Call it an urban dilemma: How can you sidestep SUV ownership while having room for all your gear? For many, the answer is a wagon. Not a station wagon, not those global-warming behemoths of your childhood with the fake wood siding, but a sensibly sized car with an element of sportiness to it. The formula generally works well for enthusiasts who need their space but won’t completely abandon coolness.
Audi and Saab’s entry-level wagons pose compelling arguments to cruise with a lower center of gravity, literally and metaphorically. So consider the Audi A4 2.0T Avant and Saab 9-3 2.0T SportCombi (Saab’s former entry-level wagon, the 9-2X, has been discontinued). With European styling and sharp driving characteristics, one could fit the bill for both your cargo and image concerns. Each has been rated in key categories for the best overall score out of 100 possible points.
Audi A4 2.0T Avant
MSRP (base): $31,340Engine: 2.0L, 16V, DOHC 4-cyl. turbo
Horsepower: 200bhp @ 5,100rpm
Torque: 207ft-lbs. @ 1,800rpm
MPG (city/highway): 22/31
Performance – 17/20
If you want an Avant, all-wheel drive turning the 16-inch alloys is part of the deal. Optional on other A4s, this and the stability/traction control make great foul weather friends; the latter is reasonably unobtrusive and can be deactivated. Peak torque comes early and often, beginning at 1,800rpm. What’s more, the turbo has minimal lag and pushes the 3,671-pounder to 62 in 7.4 seconds. Understeer is less prominent than in past Quattro-equipped A4s, the speed-sensitive power steering communicates well and the brakes deliver a decent feel while commendably resisting fade.
Exterior design – 17/20
Audi’s bold nose look drew mixed reviews when it first graced the 2006 A4, yet it was quickly accepted. Anyway, it looks great to us and suddenly makes a 2005 model look a little dated. The current Avant’s high beltline and horizontal taillights contribute to the athletic stance, making the car appear a little larger than it is.
Interior design – 8/10
Audi doesn’t cut many corners in their entry-level cars, so the Avant is equipped quite well overall. Materials look and feel substantial. Fit and finish doesn’t disappoint. An element of luxury is balanced with hints of performance. For two adults or three kids, the 60/40 split back seat offers acceptable roominess. Three adults, however, will get to know each other well indeed. Back on the plus side, the Avant redeems itself with 27.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row. Fold it and you’ll have 59 cubes.
Sound system and goodies – 6/10
Standard audio isn’t bad, with a six-disc CD player highlighting the improved Audi Symphony 150-watt system. Too bad it takes so much effort to learn. A few redundant controls are included on the new leather-wrapped tilt/telescope wheel, but following an unfortunate Teutonic trend, the dash-mounted audio and navigation controls are operated by small buttons -- a lot of them. Also, it’s frustrating that for ’07, the 2.0T (our test model) has lost the heated rear seat plus driver’s seat/mirror memory feature. These shortcomings slightly dull an otherwise impressive list of standard features, also including dual-zone climate control and a height-adjustable center armrest.
Bang for the buck – 17/20
Expectations of a $30,000 compact wagon should be high, and the Avant hardly falls short. It’s designed well, inside and out, with interior space that rivals some SUVs -- even its big brother Q7 in many aspects.
Driving experience – 18/20
It’s been said before, but from the driver’s seat of an A4 Avant it’s easy to forget you’re piloting a wagon. Cars like this are a win-win situation: You have a sharp-looking ride delivering decent mileage, yet it has enough space for kids, dogs and groceries to feed a small army.
Overall score – 83/100
If your priorities demand room but your sensibilities won’t let you shop for an SUV, here’s a strong choice worth considering: Although Audi recently succumbed to producing a sport-ute with its Q7, the A4 Avant has been around since 1999, building a following as it improved with each year. Today, it’s one of the best overall choices in its class.
