2011 Saab 9-3

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Rating9.1

Ranked #1 in 

Compact Sedan
Write Review
$28,900 - $45,080
Starting Price 

Year

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on September 26, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Cavernous cargo space

Modest power delivery from the turbocharged inline-4 engine

It gets no new changes for 2011

Comfy front seats

Rough ride quality on bad roads

Decent safety ratings

Lacks some modern tech features

Interior quality is not up to the mark

Specs & Features

$32,395

price

210 hp @ 5500 rpm

horsepower

221 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

torque

6-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl AWD 6A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2011 Saab 9-3 Sedan is a compact sedan offered in 2 trims, starting off at a base MSRP of $28,900. For that price, it mainly competes with a bit more expensive Audi A4 Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, and the Mercedes Benz C-Class Sedan. Between 2 trims, the Saab 9-3 Sedan offers 2 transmissions. It is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine making 210 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. However, there is a choice between a 5-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission The 9-3 Sedan reaches 60 mph from zero in 8.3 seconds. Depending on the transmission, the 9-3 Sedan can manage a combined fuel economy between 21 and 24 mpg. While we’re on the topic of choices, the 5 striking colors the 9-3 Sedan comes in really pull you towards itself.

Buying Advice

Our pick is indeed the top-range Aero trim which adds quite a lot of laudable features like the adaptive xenon headlamps, two-tone leather upholstery, heated front seats, eight-way power passenger seat, sunroof, Bose surround-sound system, and a lot more features.

Trims

    Base
    $28,900 onwards
    • 17-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Driver Lumbar support
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Fog/Driving lights
    • Heated mirrors
    • Leather Seat trim
    • Rain sensing windsheild wiper
    • Remote keyless entry
    Aero
    $35,340 onwards
    • 11 speakers premium audio system
    • Adaptive xenon headlights
    • Auto-Dimming side mirrors
    • Driver memory functions
    • Rear parking sensors
    X
    $36,975 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl AWD 6A
    • Horsepower: 210 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 221 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9.2 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 21 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$28,900- $45,080

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

9.14

Horsepower

210 hp @ 5500 rpm

Torque

221 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$29,610- $38,250

Gasoline

8.5

201 hp @ 7000 rpm

172 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$32,300- $36,300

Gasoline

8.34

211 hp @ 5300 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

$34,600- $59,650

Gasoline

8.55

230 hp @ 6500 rpm

200 lb.-ft. @ 2750 rpm

5

Read Review

$16,525- $22,225

Gasoline

7.88

136 hp @ 6300 rpm

123 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

5

Read Review

$16,640- $19,670

Gasoline

7.96

140 hp @ 6000 rpm

136 lb.-ft. @ 4250 rpm

5

Read Review

$13,200- $17,500

Gasoline

7.68

120 hp @ 6350 rpm

112 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,605- $25,490

Gasoline

8.05

140 hp @ 6300 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$14,945- $20,195

Gasoline

7.97

148 hp @ 6500 rpm

131 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

5

Read Review

$37,400- $44,750

Gasoline

7.1

328 hp @ 7000 rpm

269 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm

5

Read Review

2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    2011 Saab 9-3

    Ranked #7

    7.4 sec--
    4.7 sec12.8 sec170 mph
    5.2 sec13.9 sec-
    5.3 sec13.6 sec-
    5.5 sec13.8 sec-
    5.7 sec14.2 sec130 mph

    2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      2011 Saab 9-3

      Ranked #8

      21 mpg31 mpg24 mpg16.4 gal.344.4/508.4 mi.
      29 mpg37 mpg32 mpg16 gal.336/444 mi.
      28 mpg38 mpg32 mpg12.8 gal.358.4/486.4 mi.
      28 mpg35 mpg31 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/462 mi.
      22 mpg36 mpg30 mpg15.6 gal.405.6/561.6 mi.
      25 mpg34 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.343.2/448.8 mi.

      2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        2011 Saab 9-3

        Ranked #5

        182.9 in.70.9 in.57.1 in.5.9 in.105.3 in.
        187.9 in.69.8 in.57.2 in.5.1 in.112.2 in.
        187.9 in.69.8 in.57.8 in.4.9 in.112.2 in.
        187.9 in.69.8 in.57.8 in.4.9 in.112.2 in.
        187.9 in.69.8 in.57.2 in.5.1 in.112.2 in.
        185.6 in.72.4 in.56.7 in.4.3 in.106.4 in.

        2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          2011 Saab 9-3

          Ranked #15

          15 cu.ft.-15 cu.ft.
          14.7 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.217.3 cu.ft.
          12 cu.ft.90.9 cu.ft.6 cu.ft.
          15.5 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.168 cu.ft.
          2011 Mazda 3

          Ranked #4

          11.8 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.95.2 cu.ft.
          12.8 cu.ft.85.1 cu.ft.65.7 cu.ft.

          2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            2011 Saab 9-3

            Ranked #1

            15 cu.ft.15 cu.ft.15 cu.ft.-
            -13.1 cu.ft.--
            13.6 cu.ft.14.8 cu.ft.13.6 cu.ft.-
            68.6 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.-
            168 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.168 cu.ft.-
            70 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.70 cu.ft.-

            2011 Saab 9-3 vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              2011 Saab 9-3

              Ranked #4

              --3440 lbs.
              2000 lbs.1157 lbs.3075 lbs.
              1500 lbs.-2734 lbs.
              1000 lbs.850 lbs.3400 lbs.
              1000 lbs.1219 lbs.3102 lbs.
              2011 Audi A4

              Ranked #4

              -1058 lbs.3527 lbs.

              Top Saab Cars

              2011 Saab 9-5

              Horsepower : 220 hp @ 5300 rpm

              MPG Combined : 20 mpg

              0-60 : 9.2 sec

              #1

              2011 Saab 9-3

              Horsepower : 210 hp @ 5500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 24 mpg

              0-60 : 7.4 sec

              #2