Now I get it.

I never understood the appeal of Saab’s vehicles to those loyal fans of the automaker, simply because I never had much time in any of them. Now that I’ve spent a week in a 9-3 convertible, I understand the allure. With the 9-3, there’s just enough quirkiness mixed in with classic car features to grab the attention of anyone looking for a comfortable convertible.

The 9-3 is one heck of a solid drop top. One must remember that all the joy of having the wind in your hair can be quashed in a flash when you have to put up with rattling windows, distracting wind noise and unintelligible conversations. None of these things are a problem in the 9-3. The convertible was engineered at the same time as the 9-3 sedan and Sport Combi (wagon) versions, so it’s not as though the folks at Saab made the four-door and just chopped the top off months later for the convertible version.

And that’s the No. 1 reason why I enjoyed this car so much. Sure, it had the expected appeal of top-down fun, but when the inclement weather comes and you need something that acts more like a sedan, that’s exactly what you’ll get. It was one of the most solid all-around top-down cars I’ve driven. Unlike some others I’ve tested recently, there was nary a shake or rattle to be felt or heard.

My tester had the smaller of the two available engines, a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four. What can I say — it was fantastic! It had just the right amount of punch when I needed it, along with a distinct lack of turbo lag. The icing on the cake was the fact that it was fuel efficient as well. I never once wondered what the V6-powered version was like. The four-cylinder did an outstanding job in every way.

Saab says that they designed the latest 9-3 “from the driver outward,” meaning the focus was on the person behind the wheel, and this is almost instantly noticeable. Not only does the driver and front passenger have oodles more room than the rear passengers (more on that in a moment), but you’ll also notice the centre stack angles slightly left, toward the driver. It was easy to reach all the important stuff — you know, the top up/top down button, the stability control deactivation ...

The back seats leave a little to be desired. Getting two adults in there can be a challenge, especially when one of the front seats doesn’t flip forward (a fluke, I’m sure). Even average-sized adults I had in the back were complaining about headroom and legroom, so it won’t just be the over-six-feet crowd that you should warn before climbing in.

There are most definitely some Saab quirks to be found here. Whether you’re trying to reset the fuel economy info (only took me a day and a half!), using the in-dash cupholder (awesome) or just putting the key in the ignition (right behind the handbrake), there are plenty of ways that this car stands out from other by-the-numbers four-seater convertibles. It’s refreshing to see an automaker march to the beat of its own drum though and none of these quirks was a problem once I knew where to find things. Even the Saab air vents were fantastic; I don’t understand why more cars don’t use these things. One knob controls each vent and moves them in every direction. K.I.S.S., right?

There is quite a bit of space in the trunk (12.4 cu. ft.), and though you do lose about four cu. ft. when the top retracts, there’s still plenty of room in there for groceries or other odds and ends. When the top goes back, it affects the height of the trunk, but not the length. It’ll be tight getting more than one golf bag in there, but I’d still consider this a roomy boot, either way.

For a pure cruising machine with some extra space for the young ones, you can’t go wrong with the Saab 9-3 convertible. It has the soft ride and solid feel of a domestic family sedan, with the attention to detail and originality of a European car.

Fact File
2007 Saab 9-3 convertible
As tested, before tax: $58,005
Configuration: front-engine/FWD
Engine/Transmission: 2.0-litre, turbocharged 4-cylinder / 5-speed automatic
Horsepower : 210 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 221 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 rpm
Options: 60th Anniversary Edition ($2,045 - 17-in. alloy wheels, dual power front seats, black sport seats with gray inserts, “Saab” embossed in leather, in-dash 6-CD changer with anti-theft feature and 10 speaker system, XM satellite radio, black floor mats with gray piping, dark walnut interior trim, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, metallic paint), OnStar system ($995, with 1-year Safe and Sound plan)
Freight: $1,230
Fuel required: 62 litres, regular
EnerGuide fuel economy rating (L/100 km): 13.1 city, 8.8 hwy.
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 10.0 over 355 km combined
Warranty: 4 years/80,000 km.

MSRP range: $35,950 - $60,490
Engines available: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 cylinder, 2.8-litre turbocharged V6
Transmissions available: 5-speed automatic, 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic

Competitors: Ford Mustang, Pontiac G6 convertible, Volvo C70, Toyota Solara
Strengths: Very smooth ride, quiet interior, good fuel economy
Weaknesses: Cramped rear seats, quirkiness may turn some people off

9-3 vs. C70 vs. Solara

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