Vehicles: 2004 Saab 9-3 2.0T Arc with sports wheel pkg with 5-speed stick and Aero with 6-speed stick
Price as tested: CDN$43450 (Arc) CDN$43900 (Aero)

Performance: Both the 9-3 Arc and Aero are powered by Saab’s venerable high-pressure turbo that has 210hp and 221 lb/ft of torque. This powerplant feels more peppy and responsive than the low-pressure unit we tested in base Linear model. There is no turbo lag when the turbo starts to spool up somewhere around 2500 rpm. Its not only more responsive than the base unit, its also more refined and flexible to rev. Both the 5 and 6-speed stick shifts are a joy to drive with good ratios, well-defined gears and easy-to-find gates. These are probably the best stick shifts Saab has ever produced. They feel far better than the heavy and ungainly units in previous Saabs. While the clutch grabbing point is high in the Arc, their clutches remain light and progressive.

Handling: There are 2 suspension settings in both Arc and Aero. While the Arc is tuned more toward comfort, Aero has a sportier setting tuned for more enthuisastic driving. Aero’s sports setting is very impressive, indeed. It combines an aggressive suspension tuning that is great for enthuisasts when pushing through twisties without sacificing the ride comfort through the use of the proper spring rates. Both steering are precise, responsive and provide plenty of driver feedback. The result is one of the best handling/ride compromise the other side of German sports sedans. As for Arc, it has a more comfortable ride given softer springs and shocks. However, its cornering prowess remains top-notch even with softer setting. Aero has fewer body rolls and understeers than Arc, as expected. 9-3′s ESP is also an exceptional system, as it won’t intervene by braking an offending wheel until the vehicle goes extremely crazy in a curve.

Brakes: Combine 4-wheel discs, ABS and brake force distribution, 9-3′s pedal feel is nothing short of astounsing. The stopping distance is short while the pedal feels solid and effort balanced.

Interior: 9-3′s interior is truly a driver’s environment. The cockpit design has given out an atmosphere that put driver in the first place with everything else logically placed. The analog instrumentation gauges are clear and analog. Both the stereo and auto climate control are easy to figure out. Latter is a very effective system that can cool the interior very fast in a hot day. The Infotainment system is easy to use with a few buttons by checking fuel economy and distance-to-empty. While the standard seats in the Arc already provide exceptional comfort, Aero’s sports seats are simply awesome. Rear seat has more than adequate head and legrooms. However, there is one minor pet peeve. This pet peeve is belong to Arc’s wood trim. While this light wood is very high-quality, it looks out of place in an interior of a 9-3.

Conclusion: When I test drove the Linear a while ago, I already very impressed with its dynamic abilities. With the introduction of the more powerful 210hp 2.0T engine, it simply transformed 9-3 into an extremely good car into a great car.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2004 SAAB 9-3 2.0T ARC/AERO
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Performance: 4.75/5 (Arc) 4.75/5 (Aero)
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.5/5 (Arc) 5/5 Aero
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.75/5 (Arc) 4.75 (Aero)
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5 (Arc) 4.75/5 (Aero)
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4.25/5 (Arc) 4.25/5 (Aero)
Value-for-money: 4/5 (Arc) 5/5 (Aero)

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (Arc) 4.75/5 (Aero)