STRANGELY Saab didn’t have a mid-sized estate car until the 9-3 SportWagon was unveiled in 2005. Its introduction was no doubt welcomed by the many motorists who have a fondness for the Swedish brand renowned for doing things a little differently. The 9-3 is characterised by a simple but stylish elegance and a degree of individuality which help set it apart. It has its work cut out competing against premium rivals from the likes of Audi and BMW but one of its big pluses is that space has not been eschewed in favour of style. You get plenty of load-lugging capacity (419/1,273 litres), an impressive amount of space compared to some of its rivals. Its looks might err more towards the chunky than the svelte but overall it is a good combination of style and practicality. Travelling in any Saab is always enhanced by the level of comfort offered, with figure-hugging seats that feel as if they’ve been made to measure, ensuring any journey, long or short, is a pleasant experience. The in-car ergonomics, another Saab trademark, are a bonus too. Maybe it’s down to the company’s historical involvement in aircraft manufacturing but all Saab fascias still have that asymmetric style where everything seems to have been designed around the driver, a bit like the cockpit of a fighter jet. In an age where cars seem to becoming increasingly homogenous, it is always refreshing to step into a Saab. The marque is characterised by quality and solidity that ensure a premium feel throughout. The switchgear is second to none and the build quality reassuringly rock solid. There are also those Scandinavian design touches that give it that sophistication and style - even the handbrake looks like a great deal of thought has gone into it. For sheer performance the petrol-powered 2.8-litre turbo is the pick of the range but it is rather thirsty and expensive too. Diesel options are more tempting, as is the BioPower version I tested, a 1.8-litre unit which is the smaller of two variants. The dual fuel or flex fuel technology means the car can run on either petrol or a bioethanol/petrol mix, with bioethanol consisting of up to 85 per cent of the mix. Using bioethanol can reduce CO2 emissions over the lifespan of a vehicle by between 50 and 70 per cent. Interestingly the bio fuel also improves the car’s performance as a result of a higher octane rating for the biofuel - E85. If you do go for the BioPower option it won’t set you back too much more and you’ll also benefit from a lower company car tax bracket. The current 9-3 underwent a makeover in 2008 and still looks fairly fresh and modern. It might fall short of some of its premium rivals when it comes to driving dynamics but it still represents a decent alternative to the both premium and mainstream estates. FAST FACTS Saab 9-3 SportWagon Linear SE 1.8t BioPower Price: £24,240 Mechanical: 175bhp 1,998cc 6cyl petrol/bioethanol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 131mph 0-60mph: 8.2 seconds Combined mpg: 37.2 Insurance group: 14 CO2 emissions: 181g/km BIK rating: 22% Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000miles | 
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