Saab 9-5 wagon
The nonconformist |
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By Richard J. Newman
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Nits: Express-down power windows all around, not just in the front, would be nice. Come to think of it, for close to 40 grand, the windows should be express-up, too.
G forces: Powertrain options include a 185-, 220-, and 250-horsepower engine, each turbocharged with four cylinders. The middle option, which I drove, is saucy but not explosive. Handling falls in the same range, crisp but not especially sporty. That said, the 9-5 is a very comfortable ride, with an unquantifiable harmony between engine, transmission, and handling.
Gizmology: A centralized digital readout displays radio, climate, and car info, all nicely organized. Dual-zone climate control is standard on all models, as are steering-wheel audio controls—useful features. The cupholder that folds out from the dashboard is intriguing, but seems destined to break or get clogged with goo.
Kidmarks: The 9-5 wagon in particular is an excellent family car, with the practicality of a five-door and plenty of space for kids and their gear. There's a rear center armrest with cupholders, and the doors are light and manageable, making it easier for younger kids to let themselves in and out.
Hot or not: Hot. Saab's jutting-jaw front fascia and oddly balanced curves are still distinctive.
Envirometer: Earns a lowly 3 out of 10 on the EPA's pollution scale, and ranks about average for emissions. Mileage ranges from 19 mpg/city to 30 mpg/highway. For details, go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
Crash course: The 9-5 sedan, which is structurally similar to the wagon, earns 10 stars out of 10 on the government's frontal crash test, and nine out of 10 on the side-impact test. Rollover resistance rating is four stars out of five. More info: www.nhtsa.gov
Price points: Base prices range from $33,270 to $41,470. Price as tested: $43,684. (All prices include delivery fees.)
More info: www.saabusa.com
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Model year tested: 2005
Saab is in a tough spot. As part of the General Motors archipelago, the Swedish carmaker must be on alert against its Scandinavian identity being squashed by its hefty, homogenous parent. Yet being different for the sake of being different doesn't usually produce great traction in the marketplace, either. And the strain of trying to be quirky and corporate at the same time is starting to show.
Take the center console . . . or lack thereof. One of the great quirks of Saabs over the years is the ignition keyhole that sits in between the front seats, rather than the conventional place on the steering column. That certainly communicates that a Saab is not some French vanilla variant of a bland Detroit-inspired sedan. But that little hodgepodge of controls in between the seats—including the power-window door-lock switches—also takes up space that other automakers have filled with cupholders and storage bins and other gizmos that turn out to be quite handy. Saab went to some effort to put such devices elsewhere, including an elaborate folding cupholder that pops out of the dashboard and obviously took a bit of engineering work. All of which makes me wonder if Saab isn't so determined to remain anomalous that it overlooks good ideas simply because they may have come from someplace else.
Of course you can't judge a car by its cupholder—but the theme holds throughout the car. Mostly everything about the 9-5, Saab's high-end sedan and wagon, is quite refined, from its crisp handling and brisk acceleration to the placid, green dashboard readouts. But nothing stands out—except for the 9-5's oddities. This is a problem only because the 9-5 starts at about $33,000 and can quickly exceed $40,000 with a few options, a heady price range where drivers have a right to demand premium performance and a considerable dash of luxury. Sure, I like the funky mesh over the A/C vents, the comfy leather touches, the trendy/retro sturdiness of the dashboard, and the perky road manners. But none of that seems to justify the rather heavy window sticker. Instead, the 9-5 seems to be saying, 'love me because I'm not a Lexus or BMW." Well, OK. But superb handling or wraparound luxury or some other automotive distinction would sure make it easier.
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