SAAB has long been a name associated with Swedish style and durability.

The firm's cars were and are often seen as the alternative in the premium/executive sector with its quirky styling both inside and out.

As befits a car company born from aircraft builders, the interior always resembled an aeroplane cockpit with banks of instruments and a wrap-around console.

That has now evolved into a simpler layout as the firm re-invents itself after a long and tempestuous relationship with General Motors

The two have divorced and Saab is now owned by the Spyker group and looking to return to former glory

The firm has a limited range so the success of the 9-3 is pivotal to its future.

The car has a difficult market to crack, sitting between the likes of the Mondeo, fomer stablemate Insignia and Passat and the lower-end executive cars like the BMW 3 series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class.

The big thing going for it is that it is none of these, so has a certain exclusivity and is cheaper to buy.

It is available in saloon or estate versions, but both are good looking cars displaying what Saab calls the  ‘moving when stationary' look.

This I suppose, means it conveys a sporty and dynamic look, with its large five-spoke alloys and wedge-like coupe styling. Other Saab signature styling is evident, from the smoked white light clusters at the rear to the muscular styling at the front end that features the familiar grille and distinctive headlight above a deep air scoop.

The design is hard to ignore and in truth and with its chunky rather than sleek looks, is not everyone's cup of tea, but  the same cannot be said of the interior.

As befits a firm born from an aircraft building company, the interior has the feel of a cockpit, with controls appearing to wrap around the driver.

It feels just a luxurious as its competitors with classy leather seats and a dashboard and console that houses neat and functional controls. Gone are the banks of switches to be replaced with a simpler more logical layout dominated by the big centre dial and two smaller dials, one containing the quirky turbo power meter.

Heating, sat nav and radio controls are housed in the console that sweeps down to the built-in, concealed handbrake that also contains the gear shift lever. The ignition switch remains next to the handbrake.

It all feels well put together, if not quite as classy as the German competitors.

On the practical side, interior space is excellent with plenty of space for five adults while boot space is a good size at 425 litres.

There are lots of other little cubbyholes and storage areas, and the ageing, but still the best in my opinion, pop-out drinks holder.

For comfort, the optional infotainment system includes DVD satellite navigation with large 6.5-inch colour monitor, Bluetooth Phone Integration System (BPIS) for automatic connection to audio system with operation by voice control or steering wheel buttons and auxilliary input socket.

The test model is powered by a 1.9-litre turbo diesel that delivers good economy and more than 53mpg average and low CO2 levels of 139g/km which equates to road tax of £125 per annum and benefit in kind taxation of 19 per cent.

The engine is quite refined and road and wind noise are kept to the minimum you would expect in a car like this, while the steering is precise and handling good.

The  180bhp twin turbo diesel is very willing and pulls well even at low revs, while the six-speed manual box is a delight.

Acceleration is lively, the 0-60mph sprint taking just eight seconds with a top speed of 140mph

The downside is the ride, which I found harsh and crashy even on some half-decent surfaces. It felt more like a go-kart than a premium car, a real let down on an otherwise cracking package.

That aside, the car is well, even lavishly equipped for the money with the usual creature comforts and legendary Swedish safety is there in spades with and array of active and passive safety features.

These include: dual-zone automatic climate control with cooled glove box; ABS and stability programme plus active head restraints; front and side airbags; parking sensors  a single CD player and multi-function steering wheel.

The Saloon is available as a choice of four specifications,  Airflow, Linear SE, Vector Sport and top-of-the-line Aero, while two BioPower versions are available with a choice of three diesel engines.

Saloon prices starts at £18,605 for the Airflow 1.8i and moves up to the top-of-the-range Aero 2.8 V6 XWD for £30,154.