Acceleration performance is a key part of the Saab experience. And the powerful Viggen is entertaining, indeed. The 2.3-liter Viggen shoots away from stop lights in traffic, faster than you would sometimes like it to. Despite all that torque, the car doesn't chug around very well-it can, but doesn't want to.
The Viggen delivers an impressive amount of oomph. It comes with 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that develops 230 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque, the latter spread from 2500-4500 rpm. It sings under your foot, when you have the chance to stand on it. But it's a song you feel more than you hear, because the Viggen is very quiet and smooth at 75 mph. That's remarkable, considering it's a four-cylinder engine. The increased power comes from a larger turbocharger, a less restrictive intake system, a performance exhaust system, and more displacement. Saab boasts that this engine produces 52 percent more torque per liter than a Porsche 911. Even more impressive is that it's EPA-rated to get 30 mpg on the highway. You'll have to keep your foot out of it to do that, however, as it's rated 20 mpg in the city.
The 9-3 offers good throttle response at all engine speeds. It develops 185 horsepower, while delivering better-than-average fuel economy and lower-than-normal emissions.
Earlier Saab models with turbocharged engines were accompanied by turbo lag (a distinct bog in power before the turbo spooled up) and torque steer (a phenomenon that causes the steering to tug to one side). The 9-3 solves this with a low-inertia turbocharger that reduces both of these traits. With its increased horsepower, the Viggen uses its electronic engine management system to reduce turbo lag by manipulating the throttle position.
Also, all 9-3 models come standard with traction control for 2001. Traction control greatly enhances driver control by reducing front wheel spin under acceleration. If ever a car needed traction control, this is it. Last year, we drove one without traction control on wet San Francisco streets, and had to work to keep the wheels from spinning away from uphill starts.
Handling on smooth curvy roads is excellent. Viggen is wonderfully responsive on turn-in. The Viggen suspension is pretty rigid, borderline harsh. It's especially the upward movements that provide the jolt, and the landing is not particularly soft either. It's safe to say the suspension on this Viggen doesn't smooth out the bumps, which can be annoying on a freeway with curves, as it translates into work at the steering wheel for the driver.
We were especially impressed by the standard 9-3's stability during a drive through Calgary, Alberta. A record snowstorm had dumped nearly three feet of snow on the roads and dense fog made it nearly impossible to see more than a few hundred feet. But the handling of the 9-3 inspired confidence and we were able to drive it with precision given the conditions.
The shifter for the five-speed transmission is free, almost loose feeling, but not sloppy. It's easy to shift gears. An optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic allows the driver to select among three shift modes, sport, normal and winter.
We tested the ABS by flooring the brake pedal at 25 mph in second gear, and were surprised to hear the tires go chirp-chirp-chirp, meaning three brief locks. That would make the system not ABS for anti-lock brakes, but BBS-briefly locked brakes. Finally, annoyingly, the power steering kicked off during parking maneuvers.
The 9-3 doesn't feel quite as sporty as a comparably priced BMW 328i, but the steering is precise, the handling is predictable, and the overall road feel is one of being firmly in control.
