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Saab 9-5 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Saab 9-5 ranks 13 out of 17 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 34 published reviews and test drives of the Saab 9-5, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Saab 9-5 offers sporty handling and great safety scores, but otherwise trails the competition in overall refinement and value. The car is aging and will soon be replaced. The 9-5 was last redesigned in 1999 (though it saw a mild update in 2006), and its age shows.

The aging 9-5 lags behind its class in most measures.

For a similar price, buyers could have the celebrated performance of the BMW 3-Series, the world-class interior and sharp handling balance of the Audi A4, or the high-tech wizardry of the Acura TL.  The Saab 9-5's rough ride and a noisy interior are sore spots for reviewers -- and in this class, such complaints are very unusual. 

Another complication for Saab buyers is the murky future of the brand.

GM has recently sold the Saab brand to Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg.  While plans for the brand and furutre models are unclear, those who bought a Saab while GM operated the brand will be able to obtain service at any GM dealership.

Saab plans to bring an entirely new 9-5 to the U.S. for the 2010 model year.  In fact, prototypes have been spotted testing at Germany's famous Nurburgring race track, where only sports cars are ordinarily tuned, leading Motor Trend to speculate, "Saab is attempting to ramp up its performance image by building a new 9-5 to take on the likes of BMW's 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz' E-Class, and Audi's A6." 

The current 9-5 is anything but as sporty as those cars, but there are still good reasons to look at Saab's largest sedan. Its base four-cylinder engine offers strong acceleration -- and in an age of expensive gasoline, a powerful four-cylinder may be a better choice than the V6 engines many competitors rely on. The car also earns strong crash test scores, and for those who want to drive something a bit unusual, its look is distinctive. Still, most consumers and critics expect more from an entry-luxury vehicle.  And the uncertainty surrounding Saab means that dealerships may be struggling to sell cars, and anxious to negotiate prices.

For 2009, Saab has introduced a new top-of-the-line trim level -- Griffin -- which adds xenon headlights, power-folding mirrors, rear parking sensors and piano black interior trim to the equipment found on the Aero edition.  Otherwise, nothing has changed from the 2008 version of the car. A wagon, reviewed separately, is also available.

• "The 2009 Saab 9-5 sedan and wagon will still please those who have an affinity for classic Saab styling. But in terms of performance, luxury and overall refinement, the 9-5 is outclassed by newer competitors...Even the 9-5's less expensive sibling, the 9-3, is a better choice. There's just no getting around the fact that the 2009 Saab 9-5 is well past its sell-by date." -- Edmunds
• "The 9-5 is among the oldest designs in the premium-midsize-car class and counts among its shortcomings the absence of curtain side airbags. It's also pricey for a 4-cylinder automobile. Still, this is a roomy, solid, good-handling car available with the added utility of a wagon body style. Slow sales should mean big discounts." -- Consumer Guide
• "The 9-5 is the senior Saab, a mid-size front-drive sedan that aspires to the lower ranks of the European luxury-car class. However, there's only one engine...and it also has the disadvantage of being a front-drive sedan in a rear- and/or all-wheel drive class." -- Car and Driver
• "Saab enthusiasts should be satisfied with what amounts to a faster, sharper, better-looking, and best of all more affordable 9-5. For the rest of us, all-wheel drive and V6 power can't come soon enough." -- AutoWeek
• "As always, any 9-5 is a good choice for drivers who don't want a cookie-cutter car." -- New Car Test Drive
• "It has a higher price than many competitors, it's average in most every way, and it lacks an all-wheel-drive option. The result? A good 9-5 lost in a sea churning with better alternatives." -- Autoweb
• "I went into this test drive regarding the 9-5 as the elder statesmen of European cars and came away with a new-found respect for it. Yes, it's been around a while, and its face bears the scars of questionable plastic surgery. But the 9-5 can still hustle with the best of 'em, and that's what really counts." -- About.com

9-5 Performance - 7.5 (Good)

The 2009 Saab 9-5's comes only with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, but some reviewers say it is as powerful as many competitors' thirstier V6 models. The car's performance scores remain relatively low, however, due to choppy ride quality. Consumer Guide calls the ride "firmer than necessary," adding, "Sharp freeway expansion joints register with a jolt." Read More

9-5 Exterior - 7.7 (Good)

The upscale midsize car class is full of curvy, flashy and sexy designs. The Saab 9-5 isn't one of them. It's an unusual shape, which makes it distinctive. The look doesn't work for many reviewers, but Saab fans have always valued the brand's quirky sheetmetal, even when the automotive press hasn't. The Truth About Cars says, "Luxury sedan buyers tend to place beauty at the top of their list of priorities. Fortunately, the 9-5's lines have worn well over the past nine years. But they have, well, worn." Read More

9-5 Interior - 8.4 (Very Good)

The 2008 Saab 9-5's cabin is spacious and comfortable, with a long list of standard equipment. New Car Test Drive says, "The Saab 9-5 is roomy for its exterior size, making for a comfortable cabin front and rear. Interior materials are high quality." Certain interior quirks familiar to Saab lovers, however, might seem unusual to those who've never owned a Saab before.  From the center-mounted ignition to the grid-style vents, they're here. Read More

9-5 Safety - 8.9 (Very Good)

The 2009 Saab 9-5 earns almost perfect scores in government crash tests, but doesn't do as well in insurance industry testing. Saab has a strong reputation for safety, and the 9-5 includes an extensive suite of safety equipment in keeping with that theme. Read More

9-5 Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2009 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 9-5 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Read More