New Saab cars NOT going to crusher

It seems that AutoCar started a rumer this weekend that is not true. According to Swedish Aftonbladet, no new Saab cars are going to the crusher. But they are dismantling cars that were under maufacturing and not completed when Saab filed for bankruptcy or complete cars that never made it out of the factory before the bankruptcy.

These cars are being dismantled into spare parts to serve the fairly small population of new Saab 9-5 (about 10.000 cars) that was sold in 2010 and 2011.

100 new Saabs going to crusher

British AutoCar reports that 100 brand new Saabs are on the way to the crusher. These are cars that was completed before Saab filed for bankruptcy. Among the cars are pre-production examples of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, some Mexican built Saab 9-4Xs and some Saab 9-5 Sedans.

According to AutoCar, one single Saab 9-5 SportCombi will be preserved, possibly for the Saab car museum. But as reported yesterday, it is still unclear if the museum will be saved.

Saab 9-5 among the best in Swedish vehicle inspection

Most countries in the EU require that vehicles three (or four) years or older, every year or every second undergo a vehicle inspection to check that the vehicles conform to regulations governing safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions aspects.


In the UK this test is known as the MOT test (Ministry of Transport test), in Norway the PKK (periodisk kjøretøyskontroll), in Germany the HU (Hauptuntersuchung), in Sweden the besiktning, in the Netherlands the APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring ) etc etc.


In Sweden the test authorities, AB Svensk Bilprovning, makes summaries of the results for all car models. The latest statistics are from 2010. And here we also find Saab. Below is the 10 car models with the least faults when looking at cars that were 5 years old (model year 2005 cars).

	Car model	Car related faults	Number of cars tested	Average km driven
1	Ford ,  Focus ,  Sedan ,  200401 - ,  Petrol	0,1%	104	64 980
2	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	0,1%	93	106 100
3	Volkswagen ,  Jetta/Bora ,  Sedan ,  199801 - 200512 ,  Bensin	0,1%	86	65 120
4	Audi ,  A4 Avant ,  Kombi ,  200101 - 200712 ,  Diesel	0,1%	77	150 670
5	Porsche ,  911 ,  Kupé ,  200501 - ,  Petrol	0,1%	77	45 340
6	Toyota ,  Avensis ,  Sedan ,  200301 - 200812 ,  Petrol	0,6%	313	80 730
7	Toyota ,  Avensis ,  Kombi ,  200301 - 200812 ,  Petrol	0,8%	871	90 780
8	Seat ,  Leon ,  Halvkombi ,  200501 - ,  Petrol	0,9%	113	69 430
9	Audi ,  A4 ,  Sedan ,  200001 - 200712 ,  Petrol	0,9%	1 285	99 350
10	Lexus ,  RX ,  Flera ändamål ,  200401 - 200912 ,  Petrol/El	1,0%	103	109 430

The 2005 Saab 9-5 Sedan with petrol/E85-ethanol engine is among the absolute best cars. Only 0.1 percent of the Saab 9-5s with this engine failed due to car related faults. As a comparison, 26.9 percent of the Volvo V70 diesel failed.

If you look at the full list, the Saab 9-5 SportCombi with petrol/E85-ethanol engine also do well and is placed 31st with 2.1 percent fail.


Other Saab cars:

	Car model	Car related faults	Number of cars tested	Average km driven
2	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	0,1%	93	10 610
29	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol	2,0%	352	10 246
31	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	2,1%	1 101	11 840
43	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol	2,5%	3 023	11 296
128	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Diesel	7,8%	166	18 516
132	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Cabriolet ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	8,0%	113	6 290
152	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Kombi ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	10,0%	1 151	9 614
166	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Sedan ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	12,0%	1 739	9 605
177	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Kombi ,  200208 - ,  Diesel	15,0%	214	14 112
185	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Sedan ,  200208 - ,  Diesel	17,9%	251	14 304

How far the car has been driven and how well you service and care for your car will of course affect the result on this test. But it is always nice to Saab do well!

Fuel consumption on the Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.0TiD

4.85 liters diesel per 100 km, that is the latest and lowest fuel consumption I have recorded on my Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.0 TiD so far. And I can say that I am very satisfied with the figure!

It was recorded after driving about 750 km, of which 250 km where done on two long drives and the remaining 500 km where several trips of around 40 km. Almost all the driving was done on country roads without traffic queues, with the speed being from 80 to 90 km/h. Only a 20 km was on urban roads. On my car there are 17 inches unstudded winter tires.

According to Saab's specifications the car is supposed to consume:

6.9 l/100km during city driving
4.3 l/100km during highway driving
5.3 l/100km during a combined driving cycle

All according to the 1999/10 EU directive.

