SAFE, solid and sensible. Three words you have always associated with Saab cars, if not their drivers. Now you can add a fourth, subtle.

The styling of the Saab 9-3X, which sits on five-spoke, 17in alloy wheels, might be a little more extrovert than you would normally expect from this understated Swedish carmaker, but beneath the dark-grey, grained finish bumpers, matt aluminium finish skid panels and chrome-rimmed front fog lights, is a seriously clever car.

To cope with the rougher stuff, Saab designers have raised the chassis 35mm higher than the standard two-wheel drive Sport-Wagon.

The electronically-controlled, four-wheel-drive system operates without any input from the driver, continuously shifting engine drive torque between the front and rear axles as required.

Techies might be interested in how a valve increases or reduces hydraulic pressure on wet clutch plates and how the standard fit rear limited slip differential operates, but you don’t need to know. There is not even as much as a badge inside the cabin to let you know about all the electronic wizardry whirring away under the bodywork.

The fit and finish of the 9-3X’s interior is as elegantly simplistic and as well assembled as Saab normally delivers. There is a dark metallic finish to the door trims, glovebox and gearbox surround, and the sports seating features grey fabric inserts in the black leather upholstery.

Saab is a byword for safety and the 9-3X delivers a range of airbags, combined with whiplash-reducing, active front headrests and ISOFIX rear child seat anchorage points.

Plenty of bells and whistles have been thrown at this model too, with dual-zone climate control and cooled glovebox, cruise control and computer, heated front seats and rear parking sensors. Push the boat out and a £1,937 ‘business pack’ delivers DVD satellite navigation, a voice control system and Bluetooth phone. A further £1,174 ‘convenience plus pack’ gives three-position memory on the front, electrically-operated seats, electric folding mirrors and rain-sensitive wipers.

Engine choice is simple. Either the test model’s 210 horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a 180 horsepower, 1.9-litre twin-turbo diesel, both of which are available with manual and automatic transmission. Visible, twin round exhaust tailpipes are standard for both engine choices.

Built for people with active outdoor lifestyles, the sleek 9-3X is clearly not a mountain-muncher, but might prove ideal for someone who regularly faces trips on rough, loose tracks or across muddy fields.

Price: £25,995 Insurance group: 15E Fuel consumption (Combined): 34.9mpg Top speed: 143mph Length: 469cm/184.6in Width: 180.2cm/71in Luggage capacity: 14.8 cu ft Fuel tank capacity: 13.4 gallons/61 litres CO2 emissions: 194g/km Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles