Saab 9-3 Convertible

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.