| Road Test Saab 9-3 TiD 150 Vector Sport Wagon Automatic |
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Little To Fault
From the outset there's something tactile and immediate about the driver feedback from this Swedish reworking of Vauxhall's Vectra floorpan that makes it come alive on a demanding road. Like its Sport Saloon sister the car is good, but tacking on a handsome cargo space awakened wonderful memories of Saab 900 Combis estate models. The 9-3 Sport Wagon is a worthy successor. It's the ideal Saab – practical, well-built, economical, powerful and great to drive on a twisty road. Where the saloon's appeal tails off the Sport Wagon picks up with a sensible estate rear end that helps the car's chunky style and delivers a thoroughly sensible all-round executive machine. Well-designed, with a feeling of solidity, superb comfort and excellent ergonomics, the car has little touches of genius like the elegant dashboard drinks holder that folds magnificently out of an impossibly small slot below the radio and a second cup restrainer that flips down into a central console storage tray. Then there's the "Night Panel" switch that darkens the dash at night to leave only the vital speed readout visible.
Seating and safety are in a league of their own. The 9-3 is strong with multi airbag protection, electronic handling devices and progressive ABS disc brakes. The seats offer outstanding support and are great over long distances.
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