Review of the new Saab 9-3 Sportwagon Range

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'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 122g/km of CO2 to keep your tax bill down and eke out nearly 62mpg 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.

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.

"Smart load carrying features, a usefully proportioned cargo area and unsullied driving dynamics."

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.

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.

Like the Sport Saloon and Convertible models, the Wagon is one of the best-looking cars in its class, the tight overhangs and chunky proportioning giving it a real presence and the latest models also feature the clamshell bonnet with all external rubbing strips removed to give a cleaner look. 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.

Sportwagon prices sit in the £23,000 to £30,000 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 Turbo Edition to Vector Sport and Aero, plus there's a slightly more SUV-looking 9-3X model. Even the base 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.

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 122g/km and exceptionally low combined cycle fuel consumption of 61.4 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.

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 is still a Swede 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.