Tank Ledger

Saab 9-3 Convertible MPG by year — every rating on record

The Saab 9-3 Convertible has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 14 model years, from 1999 to 2012. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (2002) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (2007). The EPA record holds 42 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

24best combined mpg (2002)
18worst combined mpg (2007)
24latest year best (2012)
42configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1999321 mpg19 mpg#30 of 40 (26th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
2000422 mpg20 mpg#21 of 39 (47th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
2001422 mpg21 mpg#16 of 37 (58th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
2002224 mpg21 mpg#9 of 34 (76th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2003223 mpg21 mpg#9 of 28 (70th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2004322 mpg20 mpg#10 of 31 (70th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2005222 mpg19 mpg#11 of 29 (64th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2006421 mpg19 mpg#19 of 38 (51th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2007421 mpg18 mpg#21 of 40 (49th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
2008422 mpg18 mpg#25 of 59 (59th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2009422 mpg18 mpg#27 of 61 (57th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2010223 mpg22 mpg#27 of 63 (58th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2011223 mpg21 mpg#38 of 64 (41th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
2012224 mpg21 mpg#47 of 76 (39th pct)Front-Wheel DriveGasoline or E85Compact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Saab 9-3 Convertible placed highest in 2002 at #9 of 34, and lowest in 2012 at #47 of 76. It spent 9 of its 14 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 42 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20122.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Gasoline or E85SIDI; FFV, turbocharged, FFV182821547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20122.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Gasoline or E85SIDI; FFV, turbocharged, FFV203224479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
20112.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20112.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
20102.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20102.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged202923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
20092.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged152418638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
20092.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged162619605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
20092.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20092.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Regular2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20082.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged152418638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20082.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged162619605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20082.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20082.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20072.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged152618638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
20072.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged162619605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
20072.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20072.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20062.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged162619605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20062.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium2.8L 6-cyl, turbocharged152619605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20062.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20062.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20052.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged172519605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20052.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20042.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) PremiumB207R, turbocharged172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20042.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB207R, turbocharged192722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20042.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumB207R, turbocharged182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20032.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20032.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged202923500.012.9$3,350386.39130434782606n/a
20022.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20022.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged203024479.212.4$3,250370.2916666666667n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularB205L, turbocharged182521547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged192621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged192822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularB205L, turbocharged192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged172420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularB205L, turbocharged182320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularB205L, turbocharged192722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB205R, turbocharged192722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19992.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularB204L3, turbocharged172319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19992.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd PremiumB2O4R3, turbocharged172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19992.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularB2O4L3, turbocharged182521547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 5 of 8 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1999 → 200021 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2001 → 200222 → 24 mpg+2 mpg479 gal
2002 → 200324 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal
2003 → 200423 → 22 mpg-1 mpg523 gal
2005 → 200622 → 21 mpg-1 mpg548 gal
2007 → 200821 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2009 → 201022 → 23 mpg+1 mpg500 gal
2011 → 201223 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal

What 9-3 Convertible fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2012 Saab 9-3 Convertible burns 479 to 548 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,438$1,643$205
$3.50/gal$1,677$1,917$240
$4.00/gal$1,917$2,190$274

EPA’s own estimate for the 2012 model year is $2,600 to $2,950 a year in fuel, or $3,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 24 mpg the Saab 9-3 Convertible is exactly at the median.

Other Saab nameplates

Every Saab model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.