Saab 9-3X 2.0T road test
Launched at the 2009 Geneva motorshow, the Saab 9-3X is the latest addition to the 9-3 range and, according to Saab, it’s ‘aimed at people with active outdoor lifestyles who don’t want a large and heavy SUV or crossover’. However, it may also suit rural couch potatoes with a long, muddy drive…
The 9-3X is available with a 180hp 1.9 TTiD diesel with front-wheel-drive or with a turbocharged petrol engine with 4WD, or in Saab speak, XWD (Cross Wheel Drive). The 4-cyl 2.0T motor makes 210PS at 5,300rpm along with 221lb/ft (300Nm) of torque at 2,500rpm, and it can accelerate to 60mph in 8.2 secs and reach a top speed of 143mph. Although on the road the 2.0T doesn’t feel explosively powerful, there’s always sufficient grunt to deal with gradients or overtaking without frequent stirring of the 6-speed manual transmission. This engine is also quiet and refined, and thankfully that old Saab turbo lag bugbear is now history.
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The £25,995 (otr) 9-3X comes well-equipped with heated front seats, rear park assist, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and trip computer, although the satnav, Bluetooth, dual electric seats, rain sensing wipers, tinted glass and more on my test car bumped that up to almost £29,400. Fuel consumption is 34.9mpg combined, with CO2 at 194g/km (tax band J, £215 road tax for 2009/10) and group 15 insurance. Service intervals are at 18,000m with a 3yr/60,000m warranty. If you need a 4×4 but don’t want the green brigade pointing its righteous finger at you, then the XWD 9-3X is definitely worth a look.
Read the full Saab 9-3X 2.0T road test
RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.
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