Saab 9-3 vs. BMW 3 Series
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Saab 9-3 and BMW 3 Series contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Saab 9-3 and the BMW 3 Series.
In comparing the Saab 9-3's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the Saab 9-3 has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency. The BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Saab 9-3's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: A used 2011 Saab 9-3 ranges from $6,388 to $14,074 while a used 2011 BMW 3 Series is priced between $7,994 to $19,466.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Saab 9-3’s base engine makes 210 horsepower, and the BMW 3 Series base engine makes 230 horsepower. The 9-3 is rated to deliver an average of 23 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 476 miles. The 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 20 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 419 miles. This gives the Saab 9-3 the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the BMW 3 Series. Both models use gasoline.
Passenger Space Comparison: The BMW 3 Series has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front leg room and rear shoulder room. The Saab 9-3 has the advantage in the areas of front head room, front shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Saab 9-3 and BMW 3 Series are comparable in regards to rear head room.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$39,990
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$46,450
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$38,783
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$29,610 - $55,900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$9,991
Price Range:
$6,388 - $14,074
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
6
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
99,474
# Good or Great Deals:
2
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$12,562
Price Range:
$7,994 - $19,466
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$13,284
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$8,736 - $39,547
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
403
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
108,995
# Good or Great Deals:
132
Saab 9-3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Saab 9-3
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.8
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
51
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
5.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.1 - 51
Saab 9-3 Rankings
Not yet available
BMW 3 Series Rankings
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Sedan, Wagon
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Diesel, Gasoline
Saab 9-3 Trim Levels
2.0T, Aero, Aero Sport, Aero Sport XWD, Sport, Sport XWD, Aero SportCombi, SportCombi
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
328i, 335i, 335is, 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive, 335d
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
210 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
221 foot-lbs @ 2500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.057 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
230 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque:
200 foot-lbs @ 2750 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.061 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
20 / 29 / 23
Range (city/hwy):
328 / 476 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
17 / 26 / 20
Range (city/hwy):
274 / 419 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Available
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Available
Heated Seats
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
Available
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37 inches
Rear Leg Room:
32.3 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
44.7 inches
Cargo Space:
12.4 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
82.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55 inches
Rear Head Room:
37 inches
Rear Leg Room:
31.9 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
49 inches
Cargo Space:
9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
84.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3714 lbs
Width:
70.1 inches
Height:
56.6 inches
Length:
182.9 inches
Wheelbase:
105.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3792 lbs
Width:
78.1 inches
Height:
54.5 inches
Length:
180.6 inches
Wheelbase:
108.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P235/45R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
Not yet available
Wheel Type:
Not yet available
Tire Size:
Not yet available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black / Jet Black Metallic
Blue
Nocturne Blue Metallic
Brown
Java Metallic
Gray
Carbon Gray Metallic
Red
Laser Red
Silver
Diamond Silver Metallic / Glacier Silver Metallic
White
Arctic White
Beige
Not available
Green
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Blue Water Metallic / Deep Sea Blue Metallic / Le Mans Blue Metallic / Montego Blue Metallic
Brown
Platinum Bronze Metallic
Gray
Space Gray Metallic / Titanium Silver Metallic
Red
Crimson Red / Vermilion Red Metallic
Silver
Not available
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Beige
Mojave Metallic
Green
Tasman Green Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Brown
Parchment
Beige
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black Dakota Leather / Black Leatherette
Brown
Saddle Brown Dakota Leather
Beige
Cream Beige Dakota Leather
Gray
Gray Dakota Leather
Red
Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather
White
Cream Beige Leatherette / Oyster and Black Dakota Leather
