mercedes. The latest model has loftier aspirations, promoting itself as one of the cleanest and most efficient Saabs ever. If that's true, then the signs look encouraging for this revised 9-3.

It was only with the launch of the second generation Saab 9-3 in 2002 that the Swedish maker began to get really serious about trying to poach BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class buyers. In actual fact, what happened instead was that it ended up scrapping with these models' lesser competitors - cars like Jaguar's X-TYPE, Volvo's S60 and Lexus' IS - not such a lucrative market.

It may be that it will take a completely new design to really give the Germans sleepless nights but in the meantime, this revised 9-3 is still a useful step forward. It was facelifted in 2008 and has been tweaked again in the further revised guise we look at here but the really important changes lie under the bonnet, producing running costs that'll give even this car's most efficient rivals something to think about.

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. As well as a range-topping 180bhp TTiD 1.9-litre diesel engine, 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.

Aside from this impressive diesel, which uses a twin-stage turbo to deliver all that power, there are more conventional turbo diesel models both with an extra 10bhp these days. The 1.9-litre 16v is now good for 160bhp, while a cheaper 8v engine now serves up 130bhp. Petrol buyers are catered for by a 122bhp 1.8i, a turbocharged 1.8t, and 175bhp and 210bhp versions of an all-aluminium 2.0-litre turbo as well as the big banger in the line up, the 280bhp V6 turbo. This will get to 60mph in 5.9s and run on to 152mph. There are also two BioPower engines that run on a bioethanol E85 mix - choose from either a 1.8t or a 2.0t here.

"Trying one before you buy something apparently more prestigious could be a canny move.."

Other recent tweaks include a recalibrated engine management with improved fuel injection and combustion control. There are revised gear ratios to match new power and torque characteristics. Low rolling resistance tyres offer reduced road friction, whilst improved aerodynamics, with rear underbody deflector blades aid efficiency, as does reduced weight achieved through lighter construction and sound-deadening materials. There's also a revised torque converter for automatic transmission models that features optimised shift programming.

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.

The 9-3 still looks a classy thing with its smart front grille featuring a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod like an illuminated eyebrow. The clamshell bonnet is a very deft touch, not only drawing on Saab's history but also visually widening the front of the car. All external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look and the Saloon and Convertible both adopt the Sport Wagon's smoked white rear light clusters.

That Sport Wagon estate version manages, unlike many rivals in its class, to actually offer 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. Rivals say you can't have good looks and carrying capacity in a car like this: the 9-3 proves them wrong.

Prices start at around £21,000 and rise up to around £35,000, so there's a small but significant saving on comparable premium German rivals. Three body styles are offered - Saloon, Sport Wagon and Convertible - which, with various trim levels and all those engines, makes for a massive range. All cars get features such as alloy wheels, twin front, side and curtain airbags, dual zone climate control and a seven-speaker CD stereo.

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 saloon, all three engines give CO2 emissions of just 119g/km and 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.

In the petrol range, perhaps the most interesting models are the BioPower cars. Saab's Trionic engine management system automatically detects whether you're running on bioethanol or unleaded petrol, or indeed any conceivable mix of the two, and adjusts the car's ignition for optimum efficiency. Ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 115) than ordinary petrol, so you go quicker and it also burns more efficiently. Saab estimate a 20 per cent gain in brake horsepower and a 16 per cent boost to torque.

There's little doubt that Saab has worked hard to improve many aspects of the 9-3 and that it's getting very close to the point where it can start to think about taking on premium German rivals on their own terms. Smarter looks, a wide range of more efficient diesels and the introduction of four-wheel drive models that will permit more powerful engines - all these things have helped. But does it make the 9-3 a car you should consider right now?

The BioPower models most certainly. The more frugal 180bhp TTiD model is also interesting but is priced quite highly. In fact, we'd suggest that the 9-3 becomes a more convincing proposition the less you spend, with the more tightly priced 1.8T and 2.0T models and the entry-level diesels really offering a great deal for your money. Trying one before you buy something apparently more prestigious could be a canny move.