What is the best Saab 9-3 for fuel economy?

The strongest year was 2002 at 24 mpg combined, against 19 mpg in 1999. That is a 5 mpg spread across the nameplate's history.

How much does a Saab 9-3 cost to fuel each year?

At 11,500 miles a year the 2002 model uses between 479 and 548 gallons, or $1,677 to $1,917 at $3.50 a gallon.

What does the Saab 9-3 emit?

EPA reports 370.2916666666667 to 423.1904761904762 grams of tailpipe CO2 per mile for the 2002 model year, or about 4.3 to 4.9 tons over a year of driving.

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

The Saab 9-3 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1999 to 2002. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (2002) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1999). The EPA record holds 13 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

24best combined mpg (2002)

19worst combined mpg (1999)

24latest year best (2002)

13configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model year	Configurations	Best combined	Worst combined	Class rank that year	Drivetrains	Fuel	EPA class
1999	3	21 mpg	19 mpg	#23 of 56 (60th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular, Premium	Midsize Cars
2000	4	22 mpg	20 mpg	#10 of 51 (82th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Midsize Cars
2001	4	22 mpg	21 mpg	#9 of 54 (85th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Midsize Cars
2002	2	24 mpg	21 mpg	#4 of 52 (94th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium	Midsize 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 placed highest in 2002 at #4 of 52, and lowest in 1999 at #23 of 56. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 13 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

Year	Configuration	Engine detail	City	Highway	Combined	Gallons/yr	Barrels/yr	EPA fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi	GHG
2002	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	18	27	21	547.6	14.2	$3,700	423.1904761904762	n/a
2002	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	20	30	24	479.2	12.4	$3,250	370.2916666666667	n/a
2001	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	18	26	21	547.6	14.2	$3,700	423.1904761904762	n/a
2001	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	B205L, turbocharged	18	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
2001	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	19	28	22	522.7	13.5	$3,500	403.95454545454544	n/a
2001	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	B205L, turbocharged	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
2000	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	17	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,900	444.35	n/a
2000	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	B205L, turbocharged	18	23	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
2000	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	B205L, turbocharged	19	27	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
2000	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	B205R, turbocharged	19	27	22	522.7	13.5	$3,500	403.95454545454544	n/a
1999	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	B204L3, turbocharged	17	23	19	605.3	15.7	$3,300	467.7368421052632	n/a
1999	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	B2O4R3, turbocharged	17	25	20	575.0	14.9	$3,900	444.35	n/a
1999	2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	B2O4L3, turbocharged	18	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

Change	Best combined	Delta	Gallons a year at the newer rating
1999 → 2000	21 → 22 mpg	+1 mpg	523 gal
2001 → 2002	22 → 24 mpg	+2 mpg	479 gal

What 9-3 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2002 Saab 9-3 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 price	Most efficient	Thirstiest	Spread
$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 2002 model year is $3,250 to $3,700 a year in fuel, or $7,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 24 mpg the Saab 9-3 is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $67 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Saab nameplates

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