Saab 9-3 Convertible (03-11) - Review Review by David Ross on 09 June 2009 Last Updated: 23 February 2011 Saab has been building convertibles for many years but the concept has remained the same - a four-seat soft-top that can be used all the year round. The 9-3 Convertible is the company's most desirable model, helped by its neat styling and understated image. While folding hard-tops are becoming more widespread, the Saab's soft-top still impresses. It's fast acting, opening or closing in twenty seconds and at speeds of up to 20mph, plus it is highly insulated. However, the interior is a bit of a let down - there are too many buttons and it lacks the quality feel you'd expect in a premium car. In terms of driving it's not up to the standards of the best convertibles either. In 2007 it was given a notable facelift which brought a much sharper front end along with a more modern overall appearance. 3.5 out of 5 Other Saab reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery 3.5 out of 5 Summary Tweet New price range: £25,585 - £36,630 Used price range: £3,015 - £20,440 View all used prices Get a Saab 9-3 Convertible (03-11) information pack Next steps Saab 9-3 Convertible cars for sale Use our cars for sale search facility to find great deals on second hand cars. We have 117 models like this for sale, starting at £3,985. Find used Saab 9-3 Convertibles for sale Neatly styled, good range of engines, turbocharged performance, comfortable Interior lacks quality feel, not as refined as other convertibles, button-heavy dash Saab has been building convertibles for many years but the concept has remained the same - a four-seat soft-top that can be used all the year round. The 9-3 Convertible is the company's most desirable model, helped by its neat styling and understated image. While folding hard-tops are becoming more widespread, the Saab's soft-top still impresses. It's fast acting, opening or closing in twenty seconds and at speeds of up to 20mph, plus it is highly insulated. However, the interior is a bit of a let down - there are too many buttons and it lacks the quality feel you'd expect in a premium car. In terms of driving it's not up to the standards of the best convertibles either. In 2007 it was given a notable facelift which brought a much sharper front end along with a more modern overall appearance. Driving & Performance Performance 4 out of 5"All the engines offered in the 9-3 Convertible range are turbocharged, giving good performance and..." Handling 3 out of 5"Despite the lack of a roof, the body feels sturdy and resists the shake and flex that some..." Comfort Comfort 3 out of 5"The 9-3 is able to seat four adults, although rear legroom is tight as you'd expect. It can also..." Practicality 3 out of 5"With the roof down, you lose a fair amount of the boot's storage capacity, although you can still..." Equipment 4 out of 5"The 9-3 Convertible isn't especially cheap but all models are very well equipped and feature the..." Behind the wheel 3 out of 5"Saab is seen by many as an alternative to premium makes like BMW and Audi but the interior of the..." Costs Running costs 3 out of 5"Most of the engines, except for the 2.8-litre, offer decent economy considering the performance on..." Green credentials 2.5 out of 5"The 9-3 scores fairly badly on the eco front. With an average of 200g/km CO2 across the range, its..." Safety & Reliability Safety 4 out of 5"The 9-3 Convertible was the first car in its class to score five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests." Reliability 4 out of 5"Saab has a good reputation for reliability so you can expect the 9-3 Convertible to be generally..." Buying & Selling Buying new 2.5 out of 5"The 9-3 Convertible is Saab's most desirable model and so it can be more difficult to negotiate a..." Buying used 4 out of 5"Saabs normally have fairly weak residual values. On the Convertible they're stronger, so you'll have..." Selling 4 out of 5"Both dealers and private buyers alike will be eager to take a well cared for 9-3 Convertible off..." Gallery View full gallery Owners' reviews Used Saab 9-3 Convertible (03-11) 2.0T Aero 2d (5) 5 out of 5 “ For a convertible it has got a good sized boot, even when the roof is down you can still fit 2... ” George Boyd Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Saab 9-3 cars for sale We have 117 models like this for sale. Find Saab 9-3 cars for sale Next: Facts & Figures
Used Saab 9-3 Convertible (03-11) 2.0T Aero 2d (5) 5 out of 5 “ For a convertible it has got a good sized boot, even when the roof is down you can still fit 2... ” George Boyd