Saabs have been regarded as great snow vehicles for a long time now. The ability to cope with snow and ice was always one of the inherent requirements when Saab designed their cars, initially for the Swedish market and then for the world.
Here’s a great read from SKI Magazine, reviewing the 9-3 Sport Combi. Originally, the text was published in January 1006, and then re-published at the end of December 2016, and it is certainly interesting. A lot of Sportcombi owners n Northern Europe and the NE United States can testify about the snow and ice capabilities of this car.
Here is one testimony, and we have published many of them on this blog, about the great characteristics of Saab cars in general on the snow: “Living in the Northeast U.S., I’ve driven many cars in snow and ice over the years. I can attest that the 9-3 Sportcombi is the best bad weather handling front wheel drive car I’ve driven. It is much better than our Nissan Maxima despite the fact that the two cars have exactly the same size tires, same transmission (5spd), and weigh about the same”-
And, A few excerpts from Ski magazine:
The SportCombi—built on the 9-3’s frame but in a hatchback/wagon version—is like a good foreign film that makes you wonder why Americans don’t make stuff just like it. It’s an ideal daily driver, ski vehicle and Home Depot picker-upper. A car that hauls, in every sense of the word…..
….The SportCombi manages to be a driver’s car without sacrificing any of its well-balanced usability. In fact, it’s just that usability I most liked. With a tailgate that opens extra wide, optional roof racks and a 60/40 ski-hatch pass-through in the back seat, it’s a natural for hauling skis, kayaks or bikes. Even the front passenger seat can be folded down for extra cargo. The Swedes like their outdoors, and it shows in their cars…..
….If cues like the available 18-inch wheels and integrated mini-spoiler lend the impression of speed, it’s no mistake. The Aero version comes with an all-new engine—a 2.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 used on other 9-3s as well. With 250 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque, this ain’t your dad’s 1970s faux wood–sided wagon.
It’s pretty much this type of lifestyler that Saab have in their sights with the 9-3 SportCombi. Good to see it’s been well received, and the only criticism in the whole article regards the 6-speed manual gearbox. Of course, all this is true if you prepare your Saab well for winter driving conditions, then you have nothing to worry about on the road. And even better, if you own a Turbo X or Saab XWD model, then you have nothing to worry about, and you will have reason to have fun.
