If the high price of those small Teutonic saloons makes you wince, this perfectly acceptable Scandinavian alternative might be for you. The cabin is ergonomically elegant, with the dashboard curving around the driver, and you’ll sink into lusciously comfortable seats both in the front and the rear. The roofline is distinctly higher than that of most saloons, so you’ll enjoy plenty of headroom. The boot is generous, and the rear seat folds flat on a 60/40 basis, giving you extra stowage if you need it.

Bumpy roads can result in a little judderiness but the car glides smoothly and gracefully along even tarmac. The more powerful petrol engines seem to result in a harder, bumpier ride but with the diesels and the lower power petrols, smooth-road serenity is restored. A relatively light-pressure turbo engine supplies plenty of thrust for overtaking and will cost you considerably less than, say, a 319i BMW engine. The turbodiesel engines are good performers in this department, too. Saab’s unique four-wheel drive system, XWD, has enabled the top of the range model, the 2.8 litre V6 turbo, to hit a formidable 280 bhp – not bad for a little saloon. The front wheel drive version still delivers 255 bhp.

The 9-3’s elegance, practicality, space and excellent safety features enable it to be equally comfortable as an executive auto as well as a family car.