The Saab 9-3 is a midsize luxury-sport car made by Saab from Sweden. It shares platforms with the Opel Vectra. The drag coefficient is 0.28 (0.33 for the combi).  The car is actually badged as a 93, although Saab consistently advertises it as the 9-3. The name is pronounced "nine three". It should not be confused with the Saab 93.

1999-2003

The original 9-3 was a rebadged, improved last-generation Saab 900. Launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year, it featured slightly sleeker styling with a black rear spoiler and removed Saab's trademark centrally-mounted "snow flap". It was available as a three or five-door hatchback, and as a two-door convertible. This was the last small Saab to use the company's H engine. (Note for future, American market != whole world. All models were NOT turbocharged. The naturally aspirated two liter B204 and 205 were sold in europe and were quite popular especially in Finland where vehicle taxation is high.)

A high-powered, no longer in production version of the 9-3 was the Viggen, named after the Saab Viggen aircraft. It came with a turbocharged 2.3 L engine giving 230 hp ECE (169 kW). 0-100 km/h is done in 6.4 seconds and the top speed is 249 km/h.

Engines:

• 2.0 L B204 I4, 138 hp ECE (1998-1999)
• 2.0 L B204 I4, turbo, 185 hp ECE (136 kW) (1998-1999)
• 2.0 L B205 I4, turbo, 185 hp ECE (136 kW) (2000-2002)
• 2.0 L B205R I4, turbo, 205 hp ECE (151 kW) (1999-2003)
• 2.3 L B235R I4, turbo, 230 hp ECE (169 kW) (1999-2002)

A total of 326,370 were made.

2003-

The second-generation model was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2003.

All variants feature either a 1.8 L or 2.0 L straight-4 petrol engine derived from General Motors' Ecotec family, or a turbocharged 2.8 L High-Feature V6 (starting in 2006). There are two different versions of the turbo I4, with the amount of turbo boost determining the power output.

Power in the 9-3 is delivered through the front wheels only, in the Saab tradition. (Saab has always made front-wheel-drive cars, with some all-wheel-drive models in some years.) It is available as a four-door sedan, a wagon (introduced 2004, known as the Sport Combi) two-door convertible. It is the safest car in its class. Out of these models, the convertible (manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria beginning in 2003) is the best known, and is the best-selling in its class in many markets.

The 9-3 and the Opel Vectra were the first of General Motors's global Epsilon platform, which has now been lengthened to accommodate three new cousins, the Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu Maxx and the Pontiac G6.

A special "20 Years Edition Aero Convertible" for the U.S. market was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, 2006 to celebrate 20 years since the introduction of the 900 convertible.

Engines (No Diesel engines are available in North America):

• 2003- 2004 - 2.2 L Isuzu diesel I4, 125 hp
  2005- ... - 1.9 L Fiat diesel I4, 120 hp ECE (88 kW)
• 2005- ... - 1.9 L Fiat diesel I4, 150 hp ECE (110 kW)
• 2004- ... - 1.8 L Ecotec I4 122 hp ECE (90 kW)
• 2003- ... - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, light-pressure turbo, 150 hp ECE (110 kW)
• 2003- ... - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, light-pressure turbo, 175 hp ECE (129 kW)
• 2003- ... - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, high-output turbo, 210 hp ECE (154 kW)
• 2006- ... - 2.8 L HFV6 V6, light-pressure turbo, 230 hp ECE (169 kW)
• 2006- ... - 2.8 L HFV6 V6, turbo, 250 hp ECE (184 kW)

2008

The 9-3 will be replaced by a new model based on GM's Epsilon 2 platform, shared with the 2008 9-5. This vehicle will be built in Rüsselsheim, Germany rather than Sweden.

Awards and Achievements

2004

• Best Pick in side-impact crash tests, American IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), USA. The Sport Sedan repeats the "Best Pick" rating from last year's IIHS frontal offset crash test and is now the first car with standard safety equipment to receive a double "Best Pick" honour.
• Received highest rating, "Good" in the IIHS & Thatcham studies into the safety of car seats and head restraints, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety USA, Thatcham, Great Britain.
• Awarded Compact Executive Car of the Year, Auto Trader, Great Britain
• Voted Top Small Executive Car, Top Gear Magazine's New Car Buyer's Guide, Great Britain
• Awarded one of "10 best Cars of the Year", Hong Kong Car and Driver, Hong Kong
• Awarded Best European Intermediate/middle sedan, Car Plus Award, Hong Kong
• Recommended buy, US Consumer Reports magazine, USA
• Awarded maximum five star rating in EuroNCAP collision test, Saab 9-3 Convertible, EuroNCAP
• Named UK's Most Secure Open-Top Car, British Insurance Car Security Awards, Great Britain
• Prestigious Sporting Open Top award, The Institute of Vehicle Engineers (IVehE), Great Britain

2002

• Awarded maximum five star rating in EuroNCAP collision test, Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan, EuroNCAP
• Best Family Sedan, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, PBS’s MotorWeek television, USA
• Prestige Car of the Year, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia
• Best Buy, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Expressen, Sweden
• Best New Car, Saab 9-3 Arc Sport Sedan ($30,000 - $40,000 range), Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, USA

1999

• Among the Top Ten Cars of 1999. Fortune Magazine, USA

1998

• One of the Top Ten Cars - Fortune Magazine, USA
• Among Top Ten Family Cars - Consumer's Review, USA