Out of the shadows

The Saab 9-3 is perhaps not the first car that springs to mind when deciding which convertible to buy.

For a long time, this sporty-yet-classic-looking car has been in the background, waiting to emerge from the shadows of its more fashionable rivals such as the BMW 3-series convertible, Audi A4 cabriolet and Volvo C70.

But now, with the arrival of the updated Aero model, 2008 could just be the 9-3's year. Saab believes this car has the greatest advances it has ever made thanks to its "new levels of sophistication in design, comfort, safety and performance". And the facelift is hard to miss. The sleek appearance on the outside continues through to the combination grey/black leather seats and a comfortable cabin that provides plenty of space in the front, although there is little legroom in the back.

Still, all the controls are easy to navigate with a thoughtful night-vision switch for the display panel that allows all but the speedometer to be blacked out if desired. There is also a quirky twist in that the ignition is located in the transmission tunnel between the front seats. The hand brake also folds down to the left in line with the edge of the panel making everything appear that bit tidier.

More akin to middle-aged businessmen, this nippy convertible, which delivers a non-too-shabby 255bhp, will appeal to a whole new generation looking for a four-seat car with attitude. And attitude it delivers in abundance.

Placing the driver's seat close to the road also gives it that extra sporty feel and thanks to some tweaking both under and above the bonnet, the 9-3 is enjoying itself now and taking its place in the cabriolet spotlight.

The turbo-charged six-cylinder engine makes this car a dream either in traffic or on the open road since there is enough power to outaccelerate most of the competition, reaching 100kph in an impressive 7.7 seconds.

On the downside, put it in manual mode and even the ease of the tiptronic controls do not make it a pleasant drive. Gone are the smooth gear changes to be replaced by jerky jolts that leave both the driver and passengers falling forward every time it goes up or down the gearbox.

The car also has a tendency to shake slightly when the driver is looking for a quick get away leaving the impression one is not fully in control. It does sort itself out as it moves up the gears, but nevertheless is slightly unnerving when there are cars in the lanes either side of you.

The roof comes down in a rapid 20 seconds with just a touch of a button next to the steering wheel and can be operated at up to 30kph, which is handy for those times when the intense sun gets too much while stuck in a jam. But even when driving with the roof up, it can sometimes feel like it is not on properly, thanks to the noise that permeates through the material, leaving me constantly checking that the windows had been properly closed. While visibility with the roof down is obviously second to none, the wide rear supporting panels coupled with the narrow rear windscreen made the wing mirrors a vital accessory as the blind spot becomes more like a total side eclipse. Thankfully the 9-3 comes with an invaluable rear parking sensor.

Not surprisingly, the boot is dramatically reduced when driving with the roof down, but as with most cars there are always compromises to make and in the case of the 9-3, this is it. While the current weather might not be suitable to open-top driving, the winter is when it will come into its own. Some may say there is more noise than necessary when the roof is off, but Saab gives drivers the option of buying a wind deflector that fits behind the front seats that not only reduces cabin noise by up to 50 per cent but also cuts down on turbulence – making wind swept hair a thing of the past. Until that is possible, it will be roof up all the way.

But fear not, while other cabriolets can make their occupants feel squashed when the roof is on, this Saab is a class apart, and there is ample headroom for all.

Bear in mind though the power and unquestionable ability of this car does come at a price, and even by the UAE's cheap fuel costs, it is still considerable. During urban driving the computer informed me I was using 14.9 litres of petrol per 100km. Avid fans will no doubt overlook this, but this means visiting the filling station will be more of a frequent occurrence than other cars in its class.

Yet the Swedish manufacturers have put a huge emphasis on safety this time around with rear pop-up roll bars, strengthened A-pillars and automatic seat-belt pretensioning. But given how the 9-3 grips the road as it veers round corners, a driver would have to be going flat out before they would need to make use of them. In the event of this happening, though, there is the added assurance that the multiple side and front airbags will no doubt do their job.

Now in its second generation, the 9-3 gets more attractive with each model Saab produces. This latest 2008 model has been inspired by some of the style points of the Aero X concept car, namely the central grille and wing motif. Add on the wrap around headlights and the front end has something of a futuristic look about it.

The 9-3 might not be a family car, but it is certainly one that should be on your test-drive list. Yes, it is a guzzler, but how often does a car tick every box? Probably not very often, and this one indiscretion can be overlooked for the sheer fun that comes with driving Saab's latest model.

Competitors

Audi A4 Cabriolet: The exterior looks of the A4 Cabriolet match what is happening under the bonnet to make it a tough choice against the 9-3.

BMW 3 series convertible: Converting to a metal roof has made the 3 series convertible a bit nondescript, but once behind the wheel it has BMW's usual high-class refinement.

Volvo C70: The C70 has lots of space but is not the most inspiring car to drive thanks to its sluggish engine and uneconomic performance.