10/09/2004 - Take your hat off to Saab's soft-top

THERE are cars with detachable hard tops, removable soft tops and even cabrios with slick electronic wizardry. Then there's the Saab 93 Convertible.

When it comes to your traditional fabric hood, the stylish Swede takes some matching, and it's largely due to attention to detail.

Sitting inside with the top up you need to do a double take to make sure it is, in fact, a convertible, so carefully crafted and flush-fitting is the hood.

No clips, no press-studs, no draughts - just a beautifully insulated roof that's colour matched to the upholstery and that takes 20 seconds at the flick of a switch to raise or lower.

The rear windscreen is glass and heated, so there are no problems with visibility and there's even an integrated rain gutter sewn into the side of the fabric roof to prevent dripping onto the seat when the door is opened.

Saab has a proud tradition of cabrios and, if you haven't already guessed, this latest model - launched last autumn - is their best yet.

And one of the principal reasons is because of its interior styling. A criticism of Saabs in the past has been a rather dour cabin, something that has thankfully been consigned to history.

The tested 2.0T Aero model is the range-topper and with good reason. Hop inside and you instantly feel at home in the large leather seats while surrounded by soft-touch plastics and alloy-effect door slats, openers and gearstick surround.

Convertibles aren't noted for storage capacity but at least there's a lockable glovebox, central stowage area plus another smaller lidded oddments box.

Neat touches include a handbrake that's flush with the flowing lines of the central unit and an ignition key that fits into a slot at the base of the gearstick housing area.

The 93 Convertible range offers an all-aluminium two-litre turbocharged engine configured for 150, 175 or 210bhp, the latter of which features in the Aero.

Allied in this model to a new six-speed manual transmission, it's a car with effortless power along with the dynamics to make it feel more like a sports saloon than a cabrio. In fact the rear axle takes part in the steering and adds stability under hard braking.

Of course there's always a downside and in this case it's that common gripe over rear space. Should the front seats need to be slid well back then it's torture for those in rear.

Otherwise this is a four seater, four season soft-top of compelling appeal and the added comfort of advanced safety systems that have gained the range a five-star rating in the Euro-NCAP tests.

Fast facts - Saab 9-3 Convertible 2.0T Aero

Price: £28,895
Mechanical: 210bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 143mph
0-62mph: 7.7secs
Combined mpg: 31
Insurance group: 17
CO2 emissions: 218g/km
BiK rating: 29%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust