A Fast and Furious Saab Wagon? Yes

The end of the sport-utility era is upon us. It is now time to explore outside of the box and delve into the world of wagons. All are practical and some are, dare I say it, good looking. There are lots of choices, but we will look at the underdogs.

Part I will deal with the Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi. If you have been following recent headlines, it is clear that Saab does not have the presence it once had in the U.S. Part II will give more insight into the Subaru Outback 3.0R. It will be interesting to see if the Subaru will dispel assumptions that the only suitable buyers are situated along the Canadian border.

Picking up the 9-3 Aero SportCombi was an interesting experience. Lipstick red? You bet. Ten minutes later, I found myself on the shoulder of a busy New Jersey road with the blues and two's going -- damn.

Refreshed styling gives the Saab a fiercer look.

The 9-3's exterior is conservative. Seeing a 9-3 cruising down the strip, it is painfully obvious that it is a Saab. However, some updates have been put in order. There is new lighting in the front and rear. The front parking lights, which can be best described as eyebrows, complement the xenon headlights and provide the front end with a bit of ferocity. Larger cutouts to feed air to the engine make their way into the front valence. Certainly a more aggressive appearance than previous Saabs, this new look provides an attractive face for the brand. I think we have a "sleeper" on our hands.

Do not be fooled by the exterior's updates. The interior is a carryover of a 1990s 9-3. This is not an entirely bad thing. For one, any individual pursuing a driver-inspired vehicle will greatly appreciate the wraparound and slightly angled center stack. If I were a betting man, I would say this is where the jet engineers had their say; it feels more like an airplane cockpit than an automobile.

Ergonomically, the SportCombi has some quirks. For instance, you do not push the wiper stalk backward to initiate the rear wiper blade; you have to push a delicate tab. On top of this, there is other trickery, such as the ignition's location between the front seats.