Sub-120g/km: Saab 9-3 TTiD SE
Compact exec scores on performance and running costs
* Power: 178bhp
* CO2: 119g/km
* Price: £23,495
* 20% BIK: £51 pcm
* 40% BIK: £102 pcm
Swedish firm Saab is going through the financial wringer, but its range is in better shape than it has been for years. The new 9-5 and a raft of revisions to the 9-3 have given company bosses something to smile about during the recent turmoil.
Although the compact executive model has been tweaked inside and out, the biggest change is under the bonnet, where the 1.9 TTiD diesel is cleaner than before. This familiar unit comes in 128bhp, 158bhp and 178bhp tunes, with the latter the most impressive. Why? Well, despite offering 400Nm of torque and doing 0-60mph in eight seconds, the six-speed manual SE emits only 119g/km. That makes it the most powerful sub-120g/km car on sale in the UK.
Two turbos, one big and one small, mean it feels punchy on the road, with decent shove from as low as 1,500rpm. The 9-3 is showing its age – an all-new model is due in 18 months – and the TTiD engine is gruff, but it you want as much bang as you can get for your company buck, it takes some beating. High-mileage drivers will appreciate the tall top gear, as it barely registers 2,000rpm at 70mph in sixth. This makes for quiet and frugal high-speed progress. In fact, with its 58-litre fuel tank and claimed 62.8mpg economy, it should go over 800 miles between refills.
These long haul credentials are made stronger by the 9-3 SE’s huge spec: cruise control, heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and parking sensors are all standard. Sat-nav is a pricey £2,025 extra, though, and this adds a further £105 to a higher-rate earner’s annual tax bill. So go for an aftermarket portable unit.
If you want more practicality, buy the Sportwagon estate. Not only is it more versatile, it has identical power and CO2 outputs – all without the benefit of stop-start tech. Buyers wanting racier looks or wind-in-the-hair thrills have to dig deeper; specifying an Aero model, or going for a cabrio, adds 10g/km and 18g/km respectively to these figures.
Other choices:
Mercedes C220 CDi SE
The Mercedes C-Class recently went under the knife. Yet while the styling tweaks have been kept to a minimum, engine updates have put it back in touch with the class leaders.
In normal circumstances, we’d recommend the excellent 7G-Tronic auto, but it adds 8g/km to the C220 CDI’s CO2 output. Go for the manual SE, and the car slips under the 120g/km threshold, emitting 117g/km. While it’s not the most refined unit, the 2.1-litre has 168bhp and 400Nm, for strong pace, and claims 64.2mpg economy.
BMW 320ed SE
Another compact exec in our sub-120g/km shortlist. BMW focuses as much on mpg as mph these days, and the 320ed – it stands for EfficientDynamics – is the peak of its eco achievements. The cleanest 3-Series undercuts the Saab 9-3 by 10g/km – thanks to active aerodynamics, brake regeneration, stop-start and low-friction fluids – but delivers less power and torque. It’s the handling that impresses, though. The 320ed is just as agile as other variants, and its 16-inch alloys deliver a decent ride.