I am just happy I came below 5.0 l/100km. I have no illusions about ever reaching 4.3 l/100km, which is just a laboratory figure.

And I am not the only one happy with the fuel consumption figure. Swedish car magazine Vi bilägare are doing long-term road tests of the Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo4 and the following other cars: Dacia Duster 4X4 1,5 dCi, Ford C-Max 1,6D 115 hk, Opel Meriva 1,3 CDTI and Volvo V60 T4. They have concluded that when compared to the other cars they are testing, the Saab and the Volvo are the only cars where the deviation from the stated fuel consumption is acceptable.

The Ford consumed 34.8 percent more fuel than stated in the specifications, the Dacia 25 percent more, the Opel 22.2  percent more, the Volvo 9.2  percent more and finally the Saab 10.7 percent more.

Yet another reason to chose Saab?

Saab 9-5 awarded Car Of The Year in Singapore

Here is a piece of great news: The new Saab 9-5 Sedan Turbo6 has been awarded the Car Of The Year in Singapore!

It is the reputable annual consumer guide Car Buyers' Guide 2011/2012 published by Wheels Asia, which awarded the Saab 9-5 Sedan best car. The guide compares all models that can be purchased in Singapore, and the Saab 9-5 was set against the Audi A6 and the BMW 535i in the executive sedan class.

"Very nice," says Jonas Hernqvist, Regional Manager for among others the Asian markets.

"It's tough for the entire car industry in Asia, and in Singapore - which is a small country - they have also many restrictions in order to keep the car fleet in the country down. Saab is for obvious reasons particularly vulnerable because of the situation we are in. Therefore it is very gratifying and encouraging that the Saab 9-5 gets in the limelight in this way."

Some weekend reading

Weekend is here once again. Two days with more or less a time out for us Saab enthusiasts. So what's better than sinking our teeth into a Saab 9-5 review and an article that gives a good summary of the past 20 years.


First we have a nice review of the new 9-5:

The 2011 9-5 could be Saab's saving grace; it's a classy, comfortable, and well-designed flagship, with a lot more character than most luxury sport sedans 

Check it out over at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette /  The Car Connection.


And secondly, the summary of the past 20 years of Saab: 

...the company wowed auto-show audiences with a succession of intriguing concept cars, a couple of which might have helped turned things around had GM had the nerve to produce them. First was the 2001 9-X, a Kamm-tailed hatchback that appeared sexy, unusual and very Saab, followed by the 9-3X crossover coupe a year later that was even more desirable.

That is so true! Just imagine if Saab would be allowed to produce the Saab 9-3X crossover concept!

This car would have been a great success back in the early 2000. BMW and Audi had nothing like this. Saab would have gotten a great head start. The only down side is that Saab would probably be still owned by GM...

Check out the 20 year summary at edmunds AutoObserver.

Thanks to Curt for both the links! 

Curt's review of the Saab 9-5

This weekend I give you a review of the Saab 9-5 written by Curt. Curt is one of my regular readers and you have probably seen his name in the comment section. Now he has written a  review of his own Saab 9-5 on a trip he did from Denver to San Francisco and he has been kind enough to share it with us all. And it seems like he did the trip in much more comfort than Jack Kerouac did On the Road!

So without further ado, here is Curt's review.




Curt's review: Trip to San Francisco 

In July, I had the pleasure to drive my NG 9-5 Aero from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, California - a round trip of nearly 3000 miles/4800 kilometers. The car was a joy to drive and was my favorite part of the entire trip. Like any car, the 9-5 does some things very well and others not so well. Here are a few impressions of the car:

 Illustration photos "loaned" from Motortrend

Highlights


Handling – the NG 9-5 Aero handles very well at high speed (80MPH/128KPH) driving through mountains, deserts and high plains. This car really hugs the roads and throws itself around sharp corners. I had no problems keeping my speed up at night when the roads got particularly twisty in the mountains of Wyoming. The car simply drives smaller than what it really is which is an excellent attribute. Even city driving in busy downtown San Francisco was no problems for the car and I was able to find parking for it without problem.


Visibility – the adaptive Xenon lighting system works great. The system is so effective in low beam that it was difficult to tell when the high beams were on. The lighting system changes with input from the steering wheel. So, when I would turn the steering wheel either right or left, the headlights would also move to the left or right making it easier to see around corners. The Xenon bulbs are very bright which can be blinding to oncoming traffic. There were a few occasions when another driver would flash their head lights at to as if I were driving with high beams on.


Performance – the 9-5 accelerates much better than reported in the press. The 9-5 easily passed cars and trucks that were travelling at highway speeds. The car is so smooth and so quiet that it doesn’t feel as if it is accelerating quickly. But when I looked at the speedometer and saw that I was over 100MPH/160KPH in just a few seconds, I realized how fast the car really is. The car accelerated well in the mountains above 10,000 feet/3350meters carrying a trunk full of luggage and one other passenger. I really was amazed by how quick the car is.


