01/22/2007
By Mike Blake
Carlisle Events
Initialese is in vogue in the car world. It seems that you can’t talk about vehicles without throwing in rpm, a/c, ABS, or AWD; trims such as LT, XLT, R/T or SS; all-initial models such as XLR, STS or HHR, or dozens of car names that have been modified to become alpha-numeric, such as H3, Z06 or G6 GTP. Car genres have also been reduced to initials such as SUV and SUT. Well, there’s a new group of initials on the block: CUV, or cross-over utility vehicle.
With Swedish styling and GM marketing, the 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero Sport Combi is a bona fide CUV. It is a crossover utility vehicle that merges the size and feel of a sportwagon, with some of the attributes of a sports-ute. And true to the Saab influence, this beauty still handles like a car.
The SportCombi places Saab into the premium mid-size wagon segment, though it is categorized on the sticker as a small wagon. This sturdy, sporty 5-door is a versatile ride that joins the Aero sedan in a 9-3 family that is certain to appeal to young, young-married and experienced drivers alike.
On a recent test from Mid-Pennsylvania to Detroit and back, across highways, city streets and some gentle off-road spots, through sun, rain and light snow and ice, my test 9-3 handled the elements and the conditions with safe, true, solid handling. It behaved much more carlike than wagonesque and with much more subtlety than one generally finds in a sports-ute. Yet this vehicle is sturdy enough and with enough safety features to rank among the best in accident prevention and after-the-incident protection.
On that Midwest trek from Central Penn to the Detroit Auto Show, my Laser Red test vehicle averaged about 22.8mpg. The 9-3’s suspension even handled the notoriously rough Detroit roads with style and grace. From the Motor City’s pothole-ridden surface streets to its highways in need of repaving, the Aero took what Motown dished out and rode on assuredly.
On the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds autocross track, I took a Chambersburg, PA radio executive for a spin and my passenger was exhilarated by the experience and the handling – and that wasn’t even a full-out test. Later, I took on the track alone, at 100 percent, and I found that the Saab’s center of gravity is low and stable. Its cornering is as precise as most passenger cars on the market; certainly better than the average sportwagon, with little yaw and lots of road-stickiness. Continental ContiPro Contact all-season tires with 17-inch alloy wheels, power assist with rack and pinion steering, sport tuned suspension, cornering brake control and electronic stability program are all standard and all come into play to create a very smooth, confident ride.
At $36,560, though, Saab could have benefited from a navi system, especially when MapQuest didn’t precisely name several Detroit suburb offramps as we headed to a Southfield hotel. Still, that $36,500 price tag (the car base-prices for $33,375) included a ton of standard items.
It all starts with the efficient 2.8-liter 6-cylinder engine that pumps out 250 hp and 258 lbs.-ft. of torque. It is a system that gets you an EPA rating of 18mpg/hwy and 28mpg/city and my full weeklong test garnered about 22.5mpg. At a curb weight of 3350 pounds, the engine setup was powerful enough to propel me from zero to 60mph in a flick under 7 seconds and a quarter-mile run in the mid-15s – far better than an average sportwagon is expected to achieve.
Also included as standard in the 182.5-inch long 9-3 SportCombi are such safety and security items as driver and front passenger front air bag, driver and front passenger torso side airbag, front and rear passenger side curtain air bag, Saab head restraints in front, anti-lock braking system, mechanical brake assist, anti-submarining seat feature, front and rear crumple zones, anti-theft alarm and a rear window defogger that was very useful during my cold, nasty-weather trip to and from Michigan.
Comfort and convenience items that are standard in the base package include, automatic climate control with cabin air filter, Saab profiler with information display, multi-function computer, 300-watt AM/FM stereo with 6-CD changer (we also had XM radio for entertainment), power windows, power-heated outside mirrors, wide-angle passenger side mirror, power door locks, multi-function electronic key, leather steering wheel with audio controls, adjustable steering wheel, rake and reach, leather-appointed dual power sport front seats, metallic interior trim, projector beam xenon headlamps and an adapting, “Follow Me Home” headlight function.
Options on my test Saab included front heated seats, and headlamp washers for $550; On-Star for $695; and the Touring package for $1195, which includes driver’s seat three-position memory, remote opening for front power windows and moonroof, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass and integrated garage door opener, rear parking assist and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Whether you call it a sportwagon or CUV, and whether you use the 9-3 numbers or the Aero SportCombi name, this Saab is athletic-looking, stable, safe and quite a ride at the price. It’s worthy of a strong look in its niche.
Visit www.carlisleevents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
MIKE BLAKE, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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