Best Pick in side-impact crash tests, American IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), USA. 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
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
