2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 21 combined MPG, with 18 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 4 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Fit at 31 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $3,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 4 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
| City MPG | 18 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 26 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,850 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 423 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD compares
The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD returns 21 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year average 23 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 9%.
The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Fit at 31 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2009 model year (across all classes) returns 19.5 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2009 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2009
The EPA rates 4 separate variants of the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L, 4-cyl, turbo, Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 26 MPG | $2,850 |
| 2L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 17 MPG | 27 MPG | $2,850 |
| 2.8L, 6-cyl, turbo, Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 MPG | 15 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
| 2.8L, 6-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 MPG | 15 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 714.3 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,425 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,850 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,750 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD
The EPA has rated the Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD across 2 model years, from 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD through 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 21 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 21 MPG | this page |
| 2008 | 19 MPG | 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD |
Compare against other Small Station Wagons for 2009
If you are cross-shopping the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen leads this group at 32 MPG, 11 MPG ahead of the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD.
Specifications
The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a manual 6-spd, sending power through 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Small Station Wagons
- Engine
- 2L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Manual 6-spd
- Drivetrain
- 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 14.2 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD.
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Is the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD returns 21 combined MPG, and the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year sits at 23 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD at 21 combined MPG, 18 MPG in city driving, and 26 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,850 for the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD use?
The EPA lists the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 423 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,348 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD?
City driving returns 18 MPG and highway driving returns 26 MPG, a gap of 8 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD?
The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD has a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD have?
The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD comes with a manual 6-spd transmission and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Fit at 31 combined MPG. The Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD returns 21 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much more does the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD will cost about $3,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.