SAAB 9-3 1998 vs Mercedes CLK 1999
| Gearbox: | Manual | Manual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.2 Diesel | 2.3 Petrol | |
| Diesel (SAAB 9-3) engines typically outperform gasoline engines in terms of fuel efficiency and low-end torque. This makes them more economical and better suited for towing or long-distance travel. However, gasoline (Mercedes CLK) engines mostly are lighter, quieter, and offer better acceleration and responsiveness, especially in smaller vehicles. For more information, see the article "Diesel or Petrol: Fuel Economy and Key Differences." | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing chain | |
Performance | |||
| Power: | 115 HP | 193 HP | |
| Torque: | 260 NM | 280 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 10.9 seconds | 8.4 seconds | |
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Mercedes CLK is a more dynamic driving. SAAB 9-3 engine produces 78 HP less power than Mercedes CLK, whereas torque is 20 NM less than Mercedes CLK. Due to the lower power, SAAB 9-3 reaches 100 km/h speed 2.5 seconds later. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 6.2 | 9.8 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 6.8 l/100km | 9.8 l/100km | |
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The SAAB 9-3 is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification SAAB 9-3 consumes 3.6 litres less fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes CLK, which means that by driving the SAAB 9-3 over 15,000 km in a year you can save 540 litres of fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, SAAB 9-3 consumes 3 litres less fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes CLK. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 68 litres | 62 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 1090 km in combined cycle | 630 km in combined cycle | |
| 1470 km on highway | 840 km on highway | ||
| 1000 km with real consumption | 630 km with real consumption | ||
| SAAB 9-3 gets more mileage on one fuel tank. | |||
| 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 (Mercedes CLK) 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 | 520'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used, but under equal conditions the average life of a Mercedes CLK engine could be longer. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 7 years | 8 years | |
| Engine spread: | Used only for this car | Used also on Mercedes SLK | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. Mercedes CLK might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.63 m | 4.57 m | |
| Width: | 1.71 m | 1.72 m | |
| Height: | 1.43 m | 1.37 m | |
| SAAB 9-3 is 6 cm longer than the Mercedes CLK, 1 cm narrower, while the height of SAAB 9-3 is 6 cm higher. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | no data | 420 litres | |
| Turning diameter: | 10.5 meters | 10.7 meters | |
| The turning circle of the SAAB 9-3 is 0.2 metres less than that of the Mercedes CLK. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`600 | 1`850 | |
| Safety: | no data | no data | |
| Quality: | above average | average | |
| Average price (€): | 2400 | 2000 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
SAAB 9-3 has
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Mercedes CLK has
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