Saab’s most important upgrade to the 2006 9-3 is the new 250-horsepower, 2.8-liter, high-output turbo V6 engine. Power delivery from the almost entirely aluminum V6 can only be described as exceptionally smooth and responsive. A water-cooled, twin-scroll turbocharger delivers nine pounds of boost and 258 lb.-ft. of torque through the front wheels, and the engine feels like it has more than the 250 stated horsepower. This new engine is a vast improvement over the old 210-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that was previously available.

Power is run through a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. A large, easy-to-read LED displays gear selection front and center on the instrument panel in case you experience short-term memory loss or just get caught up in the excitement of the drive.

A lot of attention was paid to chassis stiffness, and it shows. Engineers have done a commendable job eliminating cowl shake on the Saab 9-3. The chassis is very stiff and showed no shake or flex worth mentioning, even over some very rough roads along our route, thanks to substantial reinforcement of the A-pillars for safety purposes. An all electric, three-layer top keeps things quiet and cozy during inclement weather and can be raised and lowered in just twenty seconds.

Engineers chose to stick with a tried-and-true hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering setup. Brakes are four-wheel-disc with ABS, EBD, and MBA (mechanical brake assist), and the Aero models get ventilated front and rear rotors. Traction and stability control are also standard, and the Saab 9-3 rolls on both 16-inch (standard) or 17-inch (Aero) alloy wheels equipped with all-season tires. Suspension is comprised of MacPherson struts, gas shocks and an anti-roll bar up front while at the rear an independent four-link suspension with gas shocks and an anti-roll bar work with Saab’s Re-Axs rear-wheel steering geometry.

Like many Saabs before it, the 9-3 gets a plethora of safety equipment. Standard dual front airbags, two-stage side-impact airbags, reinforced A-pillars, pop-up roll bars, and active front head restraints start off the list. Then add traction control, stability control, ABS with brake assist, and Cornering Brake Control (CBC).