SAAB 9-3 1998 vs BMW 3 series 2003
| Body: | Coupe | Hatchback | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gearbox: | Manual | Manual | |
| Engine: | 2.2 Diesel | 2.0 Diesel | |
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing chain | |
Performance | |||
| Power: | 115 HP | 115 HP | |
| Torque: | 260 NM | 280 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 10.9 seconds | 10 seconds | |
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BMW 3 series is a more dynamic driving. SAAB 9-3 and BMW 3 series have the same engine power, but SAAB 9-3 torque is 20 NM less than BMW 3 series. SAAB 9-3 reaches 100 km/h speed 0.9 seconds later. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 6.2 | 5.6 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 6.8 l/100km | 6.1 l/100km | |
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The BMW 3 series is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification SAAB 9-3 consumes 0.6 litres more fuel per 100 km than the BMW 3 series, which means that if you drive 15,000 km in a year, the SAAB 9-3 could require 90 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, SAAB 9-3 consumes 0.7 litres more fuel per 100 km than the BMW 3 series. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 68 litres | 63 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 1090 km in combined cycle | 1120 km in combined cycle | |
| 1470 km on highway | 1400 km on highway | ||
| 1000 km with real consumption | 1030 km with real consumption | ||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Drive type | |||
| Wheel drive type: | Front wheel drive (FWD) | Rear wheel drive (RWD) | |
| Front-wheel drive cars (SAAB 9-3) have better traction on slippery roads and when climbing hills, better fuel economy, and are less expensive to purchase. On the disadvantage side, FWD cars usually have less towing capacity, poorer acceleration and harder handling. Rear-wheel drive cars (BMW 3 series) have better handling on dry roads, better acceleration, more even weight distribution and more fun to drive. RWD is also better for towing large loads. The cons of rear-wheel drive are less interior and trunk space and more difficulty maneuvering in wet and snowy conditions. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 420'000 km | 420'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 7 years | 9 years | |
| Engine spread: | Used only for this car | Installed on at least 2 other car models, including BMW 1 sērija, BMW X3 | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. BMW 3 series might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.63 m | 4.26 m | |
| Width: | 1.71 m | 1.75 m | |
| Height: | 1.43 m | 1.41 m | |
| SAAB 9-3 is 37 cm longer than the BMW 3 series, 4 cm narrower, while the height of SAAB 9-3 is 2 cm higher. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | no data | 310 litres | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
no data | 1100 litres | |
| Turning diameter: | 10.5 meters | 10 meters | |
| The turning circle of the SAAB 9-3 is 0.5 metres more than that of the BMW 3 series, which means SAAB 9-3 can be harder to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`600 | 1`895 | |
| Safety: | no data | ||
| Quality: | high | average | |
| SAAB 9-3 has fewer problems. According to annual technical inspection data BMW 3 series has serious deffects in 85 percent more cases than SAAB 9-3, so SAAB 9-3 quality is probably significantly better | |||
| Average price (€): | 2400 | 2600 | |
| Rating in user reviews: | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
SAAB 9-3 has
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BMW 3 sērija has
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