First Drive Review
What's that? You miss the Saab hatchback? It's understandable-after all, it's Saab's signature style, one that describes everything from old 99s and 90s to more recent 900s and first-generation 9-3s.
So when Saab introduced the second-gen 9-3 in 2002 without a hatch, it was puzzling, to say the least. Saab pointed to the stigma associated with the body style in America, as well as strong sales of the 9-5, its flagship sedan that replaced the 9000 hatchback. Now, with the 9-3 entering its fourth year of duty, and with its sales stagnant, it's time for some old-school flair.
The new SportCombi is classified as a wagon, but its fifth door works like a hatch. In fact, Saab designers incorporated a steeply raked backlight, forward-angled "hockey stick" D-pillars, and high-mounted taillamps to create the hatchback look. Plus, there's no roof rack or noticeable B- and C-pillars.
This wagon is based on the 9-3 sedan, sharing that wheelbase, front and rear tracks, and bodywork from the B-pillars forward. Structurally, reinforcements were made to the base of the C-pillars, and new substructures were integrated to connect the C- and D-pillars to the roof, floor, and rear bodywork, making the wagon nearly as stiff as the sedan.
Besides the striking shape, the SportCombi's hole card is a new 2.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 that delivers 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All that power and twist are accompanied by a very smooth demeanor, raspy exhaust note, and negligible turbo lag and torque steer. Our only quibbles with the SportCombi were its numb steering and sloppy-shifting six-speed manual. You might want to consider the seamless and speedy six-speed manumatic. Saab's familiar 210-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder will be offered as well.
The 9-3 SportCombi goes on sale this fall. Saab hopes to sell 3000 a year, priced from about $27,000 for the 2.0-liter to $33,000 for the 2.8, or about four grand less than comparably equipped Audi A4 Avants.
This vehicle should satisfy all those Saabites who feel a Saab with a trunk is not really a Saab at all.
