Saab 9-3 Convertible

Our verdict

One of those rare occasions where the convertible might make more sense than the saloon. Roof-down motoring suits the wafty nature of the 9-3, and the ride’s not bad, too.

Comfort

Rides soft, but that’s no bad thing in a convertible. Plenty more space on the back seats than most drop-top four-seaters, too.

Performance

Even with the big 2.8-litre V6, the 9-3 convertible is a gentle drive. Go for one of the light pressure turbo engines and embrance the waft.

Cool

Pretty much as cool as any product of the GM stable can be. Imagine a leggy Scando-blonde cruising through the Alps in one and you’ll see why.

Quality

There is a slight old-school GM feel of wobbliness about some bits of the interior, but this car is fundamentally solid and they've had years of practice screwing them together. No worries.

Handling

The more powerful the engine fitted the less satisfactory: you get wheelspin and torque steer and general fuzziness. It can cope with the diesels and lower-power petrols well enough, especially if the roads are smooth and open. Losing the roof adds a bit of unwanted scuttle, but we’ve seen worse.

Practicality

More passenger room than many of the convertible crew, but naturally you lose out in the bootspace department.

Running costs

Saab is getting more and more folded in with GM, which means close-to-Vauxhall servicing prices, a good thing. Low initial prices mean low absolute depreciation too, and some of the engines are pretty economical for their performance.