FuelFacts

2005 Saab 9-3 Convertible MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

Every gas trim of this model takes premium.

19–22
MPG combined (17–19 city / 25–26 hwy)
$3,191–$3,695
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Premium
gas type

Is the 2005 Saab 9-3 Convertible good on gas?

At up to 22 MPG combined, the 2005 Saab 9-3 Convertible is about average for a Subcompact Cars — that class averages about 22.8 MPG across 5,756 EPA-tested versions, so it's middle-of-the-road for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

This 2005 model was originally EPA-tested under the pre-2008 2-cycle method, which didn't account for highway speeds over 60 mph, air-conditioner use, or cold starts. When EPA overhauled the test for model year 2008, city ratings fell by about 12% and highway by about 8% on average industry-wide — and EPA retroactively adjusted every 1984-2007 rating to the stricter standard so old and new cars could be compared fairly. The MPG above is already on that modern scale — the window sticker on this car when it was new likely showed a higher, pre-2008-method number.

At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $3,191/year (roughly $266/month, about $21.27 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 682 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2005 Saab 9-3 Convertible trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
2.0L 4-cyl, 5-spd manual, FWDPREMIUM22$3,191
2.0L 4-cyl, S5 automatic, FWDPREMIUM19$3,695
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2005 Saab 9-3 Convertible specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmission5-spd manual · S5 automatic
Drive typeFWD
EPA body classSubcompact Cars
FuelPremium

Other years of the Saab 9-3 Convertible

2009 Saab 9-3 Convertible2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible2007 Saab 9-3 Convertible2006 Saab 9-3 Convertible2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible

Similar cars (Subcompact Cars)

2005 Toyota Celica2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK3202005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (Cabriolet)2005 BMW 645ci2005 BMW 645ci Convertible2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

2 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.