Saab 9-5
Overall Score - 8.3 (Very Good)
The 9-5 delivers sporty handling and great safety ratings, but can't match the ride quality of others in its class.
Saab is proud of its aircraft-building heritage, and with good reason. The 2007 Saab 9-5 is certainly jet-like for having only a four-cylinder engine, but in the entry-luxury price range, most consumers and critics expect more. The 9-5 sedan lives up to its Swedish reputation for strong safety ratings and a clean, if dated, design (it was updated in 2006 but is otherwise a 1999 car). A rough ride and not-quite-silent interior are sore spots for test drivers. CNET says the 9-5 "might not be the brightest star in the galaxy of near-$40,000 passenger cars, but the Swedish four-door certainly isn't the dimmest." Kelley Blue Book estimates that driving 9-5 should be "plenty entertaining" for most around-town driving, but compared with other premium sport sedans, "the Saab 9-5 is neither as premium nor as sporty."
With low production volumes and some off-beat design elements, Saab doesn't market its cars as just another Lexus or BMW alternative. As MSN says, "the 9-5 isn't for everyone, but no Saab ever was. Its singularity is part of its charm."
"The 9-5 costs significantly less than competitors from Audi, Mercedes and Volvo," says About.com. But that depends on which cars you're comparing it to. While the starting prices for a base model Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class or Volvo S60 are lower than the base model 9-5, their prices can rocket well past the 9-5 as options packages are added. IntelliChoice gives the 2007 Saab 9-5 a "better than average" rating based on a projected total cost of ownership, compared to others in its class.
9-5 Performance - 7.6 (Good)
Most test drivers are impressed with performance from the 9-5's turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, which is as powerful as many competitors' V6 engines. Handling is also praised, but the bumpy ride is not. Edmunds finds the ride quality "choppy" and the wind noise "excessive for a premium-brand car." continue
9-5 Exterior - 7.3 (Good)
If you're a Saab fan, you'll find that the 9-5 still looks like one, despite a 2006 update aimed at making the car look more mainstream. The boxy, European design and traditional Saab flavor remains, as it has for decades. continue
9-5 Interior - 8.2 (Very Good)
The 9-5 comes with a long list of standard amenities, and most critics agree with Kelley Blue Book's assessment that both front and rear passengers should expect to find the car "plenty roomy and comfortable." continue
9-5 Safety - 9.4 (Excellent)
The 9-5 sedan performs reasonably well in government and insurance industry crash tests. In keeping with the Saab reputation, the 9-5 is loaded with standard safety equipment, prompting CNET to call it "impressive." continue
9-5 Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)
The 2007 Saab 9-5 reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2007 Saab 9-5 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. continue