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15/07/2011
REVIEW By DEREK OGDEN & EWAN KENNEDY
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Saab, the proud Swedish aircraft and automobile marque is undergoing a revival worldwide and nowhere more so than in Australia. Our week’s review of the Saab 9-3X Sport Wagon reminded us of the strengths of a car company that continues to take a different line to others.
In 2010, Spyker Cars of The Netherlands became the new owner of Saab Automobile AB, finalising its purchase from General Motors and has linked up with Chinese financiers to continue working on new models.
Saab’s Australian importers say, “The 9-3X is ‘the first all-rounder design in the premium mid-market segment … a lively alternative to conventional large crossover and SUV options.
The company’s design chief, Simon Padian, visited Australia as part of the relaunch of Saab, and says, “We are offering a trekking shoe that will do what’s required in more comfort and style than a mountaineering boot.”
The ‘Saab-ness’ of the 9-3X stands out in front with its chiselled radiator grille and flat bonnet. A raised chassis, a short overhang and 17-inch wheels prepare the wagon for minor skirmishes off the bitumen, while skid plates front and back make any skirmishes survivable.
Twin exhaust tailpipes flanking the rear guard hint at a more sporty demeanour than in the typical crossover.
Saab EcoPower is the philosophical starting point of the powertrain and has been for many years with other makers only now discovering the benefits of turbocharging as a means of delivering power with economy.
The Saab 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine puts out 154 kW of power at 5300 rpm and 300 Nm of torque over a nice spread that runs from 2500 to 4000 revs.
Typically, the Saab will use about eight to nine litres of petrol per hundred kilometres on the highway and nine to eleven litres around town.
A six-speed automatic transmission and the patented Saab XWD cross-wheel drive system, which varies power delivery between the axles, takes power to all four wheels. An optional rear limited-slip differential switches up to half the torque between the rear axles should you want to get more adventurous.
A passive rear-wheel steering system, known as RexAs, has the back wheels following in the tracks of the front instead of the car’s nose.
High-speed braking is tamed by the Saab rear suspension, which preloads the rear tyres, applying lateral forces.
All brake discs incorporate dust shields, ensuring braking is not hampered by a build-up of dust, mud or snow jamming the callipers.
Duty of care has been the Scandinavian motoring mantra for generations and Swedish car companies have embraced it like no others. So it is with Saab. The 9-3X puts great emphasis on safety.
The wagon walked away with a top five-star structural score in the EuroNCAP ratings. Passively, a swag of airbags – front, side and roof rail - cushions the effects of a smash, while active head restraints for driver and front seat passenger are standard.
Active safety features include electronic stability program and anti-skid brakes augmented by emergency brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and cornering brake control.
These systems find their way into many models across the board but the 9-3X goes a step further with ComSense, which manages the driver’s workload by briefly shutting down some dashboard warning messages when the system senses stress during rapid engaging of direction indicators, or heavy braking.
A Night Panel feature allows the driver to minimise distraction when on long dark stretches of Australian roads by switching off, or dimming, the main instrument illumination, except for important info such as speed.
On the inside of the spacious cabin, there is no mistaking the 9-3X Sport Wagon is a Saab. The ignition switch is a Trollhattan tradition, in beneath your left elbow on the centre console.
Based on the top-spec Aero model, there’s little to excite in cabin decor, although leather trim on supportive sports seats and steering wheel hint at class.
Unfussy, and readable, instruments are set out in a familiar fashion, while switches can be found in all the right places to be easily accessible to the driver. Finally, the car makes use of a fibre optics platform to deliver extensive entertainment functions.
Sluggish starting off becomes a languorous journey. An easy going trip with plenty of time for sightseeing. But push the button marked ‘S’ on the dashboard and the Saab 9-3X becomes a forceful Mr Hyde to its timid Dr Jekyll alter ego. The dawdling ‘Doc’ becomes a sprinter. Pedal response sharpens; gear shifts snap; the vehicle strides out and the steering wheel-mounted paddles encourage the driver to join in.
AT A GLANCE
Saab 9-3X XWD 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $59,800
Note: This price does not include government or dealer charges. Contact a Saab dealer for driveaway prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Saab 9-3X 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.998 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: NA
Bore/Stroke: NA
Maximum Power: 154 kW @ 5300 rpm
Maximum Torque: 300 Nm @ 2500-4000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4690 mm
Wheelbase: 2675 mm
Width: 1802 mm
Height: 1529 mm
Turning Circle: 12.3 metres
Kerb Mass: 1690-1840 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 61 litres
Towing Ability: 1550 kg with braked trailer
Boot Volume: 477 litres (1331 litres with rear seat backs lowered)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, coil springs, gas hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Four-link axle, coil springs, gas hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.6 seconds
Maximum speed: 220 km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 10.1 L/100km |
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