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SAAB 9-3 1998 fuel consumption

SAAB 9-3 from 1998 to 2003 real fuel consumption according to user reports is approximately 5% higher compared to advertised fuel consumption. Starting from 1998 SAAB 9-3 average difference between actual owner-reported fuel consumption and stated consumption was similar to average, at 2003 difference between owner-reported and advertised fuel economy became less than industry average. For more details, see the table below.

Year-to-year deviations of actual owner-reported average fuel consumption from advertised values

YearGasoline carsDiesel cars
All carmakersSAAB 9-3All carmakersSAAB 9-3
1998+3%+3% +4%+10%
Show all years
1999+3%+4% +5%+10%
2000+4%+3% +5%+10%
2001+5%+4% +6%+10%
2002+6%+4% +7%+10%
2003+6%+5% +8%-

See below for the actual consumption of generations and versions of SAAB 9-3.

1998 - 2002

SAAB 9-3 1998 hatchback fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *insignificant
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+10%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a SAAB 9-3 1998 with automatic transmission consumes on average 1 liters per 100 km or 11% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation SAAB 9-3 with automatic transmission consumes around 0.4 litres per 100 km or 4% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the SAAB 9-3 fuel economy is slightly worse than average. The best real fuel economy in its class according to user reviews of all the modifications has modification with 2.3 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 1998 2.3 150 HP). However, of all modifications the best advertised fuel economy in its class has SAAB 9-3 with 2.0 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 2000 2.0 Turbo 185 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
2.0 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 130 HP manual 25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km
25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km0%
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 130 HP automatic 23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km
Saab 9-3 2000 2.0 T 150 HP manual 26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km
25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km+2%
Saab 9-3 2000 2.0 T 150 HP automatic 23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km-1%
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 T 154 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 T 154 HP automatic 22.2 MPG
10.6 l/100km
23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km-4%
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km
22.0 MPG
10.7 l/100km-1%
Saab 9-3 2000 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km
25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km+5%
Saab 9-3 2000 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 2.0 Turbo 200 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km+17%
Saab 9-3 1999 2.0 Turbo 205 HP manual 26.1 MPG
9.0 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+11%
Saab 9-3 1999 2.0 Turbo 205 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
Saab 9-3 1999 2.0 Turbo 205 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km0%
2.2 liter diesel engine
Saab 9-3 1998 2.2 TiD 115 HP manual 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km+10%
2.3 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 2.3 150 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km+3%
Saab 9-3 1998 2.3 150 HP automatic 23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1999 2.3 Viggen 225 HP manual 24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km
1998 - 2002

SAAB 9-3 1998 coupe fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *insignificant
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+10%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a SAAB 9-3 1998 with automatic transmission consumes on average 1 liters per 100 km or 12% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation SAAB 9-3 with automatic transmission consumes around 0.5 litres per 100 km or 6% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the SAAB 9-3 fuel economy is slightly worse than average. The best real fuel economy in its class according to user reviews of all the modifications has modification with 2.3 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.3 150 HP). However, of all modifications the best advertised fuel economy in its class has SAAB 9-3 with 2.0 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 2000 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 185 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
2.0 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 130 HP manual 25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km
25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km0%
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 130 HP automatic 23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km
Saab 9-3 2000 Coupe 2.0 T 150 HP manual 26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km
25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km+2%
Saab 9-3 2000 Coupe 2.0 T 150 HP automatic 23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km-1%
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 T 154 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 T 154 HP automatic 22.2 MPG
10.6 l/100km
22.0 MPG
10.7 l/100km+1%
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km
22.0 MPG
10.7 l/100km-1%
Saab 9-3 2000 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km
25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km+5%
Saab 9-3 2000 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 200 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km+17%
Saab 9-3 1999 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 205 HP manual 26.1 MPG
9.0 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+11%
Saab 9-3 1999 Coupe 2.0 Turbo 205 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
23.8 MPG
9.9 l/100km-1%
2.2 liter diesel engine
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.2 TiD 115 HP manual 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km+10%
2.3 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.3 150 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km+3%
Saab 9-3 1998 Coupe 2.3 150 HP automatic 23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1999 2.3 Coupe Viggen 225 HP manual 24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km
1998 - 2003

SAAB 9-3 1998 cabrio fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines24.1 MPG
9.8 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *insignificant

According to advertised fuel consumption, a SAAB 9-3 1998 with automatic transmission consumes on average 0.9 liters per 100 km or 10% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation SAAB 9-3 with automatic transmission consumes around 0.8 litres per 100 km or 9% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the SAAB 9-3 fuel economy is slightly worse than average. The best real fuel economy in its class according to user reviews of all the modifications has modification with 2.3 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.3 150 HP). However, of all modifications the best advertised fuel economy in its class has SAAB 9-3 with 2.0 petrol engine and manual transmission (Saab 9-3 2000 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 185 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
2.0 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 130 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 130 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
Saab 9-3 2000 Cabriolet 2.0 T 150 HP manual 26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km
26.1 MPG
9.0 l/100km+1%
Saab 9-3 2000 Cabriolet 2.0 T 150 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km+1%
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 T 154 HP manual 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 T 154 HP automatic 21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km
19.9 MPG
11.8 l/100km+7%
Saab 9-3 2000 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 185 HP manual 26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km
25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km+5%
Saab 9-3 2000 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 185 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
21.2 MPG
11.1 l/100km+11%
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 200 HP manual 24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km
21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km+15%
Saab 9-3 1999 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 205 HP manual 25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+10%
Saab 9-3 1999 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo 205 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
23.8 MPG
9.9 l/100km-1%
2.3 liter petrol engine
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.3 150 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
23.3 MPG
10.1 l/100km+3%
Saab 9-3 1998 Cabriolet 2.3 150 HP automatic 23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km
Saab 9-3 1999 2.3 Cabriolet Viggen 225 HP manual 24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km

* - Difference between advertised and user reported fuel economy has been calculated taking into account only those car versions for which information is available both on the fuel consumption specified by the manufacturer and reported by users.

User-reported fuel consumption may not accurately represent all users' experiences due to variables such as driving conditions, driving style, technical condition of the vehicle, and other circumstances. Thus, it should not be relied upon as a representative indicator.