SAAB 9-3 Rear Legroom?

[tallpaul26]

I'm looking for a 4/5 door for getting the sprogs to and from Nursery. As I'm 6'5", rear legroom behind me is non-existent in a Golf/Focus sized hatchback.

I quite fancy a 9-3 2.0t of some description, but have read the rear legroom is poor. However, I'm struggling to quantify this. How does it compare to e.g. a Golf or Focus?

Obvious answer is to go an look at one. But wondered if any owners could share their thoughts before I venture out?

[Ian-27xza]

I had 2 x 9-3 Saloons.

I'm 6ft but relatively longlegged. I could get my toddler behind me ok but only after they had grown into the +15kg type seat. This seemed to offer about 2-3 inches of extra space, which was just enough.

If in doubt, take your child and the seat with you.

[Ian-27xza]

Just to confirm, this was on the 2003-2011 9-3 model, not the OG9-3.

[Djw John]

Yeah its certainly not great, I always thought of it as the opposite of a tardis!

[anonymous-user]

It will be scrap before the sprogs need more legroom

[GeordieInExile]

It's really quite poor in mine. I'm 6' 2" and have the seat far enough back that I can be comfortable, and there's no room for a passenger's legs behind my seat.

Nobody ever gets in the back of mine anyway, so it's not an issue... but if you're over 6 foot, you might struggle with rear legroom.

[tog]

They are not as big as you'd hope in the back really. My wife has a 9-3 estate and our kids (6&4) generally make a muddy mess all over the seat backs. My 9000 is much bigger, though I am trying to persuade Mrs that an old Mercedes 500SEL is what we really need as a kids bus.

[dandam]

I’m 6ft and currently looking for a good 9-5 to replace my 9-3 because my 4 year old has problems fitting behind me.

[bakerstreet]

Do not buy a 9-3 if you need something with rear leg room. Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear. I used to have a 9-3 and I did a few journeys with some people in the back and I'm only 5ft 10in and they did not have much space back there.

All you have to do is look at the wheel base on the 9-3s to see how much space there isn't in the car. They are more like a Ford Focus than a Mondeo.

9-5 is better, but not by much. Some of this will all depend on how old your kids are and what type of seat they use. My wife uses a swivel seat and they take up so much space its ridiculous. I'm desperate to replace her car, but I just don't have the spare cash at the moment.

I'm quite fan of the look of the 9-3 and I'm tempted to have an 08> estate aero, but they are just too short of room in the back.