Nuts and Bolts
Buy the standard 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi and you get a 210-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The 9-3 SportCombi Aero includes a 250-horsepower turbocharged V6. For fuel economy, the less powerful engine is best, scoring 22/31 city/highway according to the EPA.
Under the hood of the standard 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi is the company’s tried-and-true turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 210 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 221 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm running on premium fuel. The EPA says that this engine gets 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway regardless of transmission choice. A five-speed manual is standard with a five-speed Sentronic automatic optional, either driving the SportCombi’s front wheels. Sentronic is Saab’s clutchless manual shifting feature. All-wheel drive is not available on the 9-3 SportCombi. Twin-five-spoke 16-inch wheels come standard on the base trim, equipped with 215/55 tires. The Aero’s turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 is a blown version of the motor found under the hood of the Cadillac CTS. It requires premium fuel, and makes 250 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque at a low 2,000 rpm. The low torque peak helps minimize turbo lag, a long-standing characteristic of turbocharged Saab four-cylinder engines, though the standard motor’s generous torque rating and low power peak are also impressive. The EPA says this motor should achieve 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with a manual and 17/28 with the automatic. A six-speed manual is standard, with a six-speed Sentronic automatic and steering wheel shift controls serving as an option. The performance-oriented Aero rides on 235/45 all-season rubber wrapped around handsome five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels. MacPherson struts with gas-charged shocks and a stabilizer bar suspend the front end of the 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi. In back, the four-link independent rear suspension is equipped with the company’s Re-Axs system that provides rear-wheel-steer response for optimum handling and stability. It includes coil springs, gas-charged shocks, and a stabilizer bar. On the Aero model, the suspension is stiffer for improved handling. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes include electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and are ventilated front and rear on Aero models for improved performance. Traction and stability control also come standard. Steering is courtesy of a hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion system.
|
