How the Saab 9-3 Cracked the UK’s Cheapest Car Insurance List in 2025 – and Why It Matters

The Saab 9-3 Surprise: What’s It Doing on a “Budget” List?

When the UK-based price comparison site Go.Compare released its list of the cheapest cars to insure in 2025, most readers expected to find lightweight city cars, small hatchbacks, and low-performance compacts. And for the most part, they did—models like the Peugeot 206, Toyota iQ, and Smart ForTwo all made predictable appearances.

But buried among these was a name that turned heads across the enthusiast world: Saab 9-3.

Yes, the Swedish turbocharged sedan—long hailed for its safety, refinement, and loyal cult following—is now one of the most affordable cars to insure in the UK, with average annual premiums hovering around £290. That’s roughly £160 below the national average, and on par with tiny runabouts driven by new drivers.

So how did a vehicle once positioned against the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series end up outpacing them in insurance affordability?

Insurance Costs in the UK: What Really Determines the Price?

To understand the Saab anomaly, it helps to look at how insurance premiums are calculated in the UK. Unlike flat-fee systems in other countries, UK insurers use a complex matrix of variables. According to Go.Compare’s insurance cost guide, these include:

• Car insurance group: UK vehicles are assigned a number between 1 and 50 by the Group Rating Panel (administered by Thatcham Research). The lower the group, the cheaper the car is to insure.
• Repair costs and times: Easier and cheaper cars to repair typically fall into lower groups.
• Performance and acceleration: Faster cars are assumed to be riskier.
• Parts availability: Rare parts can push premiums higher.
• Security features: The more robust the anti-theft systems, the lower the risk.
• Driver profile: Age, address, occupation, and even job title can all affect pricing!
• Claims history and usage: Mileage, prior claims, and overnight parking conditions factor in.

In other words, a well-maintained 9-3 parked in a locked garage by a 50-year-old professional living in Surrey is a far cry from a souped-up Vauxhall Corsa driven by a 21-year-old in Manchester.

Why the Saab 9-3 Makes the List: The Numbers Behind the Surprise

Let’s break down why the Saab 9-3, specifically, scored so well:

1. Strong Safety Ratings
   Saab’s legacy in safety engineering continues to pay dividends. The 9-3 boasts robust crash protection, multiple airbags, active head restraints (SAHR), and stability control—all of which reduce the risk for insurers. Cars that protect their occupants well often translate into fewer injury claims.
2. Demographic Factor
   Saab owners are statistically older, more experienced, and more risk-averse. This demographic profile lowers actuarial risk, helping insurers assign lower premiums to the model.
3. Lower Risk of Theft
   The Saab 9-3 isn’t exactly a hot target for thieves. Add to that factory-fitted alarms, immobilizers, and low black-market demand for parts, and you get a minimal theft risk profile.
4. Parts Still Available
   Despite Saab’s closure, parts for the 9-3 are widely available thanks to dedicated suppliers like Orio and specialists like SaabTech Parts Europe. Lower repair costs lead to more favorable group classifications.
5. Modest Performance on Paper
   While turbocharged, many 9-3 variants have conservative horsepower figures by today’s standards—another point in their favor when insurers assess risk.

The Rest of the List: Unexpected Company

According to the original report by The Sun, these were the top 10 cheapest-to-insure cars in 2025:

Rank	Model	Avg. Premium (£)
1	Mazda MX-5	£250
2	Peugeot 206	£255
3	Citroën Xsara	£256
4	Smart ForTwo	£260
5	Toyota iQ	£265
6	Fiat Panda	£279
7	Peugeot RCZ	£279
8	Vauxhall Agila	£290
9	Saab 9-3	£290
10	Volvo S40	£290

The presence of not just Saab, but also the Peugeot RCZ and Mazda MX-5—both sporty, performance-oriented models—suggests that insurance categories are no longer dictated solely by size or horsepower.

What It Means for Saab Owners and Buyers in 2025

For owners of Saab 9-3s in the UK, this news has practical benefits. In a time when insurance premiums are surging—especially for younger drivers—the 9-3 offers a rare combination of comfort, safety, style, and low running costs.

Even for buyers looking at used examples, this listing may serve as a green flag. Many used car platforms in the UK have already noted a renewed interest in well-maintained Saab 9-3s, particularly diesels and late-model 2.0T petrol versions.

Meanwhile, Carup.se’s coverage emphasized how this finding resonated in Sweden, with Saab fans hailing it as a testament to the brand’s longevity and design integrity. While many carmakers have come and gone in the insurance affordability rankings, Saab—despite being out of production for over a decade—remains competitive.

What This Says About Saab and the Market

The broader takeaway? The Saab 9-3 is more than a nostalgic holdover—it’s a rational choice in today’s used car market. With low insurance costs, durable build quality, and accessible maintenance, it stands as a counterpoint to the disposable nature of many modern cars.

More importantly, this listing demonstrates how value isn’t always where you expect to find it. For a car once marketed with jet-inspired dashboards and turbo torque curves, finding itself beside a Smart ForTwo and Fiat Panda is perhaps ironic—but also a quiet vindication of the Saab ethos.

For those considering a 9-3 as a daily driver in the UK, 2025 may be the best year yet to make the switch.