Saab 9 3 Convertible SE 1.9 TTiD (180ps) Auto 2dr Car Review - March 2012

This Saab 93 Convertible’s ride is comfortable when cruising on motorways and reasonable when tackling a country road. It’s not as sharp as a BMW 3 Series convertible, but body roll is well contained and the steering communicates much better than the saloon and estate versions. With the roof up you do get a little wind noise to contend with but it's never excessive. With the roof down, you are well protected from any buffeting, making the cabin a pleasant place to enjoy open-air motoring.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel moves for rake and reach so most drivers should be able to find a comofortable position. The dashboard is laid out reasonably well with clear controls and the quality of materials is fair, but it still falls short of the dashes of its main rivals.

The 1.9 litre four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine produces maximum figures of 178 bhp (180 ps) at 4000 rpm and 295 lb-ft at 1800-2500 rpm and feels adequately potent. A 0-62 mph time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph are hardly headline figures, but the car pulls well and the automatic gearbox shifts cogs with consummate smoothness so it feels refined on the open road.

The Saab 93 Convertible SE 1.9 TTiD (180ps) Auto 2dr is a smart and stylish looking soft top and carries that unmistakable Saab DNA.

Inside you get a CD player, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, electric windows, electric door mirrors, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather sports seats and climate control as standard. It also comes with alloy wheels, an alarm and immobiliser and front fog lights.

Metallic paint is a £540 option and Satnav costs £2,025.

There is plenty of room in the front of the cabin but although the rear can seat two adults, it’s best described as snug rather than spacious. With the touch of a button, the hood folds neatly away in around 20 seconds, but reduces luggage space from 352 litres to 235 litres. Still, it’s enough for a couple of overnight bags. The seatbelts are built into the seats themselves so reaching them is easily achievable without the need for electric arms handing them to you.

This Saab 93 Convertible comes with many safety features including front and side airbags, emergency pop-up roll over hoops, ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and stability control.

Saab’s fare reasonably well in the reliability stakes but they aren’t without their problems. This car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty for peace of mind.

At £29,430, the Saab 93 Convertible SE 1.9 TTiD (180ps) Auto 2dr is competitive in its class. It has a roomy, comfortable cabin with plenty of extras and safety features. It drives smoothly, but still fails to be overly exciting. Overall, it feels sturdy and well made, but it’s not the most exciting or desirable car in its class.

A combined cycle of 45.6 mpg is a good figure for a car in this class and with a CO2 emissions figure of 162 g/km the taxes and running costs won’t break the bank.