Hana Callard

Driving cars larger than your average Corsa or Yaris are a problem for me. I have been scarred for life after an incident involving my Mum’s Ford Escort and a bottle bank.

In my defence it was an incredibly tight corner I was trying to get around, the Escort did not have power steering, my Mum was sitting next to me with tension oozing from her very being and I had been learning to drive for about three weeks. It was also market day and the backlog of cars behind me was growing quickly as I reversed away from the bottle bank.

Fortunately my second experience driving a larger car may have reduced the problem from terminal to just a temporary phobia I can work at over-coming.

The recently modified Saab 9-3 saloon typically attracts those in management. It’s smart and stylish with an engine designed to impress at a total road price of £23,025.

The Vector Sport is no different and the saloon is suitable for the whole family while also providing the thrill of a large 1.9 diesel engine.

Mostly it was hard to tell the engine was diesel, but sitting at traffic lights or in jams the purr of the engine is a comforting reminder of the power available at the touch of a pedal.

Diesel engines are economical and although they tend to produce more CO2 than petrol engines, diesel can do more miles to the gallon. This often means they are as environmentally friendly as petrol engines, which emit less CO2 but are not as economical.

The Vector Sport falls into this category. With combined city and highway fuel economy at 52.3 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of 147 g/km it is not only the most economical and environmentally friendly car in the Saab saloon range, it also beats its main competitors the Mercedes 2.2, the BMW 3.2 and the Audi A4.

To even out the balance though, the Vector Sport falls to the bottom of the pile in both its top speed and 0-60 mph capabilities. The top speed is a meagre 124 mph compared to the new Audi A4’s 250 mph and 0 – 60 mph takes 11 seconds.

But for a car not well known - and rightly so - for its speed, it was still very keen to get going once it had been taken into second gear and loves both the open road and smaller country roads. The only problem is taking your foot off the accelerator doesn’t seem to result in any immediate deceleration, though the absolutely appalling weather I drove the Saab in should probably be kept in mind.

Despite the size of the engine, this car does not eat hills up. It was only really tested once but I have to admit I thought it would find it far easier than it actually did. This is more likely to be my high expectations than any fault of the car but I did have to drop down a gear.

The exterior detailing of the car is slick though perhaps a little boring. The front grilles and lines across the bonnet add style but the attempt to add curves over the tyres has in reality ended up looking square and as a result has fallen short of the desired sleekness.

To be honest, when I first sat in the driver’s seat I had paid little attention to the seats, but as soon as I sat back I knew I was sitting on soft, luxurious leather for the pure comfort. I might as well have been sitting on my couch. It was certainly a big improvement on the Yaris I’ve been sitting in for the past three years and the Fiesta before that and the Subaru Justy before that.

In front of you the layout of the speedometer, fuel gauge and rev counter is simple but it works. The presentation of the rest of the instruments is a little boring but at least you won’t be distracted from watching the road.

There is plenty of space between the driver’s seat and the steering wheel but it did feel as though your arm was tucked up under your armpit whenever you changed gear and with the hand brake right next to the driver’s seat the only time I wanted to have to use it was when I parked at the end of the test drive.

Adjusting the seat to make it higher could well solve this problem but I’m not a short person, making me feel as though this has been designed very much with men in mind. Others may find this less of a problem and it probably depends on what you are used to driving, but it is nevertheless something to bear in mind.

The boot seems to have been designed with women in mind, though. We all know most women find it difficult if not impossible to travel light and I’m as guilty as the rest. But this enormous boot should solve the problem and if the children are really annoying you on a long (or even a short) journey…

The ignition peculiarly sits next to the hand brake. Whether this is due to practicality or quirky design I don’t know, but arguably it’s of little consequence since you only need it to switch the car on and off.

A lot of this seems to be quite negative and I don’t necessarily mean it to be. I enjoyed driving this car. It’s powerful and easy to drive, an excellent combination. It has many good features: comfort, simplicity, economic and environmental friendliness and even acceleration. It might not be as fast as other models or makes but it doesn’t fall very far behind and it certainly isn’t slow.

The biggest complaint I have is the cramped conditions primarily of the hand brake. But as I said, this can be solved either by adjusting the seat or just by getting used to it. In all honesty, I’m used to driving a Yaris, sitting high above the road and the hand brake so this was probably always going to be something of an issue.

The overall performance of this car was at worst good at best excellent, providing it’s the type of car you’re looking for. If you feel the need for speed in a sporty convertible this obviously won’t be your first choice and the same goes for those who want a little run-around to do the shopping on a Saturday morning (though on this point remember the boot!). But for those who want a reliable, stylish, comfortable and efficient car, the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport is definitely worth spending some time with, especially since it has power steering and there are no bottle banks involved.

The car tested was from Concept Saab on Penarth Road, Cardiff.

(Published: Friday 1 February 2008, Hywl Magazine, Cardiff Evening News)