THE Saab 9-3 looks a whole lot more desirable with the advanced XWD all-wheel-drive system included and the 2.0T Aero model even manages to keep running costs manageable.

Saab's XWD isn't your conventional four-wheel-drive system. Its ''cross-wheel-drive'' configuration means that as well as distributing torque between the front and rear sets of wheels, it can also send differing quantities to each of the rear wheels. This is achieved through a second Haldex limited slip differential that Saab has christened the eLSD.

If grip is lost at the front of the car, the XWD system can send up to 85 per cent of the engine's power to the rear wheels.

That driving force can then be divided up again between the two rear wheels by the eLSD which can make a split as dramatic as 80:20.

The result is an extremely stable and well-balanced driving experience as the XWD predicts road conditions and optimises the way in which the power is deployed.

This has major safety advantages in wet or icy weather and will also help buyers of the 9-3 2.0t Aero XWD make the most of their engine's 207bhp performance.

The 2.0T engine (note the large T which indicates the more powerful 2.0-litre unit in Saab parlance) delivers 207bhp and can cover the 0-60mph sprint in less than 7.5s.

There's a 146mph top speed too. The ride and handling compromise of the 9-3 is very well judged, especially with the XWD system doing its thing. Comfort inside the car is excellent thanks to great seats and a multi-adjustable driving position but the pedals are a little clumsier than you'd expect in a car with enthusiast pretensions.

The 9-3 Aero is also something of a looker. All the current Saab 9-3 models benefit from a facelift based on the Aero X concept car. The clamshell bonnet visually widens the front of the car and all external rubbing strips have been removed to give a cleaner look. There's a classier finish to the front grille and a set of LED light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp pod while the rear light clusters are shrouded in smoked glass.

The Aero sits lower than any other 9-3, and the bi-xenon headlamps give it an imperious stare. There's also a SportWagon estate model, offering extra carrying capacity for a £1,000 premium.

Saab tends to score reasonably well in terms of cost of ownership with decent if not spectacular residuals and low insurance ratings for the amount of brake horsepower available. The 9-3 2.0T Aero XWD should be no exception. Insurance is around group 16 and you should average around 35mpg in regular use. CO2 emissions aren't much different to those of the two-wheel drive version of this car (rated at 194g/km). The inclusion of the sophisticated XWD 4x4 system makes the Saab 9-3 sit a lot more comfortably alongside its premium brand rivals. The 2.0T Aero model offers the striking looks and powerful turbocharged performance that has always been key to the appeal of the fast 9-3 models but with XWD, the car looks much more appealing to the enthusiastic driver.