Estate car makers have faced some pretty stiff competition during the past decade as 4x4s and MPVs have become a more popular choice with families.

But with environmental concerns now denting the image of the off-roader and MPVs still struggling to blend space with driving pleasure, the estate car is perfectly placed for a comeback.

One manufacturer hoping for this is Saab, which like Volvo used to sell virtually as many estates as saloons and hatchbacks, the most recent being the 9-3 SportWagon. Introduced in 2005, three years after its saloon car brother, the Saab SportWagon sits somewhere between the premium-priced offerings from BMW, Jaguar and Audi and the cheaper mainstream rivals from Vauxhall, Ford and Peugeot.

With a boot space of 419 litres, the SportWagon is not the largest estate car money can buy, nor does it boast the best driving dynamics. But what it does offer is great comfort, good build quality and reasonable pricing – particularly so on the secondhand market.

For a relatively small car maker, Saab offers a generous range of engines in the 9-3, thanks to its parent company General Motors and its engine-sharing agreement with the Fiat Group. Petrol power comes in the form of a normally aspirated 120bhp 1.8 litre engine, three turbocharged 2 litre units with 150bhp, 170bhp or 210bhp, and a 250bhp 2.8 V6.

As power increases fuel consumption suffers, and as most manufacturers now concede, on front-wheel-drive cars anything over 200bhp is difficult to handle, even when traction control is employed. This makes the 150bhp and 170bhp models the natural choice for most.

As is so often the case these days, it is the diesels that most impress, the 1.9 litre eight-valve unit producing 120bhp and the 1.9 litre 16-valve engine 150bhp. Their relatively modest price differential of £1,000 when new erodes to just £500 on used examples, and for that extra cash you get to shave nearly two seconds off the 0-62mph time, while achieving near identical economy.

On the road the 9-3 SportWagon loses nothing to its saloon counterpart, proving Saab’s claim that it has identical structural rigidity to the four-door. While it cannot match a BMW 3-series Touring for driveability, it’s significantly more agile than those tall MPVs and heavy 4x4s that compete for the same buyers.

Exterior styling is typically Saab: the wraparound front screen and distinctive headlights look modern but hark back to Saabs of the early 1980s. Somewhat more dubious are the SportWagon’s tail-lights, which look distinctly cheap by comparison.

More pleasing is the interior. The dashboard may look a little cluttered but in practice works well, and at night a button can be pressed to extinguish all instrument lighting bar that of the speedometer, creating a simple, elegant environment.

Seat comfort is exemplary, with both front seats boasting an intelligent headrest system that senses an imminent crash and shifts forward to cushion the driver’s head against whiplash. Safety has always been a Saab priority, and the 9-3 SportWagon is packed with airbags. It has achieved the maximum Euro NCAP five-star score for adult occupant safety.

Equipment levels are high overall, with climate control, a CD player and alloy wheels a standard fit. Move up the range and you find larger alloys and a better stereo system, although you will be pushed to find cars with sat nav and Bluetooth, as canny Saab buyers know that most extras do little for resale value.

Used 9-3 SportWagons are starting to appear in decent numbers – most at franchised dealers. With even the earliest examples still less than three years old you can be fussy about condition and service history, safe in the knowledge that there’s still cover from the original warranty.

The 9-3 SportWagon may not be the car that transforms the UK back into a nation of estate drivers, but it does a good job of reminding us that you don’t need a minibus or a tractor to transport yourself and your family around.

Servicing With intervals of 18,000 miles or every two years it is important to check oil and fluid levels regularly

Gearbox Six-speed manual well suited to the diesel units while in the petrol models all but the V6 make do with a five-speed manual

Safety Five-star Euro NCAP score for adult occupant safety. Six airbags as standard

Tyres Check front tyres for heavy wear on high performance models

Cruise control Standard fit on most models

Interior Standard cloth is hardwearing, leather a desirable option

Stereo Standard unit works well while optional upgrade unit boasts plenty of extra power

Glove box Air-conditioned glove box is standard on all but the base model

Security Remote central locking operates the alarm. An immobiliser is also fitted as standard

Vital statistics

Model 9-3 SportWagon 1.9 TiD Linear

Engine 1910cc, four cylinders

Power 150bhp

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel 47.9mpg (combined)

Acceleration 0-60mph: 9.7sec

Top speed 124mph

Values

Mileage 5,000 10,000 20,000

2005 55 Trade £12,250 £11,800 £11,150

Retail £14,150 £13,795 £13,150

2006 56 Trade £12,900 £12,550 £11,800

Retail £14,895 £14,495 £13,750

2007 07 Trade £14,250 £13,850 £13,450

Retail £16,300 £15,900 £15,500

The one to buy

A 2005 55 Saab 9-3 SportWagon 1.9 TiD (150bhp) Linear with 20,000 miles. Pay £13,150 at a Saab dealer or £12,250 privately

Or for similar money

2003 03 BMW 3-series 320d Sport Touring

2004 04 Audi A4 1.9 TDI 130 SE Avant

2004 54 Jaguar X-type 2.0D SE estate

2005 54 Volvo V50 2.0D S

2006 56 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Design