Ratings
2002
- Awarded maximum five star rating in EuroNCAP collision test, Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan, EuroNCAP
- Best Family Sedan, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, PBS's MotorWeek television, USA
- Prestige Car of the Year, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia
- Best Buy, Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Expressen, Sweden
- Best New Car, Saab 9-3 Arc Sport Sedan ($30,000 - $40,000 range), Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, USA
2004
- Best Pick in side-impact crash tests, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Sport Sedan repeats the "Best Pick" rating from last year's IIHS frontal offset crash test and is now the first car with standard safety equipment to receive a double "Best Pick" honour.
- Received highest rating, "Good" in the IIHS & Thatcham studies into the safety of car seats and head restraints, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety USA, Thatcham, Great Britain.
- Awarded Compact Executive Car of the Year, Auto Trader, Great Britain
- Voted Top Small Executive Car, Top Gear Magazine's New Car Buyer's Guide, Great Britain
- Awarded one of "10 best Cars of the Year", Hong Kong Car and Driver, Hong Kong
- Awarded Best European Intermediate/middle sedan, Car Plus Award, Hong Kong
- Recommended buy, US Consumer Reports magazine, USA
- Awarded maximum five star rating in EuroNCAP collision test, Saab 9-3 Convertible, EuroNCAP
- Named UK's Most Secure Open-Top Car, British Insurance Car Security Awards, Great Britain
- Prestigious Sporting Open Top award, The Institute of Vehicle Engineers (IVehE), Great Britain
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
- Top Safety Pick, (USA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2006
- Wards 10 Best Engines 2.8L V-6 Turbo
2009
- Best car 0 -50.000 and 50.000-100.00 kilometer, DEKRA, Germany
- IIHS Top Safety Pick Award, Saab 9-3 Convertible, Canada