Petrol Saab 9-3: MOT pass rate
69.8% of petrol Saab 9-3s pass the MOT first time, measured across 20,130 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 106,793.
Petrol against the other Saab 9-3 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 69.8% | 20,130 |
| Diesel | 67.1% | 16,174 |
| All Saab 9-3 | 68.6% | 36,326 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the Saab 9-3 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 69.8%, and this petrol version sits 1.2 points above the 68.6% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The petrol Saab 9-3 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol Saab 9-3 had covered 106,793 miles at test, against 127,829 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Saab 9-3 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Saab 9-3 fuel types
- Diesel Saab 9-3 - 67.1%