Saab 9-3 TriFuel: when Saab turned a station wagon into a 1,000‑km multi‑fuel long‑runner

Saab’s multi‑fuel ambitions in the post‑GM era

In the late 2000s, Saab was deep into its BioPower program, already producing vehicles capable of running on both gasoline and E85 bioethanol. But in 2010, in the brief window after splitting from General Motors, Saab—together with ANA Trollhättan—took the concept much further. The result was the Saab 9-3 SportCombi TriFuel, a vehicle that could operate on three different fuels: gasoline, E85, and compressed biogas (CNG).

It wasn’t just about environmental optics. Saab saw multi‑fuel capability as a practical, customer‑driven solution for Scandinavian markets, where alternative fuel infrastructure varied regionally. In Västra Götaland, for example, biogas stations were well‑established, while in other parts of Sweden, E85 was easier to find. The TriFuel could handle both, plus regular gasoline when nothing else was available—eliminating the range anxiety that plagued early alt‑fuel cars.

The technical foundation: twin tanks, triple fuels

At its core, the TriFuel project was a factory‑grade conversion executed at ANA Trollhättan. The starting point was the 1.8t BioPower engine, already proven to deliver more power on E85 thanks to ethanol’s knock resistance. The TriFuel retained the 61‑liter liquid fuel tank but added a 102‑liter (24 Nm³) biogas tank, positioned in the cargo area floor.

The gas tank installation raised the cargo floor by exactly 100 mm—a compromise Saab’s engineers accepted to keep the system safe, accessible, and compliant with Swedish green‑vehicle certification. This additional tank gave the TriFuel an extra 400–500 km of range, depending on driving conditions.

From a performance standpoint, Saab refused to compromise:

• Gasoline: 150 hp

• E85: 175 hp

• Biogas: 175 hp

That last figure is key—biogas usually delivers less power than gasoline, but Saab’s engine mapping ensured the same output on all renewable fuels, preserving the brand’s “fun to drive” DNA.

Driving experience and fuel management

Switching fuels was simple: a dedicated button on the dashboard let the driver select between liquid fuel and gas. The system always started on liquid fuel (gasoline or E85), particularly in cold weather, to warm the engine before seamlessly switching to gas if desired.

During Auto Motor & Sport’s 2010 test drive, journalist Thomas Berggren noted the effortless transition between fuels and the practicality of being able to switch “on the fly” while cruising. At the time, Saab was also experimenting with an automatic first‑fuel selection, where the car would default to gas when available, but this was never implemented in the test fleet.

The combined range? Around 900–1,000 km with both tanks full—remarkable for a compact wagon, and a range figure that even many modern hybrids struggle to match.

Market positioning and price

The TriFuel was not a budget proposition. Priced at 304,900 SEK—around 40,000 SEK plus VAT more than a comparable BioPower model—it targeted fleet buyers, municipalities, and environmentally conscious customers willing to pay for versatility.

Despite the cost, tax incentives and green‑car privileges in Sweden made ownership more attractive. In some municipalities, biogas cars enjoyed priority for passenger transport contracts, and reduced operating costs often offset the higher purchase price.

A notable deployment was at Uppsala Airport, where TriFuel Saabs served as shuttle and fleet vehicles, demonstrating their suitability for high‑mileage duty.

Recognition from Sweden’s green car movement

In June 2011, the Swedish Association of Green Motorists (Gröna Bilister) recognized the TriFuel 9‑3 as the Motor Journalists’ Choice in their Best Environmental Car awards. This was no small feat—41 finalists met strict requirements:

• <120 g/km CO₂ life‑cycle emissions

• 5‑star Euro NCAP crash rating

• Availability before August 31 of that year

The TriFuel placed third overall, behind the VW Passat TSI EcoFuel and VW Touran TSI EcoFuel, but beat many dedicated hybrids and electric vehicles. Its appeal lay in real‑world usability rather than lab‑test efficiency.

Why Saab’s TriFuel never became mainstream

Saab and ANA originally agreed on a run of 300 TriFuel conversions, all sold through Saab dealers across Sweden. While there was talk of expanding production, several factors limited uptake:

1. Infrastructure gaps – Even in Sweden, CNG coverage wasn’t uniform.

2. Price sensitivity – For private buyers, the premium over a BioPower model was steep.

3. Corporate turbulence – Saab’s financial instability in 2010–2011 meant marketing resources were scarce.

4. Global relevance – Outside Scandinavia, neither biogas nor E85 had enough fueling stations to justify a TriFuel offering.

Still, the TriFuel represented a technical proof‑of‑concept that Saab could have evolved had the company’s fortunes been different.

The white TriFuel test car: still alive

Perhaps the most charming footnote to this story is that the white Saab 9‑3 SportCombi TriFuel tested by Swedish media in 2010 is still registered and roadworthy in Sweden today (registration LCD876). It’s a tangible reminder of Saab’s willingness to engineer niche solutions for real customer needs, even when those solutions defied conventional product‑planning logic.

Saab’s green legacy

While the TriFuel never went global, it fits neatly into Saab’s broader environmental legacy:

• BioPower models that made ethanol not just viable but more fun than gasoline

• Hybrid and EV prototypes like the 9‑3 ePower and 9‑5 BioHybrid

• Collaborations with government and municipal fleets to pilot alternative fuels

In hindsight, the TriFuel anticipated today’s push for multi‑energy drivetrains—flexible platforms able to adapt to different regional fuel realities.

A final showcase of Saab’s “find a smarter way” philosophy

The Saab 9‑3 SportCombi TriFuel was not a marketing gimmick. It was a fully engineered, real‑world product—sold, driven, and recognized by industry experts. It addressed infrastructure limitations head‑on, proved that renewable fuels could coexist with performance, and gave owners something no other compact wagon at the time could: a 1,000‑km operating radius without touching a drop of pure fossil fuel.

For Saab enthusiasts, it stands as one of the last examples of the brand’s “find a smarter way” philosophy—a small‑scale innovation that deserved a bigger stage.