Portland Cars Examiner seems to like the car! Here's some of what they write:
...the 9-4X does have handsome lines for a crossover.
...the 9-4X behaved remarkably well in both ‘SPORT’ and ‘COMFORT’ modes. No tire squealing, very little noise inside the cabin, and little body roll.
In the real twisties the feedback from the steering was good, even if extra effort had to be applied to keep the heavy rig on-line.Steering feel was good and brake fade was non-existent.
For a crossover targeted to enter one of the busiest segments in the automotive market, the Saab 9-4X is a big entry from a small company.
And Autoblog seems to agree:
Based on looks alone, and despite its tortured birthing and ill health of its parent company, the 9-4X deserves a chance.
...the 9-4X clearly skews toward the sportier end of the luxury crossover arena...
We spent a couple of days in a range-topping 9-4X Aero with Saab's XWD system on undulating country roads outside of greater Washington D.C., and we found it to be an agreeable dance partner when the traffic cleared – even when the rain picked up.
Thanks to the 9-4X's stout chassis, our drive time revealed that Trollhättan's tuners have been able to bake-in good ride compliance without sacrificing body control.
It all adds up to a surprisingly engaging drive experience – one that suggests a 9-4X high-performance model with another 100 or so horsepower wouldn't be just a hoot, but a handler as well.
There is no question that Saab has a great product. Now let's see if they have the dealers and the confidence of the car buyers. If they do, this car should sell like hot cakes!
