The system, co-developed with Haldex, was launched in 2008, but limited to the V-6 Aero and Turbo X models. For 2009, it's now available on the four-cylinder 2.0T trims, allowing customers to buy an all-wheel-drive 9-3 at a lower price point.
On both the 2.0T sedan and SportCombi wagon, the XWD system adds approximately $6000 to the asking price, raising MSRPs to $35,645 and $37,060, respectively.
That's not cheap, but it's not as expensive as the V-6 Aero models, which gain XWD as a standard feature for 2009. Pricing for the Aero sedan begins at $42,660, while the SportCombi stickers at $43,940.