First Drive Review
The 2008 Saab Turbo X, the first 9-3 model equipped with all-wheel drive, eclipses the Aero as Saab’s top-of-the-line 9-3. A limited run of 600 will be sold in the U.S. as a four-door sedan and five-door wagon. And in homage to Saab turbos of yesteryear, the Turbo X comes in just one color: Jet Black Metallic.
At the heart of the X is a more powerful version of the Aero’s turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6. It makes 280 horsepower in the X, 25 more than in the Aero, by increasing its turbo boost from 8.7 psi to 11.6 psi. The suspension is stiffened—almost rigid when compared with the base car—and the body is lowered nearly a half-inch. Brake-rotor diameters grow to 13.6 inches in front and 11.5 inches in the rear, an increase of 1.8 and 0.1, respectively, over the Aero. The interior has some carbon-fiber-looking trim and a retro boost gauge. We especially liked the thicker, leather-wrapped steering wheel. A six-speed manual transmission is standard; the optional six-speed automatic costs $1350.
The all-wheel-drive system, called XWD, primarily drives the front wheels; when necessary, a wet-clutch pack engages the rear axle. The Turbo X is also fitted with an electronic limited-slip rear differential (eLSD) that actively manages the torque split side to side. XWD is currently optional only on 9-3 Aeros; it will be optional on all 9-3s for 2009. Buyers wanting all-wheel drive in the step-up 9-5 model must wait until fall.
Although the Saab’s front-drive architecture is usually a recipe for understeer, the XWD and the eLSD do an effective job of masking this trait. Playful oversteer is easily invoked with simple throttle modulation.
Turbo X sedans start at $42,510; add $800 for the SportCombi wagon. At those prices, the Turbo X is by no means the deal of the year, especially with faster cars such as the $41,575 BMW 335xi on the market. But exclusivity always carries a premium, and Saab loyalists will likely snap up the whole lot.
