Think Saab saloons and the brand image is a mixed one. Hugely safe, massively well built and stonkingly quick they may have traditionally been, but many buyers were deterred by styling best described as quirky. The Saab 9-5 changed all that and the 9-3 Sports Saloon has taken the baton and run with it. Indeed, the junior Saab is now one of the better looking cars in the junior executive sector, especially in light of the latest facelift. Now that the Swedish marque has exorcised the demon of dodgy design, can they clean up in this competitive corner of the market? The 175bhp 2.0t models are attracting significant interest, so it is to these that we turn for answers.

The old 9-3 made something of a speciality out of offering more performance per pound than anything from Germany could muster. True, build quality and chassis dynamics were often a couple of notches down on the Teutonic big three of BMW, Mercedes and Audi but in terms of sheer power, the Germans couldn't hold a candle to the Saab. Thing was, buyers wanted more than a big wallop in the back. They wanted silky good looks, impeccable fit and finish and a chassis to match the class best. Saab listened and came back with the 9-3 Sport Saloon.

"When it comes to junior executive cars, as with anything else, you get what you pay for."

The philosophy of big power continues, due in no small part to the predominantly turbocharged engine line-up. Here we look at the mid-range 2.0t engine, which develops a not inconsiderable 175bhp and is available in BioPower form able to run on unleaded or renewable E85 BioEthanol.

The ride and handling of the 9-3 are better than any previous mid range Saab model. Just when you think the ride has been optimised for high-speed cruising, the Saab's suspension shows that it knows what to do when presented with a corner. It deploys its power noticeably better than Saabs of yore as well. The sprint to 60mph will detain you for 8.2 seconds and the top speed of 138mph is accompanied by some tyre noise but surprisingly little wind or engine roar.

Things are a little less clear cut for the 2.0t models when it comes to running costs. There's a price to be paid for all that grunt and it comes at the pumps, the Saab averaging 33.2mpg, which is significantly worse than comparative BMW and Audi models. Resale values can't quite compete with the Germans (though they're not far off) and a CO2 emission figure of 206g per kilometre renders the 9-3 a little expensive for the corporate user. The antidote to all this is the BioPower version which delivers a power boost to 200bhp as well as greatly reducing CO2 emissions.

The 2.0t and 2.0t Biopower engines are only offered in plush Vector Sport trim. All 9-3 models feature cruise control, a trip computer, dual-zone climate control, tinted windows and a punchy Saab audio system as standard but the Vector Sport which supplements this with the sports chassis, stability control and a sports steering wheel. Buyers seeking extra practicality can also opt for the SportWagon estate model and there's also the sleek convertible to bear in mind.

All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on themes from the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There's a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass. Inside, there's a more muted effect with less silver plastic.

The cabin of the 9-3 remains resolutely Saab with all the controls angled towards the perpetually grinning pilot. The 9-3 Sports Saloon features a dash that's more upright than Dixon of Dock Green, the ignition next to the handbrake and a cupholder mechanism that can reduce design students to hushed reverence. Safety provision runs to active head restraints plus front, side and curtain airbags.

The latest 2.0t Saab 9-3 is certainly a better proposition than before and one that's well worth further investigation. The 175bhp engine serves up the goods but the BioPower option looks an even better bet if you have an E85 retailer in your area and you'll be surprised how many of them there are. Whoever reckoned that if something looked good it probably was good might well have been a 9-3 driver at heart.

TOP 5 9-3 DEALS

The results below show the top 9-3 deals on buyacar

	Saab 9-3 1.8t Vector Sport 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £389	Saving £5,493	Price £19,947
	Saab 9-3 1.8t Vector Sport 4dr BioPower Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £5,629	Price £20,396
	Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector Sport 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £384	Saving £5,452	Price £19,808
	Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector Sport 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £408	Saving £5,759	Price £20,851
	Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector Sport 4dr BioPower Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £5,588	Price £20,257

typical 11.65% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000