Challenger 2: Saab 9-3 2.0T SportCombi
MSRP (base): $27,170Engine: 2.0 L, 16 V, DOHC 4-cyl. Turbo
Horsepower: 210bhp @ 5500rpm
Torque: 221ft-lbs. @ 2500rpm
MPG (city/highway): 22/30
Performance – 15/20
Saabs of the past, most notably turbos, have exhibited lascivious degrees of torque steer, understeer and turbo lag. The 9-3 SportCombi has minimized it all to emerge as one of the better-behaved front-wheel drive cars on the market. For having 3,175 pounds to deal with, the 2.0-liter feels more robust than its displacement would suggest, pulling the car to 62 in 7.6 seconds. Steering and braking feel OK, but lack real feedback from the standard 16-inch wheels. Shifting the six-speed manual is a bit like chewing undercooked calamari: distinctly rubbery. On the whole, though, it’s one of the best-performing Saabs we’ve experienced.
Exterior design – 14/20
Some will always lament the homogenization of Saab lines since General Motors entered the picture. Nevertheless, trademark elements on the SportCombi include the traditional grille and hockey-stick curve in the D-pillar. Where it falls short is its overextended effort to look cool. Ground effects are pronounced all the way around and clear vertical taillights flank the rear. While it looks good, toning it down a tad could’ve made it better.
Interior design – 7/10
Convention and new design rends have never affected Saab, as evidenced by the 9-3 SportCombi interior. The 2007 cabin may be new, but it still follows the longstanding theme of aeronautic functionality in the layout. Logical ergonomics and clever design are also thankfully continued for a clean, no-nonsense look. And before you ask, the ignition is still where it belongs: on the console between the seats. It all makes up for the underwhelming feel and appearance of some materials… Well, that and the available cargo space. Leave the back seat alone for 29.7 cubic feet, or tuck it away for a generous 72.3.
Sound system and goodies – 8/10
The standard 150-watt system comes packed with seven speakers and a single-CD in-dash unit. It’s adequate, if not exemplary. True, the optional system doubles the wattage through 10 speakers and the CD changer appetite grows to six, but we’d like to see a better standard system. Fortunately, the button layout is easy to use. Other standard highlights include a chilled glovebox and the TwinFloor cargo system that prevents items from flying around as you whip through curves. It’s also great to see the Night Panel feature included. When activated, all gauges are dimmed except the speedometer for better nighttime vision and less distraction.
Bang for the buck – 17/20
Compared to others in its class, the 9-3 is a solid choice, if not a standout. Overall performance isn’t as sharp as some, but it’s still entertaining to drive. It includes a reasonable cache of standard goodies, has a huge appetite for cargo and isn’t just another face in the crowd.
Driving experience – 17/20
Once upon a time, driving a turbo Saab vigorously was an exercise of skill, patience and strength. Skill was required to minimize and compensate for the ball joint-busting understeer. It took patience to endure the turbo lag and then strength to prevent wandering across several lanes from torque steer once the turbo hit full boil. The 9-3 Sport Combi still skews left of center, yet is more civilized than its older kin.
Overall score – 78/100
Sometimes, fame is best left to others. The 9-3 SportCombi is one of the best Saabs of recent years, even if it flies below the radar of some buyers. To be a bigger hit, however, we fear it would require even more concession to the mainstream (and the 9-7X SUV has already jumped that shark). If that happened, we’d probably have just another wagon, not a Saab.
and the winner is…
The Audi A4 Avant. While they are both wagon versions of successful European sedans, the sameness doesn’t extend much further. In the final analysis, it was clear that the A4 Avant behaves like a sports sedan with bonus room. While no slouch itself, the Saab 9-3 SportCombi is more like a wagon capable of some sports sedan moves: Both make you want to second-guess putting an SUV in your driveway, but the A4 Avant is the master debater.Resources:
http://aolsvc.edmunds.com
http://www.saabusa.com/
www.audiusa.com
http://aolsvc.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/asv/VehicleComparison?basestyleid=100769513&styleid=100761278&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=3&tab=features
http://www.audi.com/
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