2008 Saab 9-3 Safety Review [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 72 9-3 reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Saab 9-3 has a number of standard safety features. In addition, the sedan does well in government and insurance industry crash tests.
In government crash tests, the 2008 9-3 earned four out of five stars in both driver and front passenger protection in frontal crashes. For side crashes, the 9-3 earned five stars for front seat occupant protection and four stars for the rear seats. The car has a four-star rollover rating in front-wheel drive; the XWD model has not been tested. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2008 9-3 the highest rating, "Good" for both frontal offset and side impact crash tests.
Accident Avoidance
To avoid accidents, the 2008 Saab 9-3 comes standard with traction control, an electronic stability program, anti-lock brakes and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.
New for 2008, the Aero model has Xenon cornering headlamps that get reviewers' nod of approval. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains, "The steering-linked bulbs can swivel up to 15 degrees when negotiating a bend or corner above nine miles per hour, thus offering much better road vision."
Crash Protection
All 2008 Saab 9-3 models include adaptive driver and front passenger air bags, head-curtain side air bags and torso side air bags. The steering column collapses upon impact. Front seats have active headrests, and all seats include adjustable headrests. The rear seats feature load shift protection in the rear seat back and lower child-seat anchoring points for the rear outer seats. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system is included.