Comfort – the seats are my favorite feature of the car. They are simply the best I’ve seen. I was able to drive the entire route with no back pain at all. I drove the entire return trip from San Francisco without sleeping (nearly 20 hours) and without back pain. Normally, I get low back pain within a couple of hours behind the wheel but not in the 9-5. My passenger also loved the seats and was very comfortable for the entire trip.





Trunk space – the car has 18.5 cubic feet of trunk space and I used nearly every inch of it for the trip. I was able to fit multiple suitcases, coolers, various coats and accessories into the trunk which left the back seat open for when my passenger wanted to rest. The trunk is very well laid out with little wheel arch intruding on it.


Issues


My complaints are very minor and the issues did not affect my driving experience. Like any car, the 9-5 is not perfect and I want to highlight what I think are a few issues with the car.


Lack of spare tire – I’m not sure who at Saab decided to leave out a spare tire from the car, but it was a bad decision. A repair kit is included but it’s not guaranteed to fill the tire or that the repair would hold. I decided to purchase a spare tire from Saab USA Parts before the trip and I was able to drive with a peace of mind that I would not have had without a spare.


Fuel economy – I only averaged 25.3MPG/9.30L-100KM while highway driving. I had expected better but I guess the weight of the car does have an impact on fuel economy. I must admit though that I was driving at 80MPH/128KPH and my passenger needed the air conditioning as it was quite hot driving through Utah and Nevada. This could explain some of the poor gas mileage. My lowest highway fuel mileage was 23.73MPG/9.91L-100KM and my highest fuel mileage was 27.17MPG/8.66L-100KM


Trip computer – the trip computer that calculates the car’s overall fuel mileage overestimated the fuel economy by nearly 11% and was off by 14% on one leg of the trip. This was disappointing as the trip computer on my other Saabs have been accurate to 1% - 2%. As an example, on one leg of the trip, the trip computer calculated that I had gotten 27.7MPG/8.49L-100KM when I only had managed to get 23.8MPG/9.88L – 100KM. This was off by over 14% and is fairly normal each time I fill up the tank. I’m not sure why the system is so inaccurate. Someone from Saab needs to investigate this issue as I’m sure my car is not the only one with an inaccurate trip computer.


IPOD connection – the IPOD connection works normally for 2 – 3 hours and then the connection between the IPOD and the car stereo gets interrupted and an error message is flashed on the stereo display. The stereo then no longer recognizes that the IPOD is connected. The stereo will not recognize the IPOD until the car is turned off and then back on again. This happened on both legs of my journey and was a minor nuisance as there were very few radio stations in the Western US.

Summary


In my mind, the car is quite stunning. From beautiful lines to sharp handling to excellent performance, the NG 9-5 is a winner. I enjoyed nearly every mile of my trip across country and I’d like to take another one very soon. Yes, the car has a few niggles but none that affect performance. The issues were quite minor and hopefully, Saab can work them out in future versions. Overall, I’d recommend the 9-5 to anyone interested in a great touring car. It looks much better than the MB and BMW and is also less expensive. The 9-5 is a great value and worth every penny.

The 9-5 offers a big car that perfectly suits the prestige segment

"Forgetting for a moment the mist surrounding its future, the 9-5 offers a big car that perfectly suits the prestige segment. It is very well equipped and I'm delighted to note it retains the indelible Saab character that classes it - and its owner - as something special."

That's how Neil Dowling of Australian The Sunday Times describes Saab's latest offering in Australia, the Saab 9-5 Aero. If that tickles your curiosity, then head over to CarsGuide to read the whole review.

Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 live on

Here's a bunch of Saab 9-5 and 9-3 reviews that have popped up the last two days. And it is nice to see that despite all turmoil and uncertainty these cars still get great reviews.

First American Faimly car guide checks out the Saab 9-3:

An all-new 9-3 is in the works [...] but in the meantime the 9-3 actually remains a decent family choice... The 9-3 isn't for sport-sedan enthusiasts, but it still has a lot of appeal for families looking for a comfortable, manageably sized, European-flavored sedan—and something different than staid German rivals.

We like the size of the 9-3 and think many small families will, too; it lands between compact and mid-size by U.S. standards, and feels small and maneuverable enough in the city yet has an interior that feels notably roomier than the likes of compact sport sedans like the Audi A4 or Volvo S40.

British Fleet news has taken the Saab 89-3 SportCombi for a spin and will soon come with a test:

Hidden among the 2012 model year upgrades for the 9-3 Sportwagon is the news that the CO2 emissions of the car have been reduced to below 120g/km.[...] This is equivalent to fuel consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle. 

I last drove a 9-3 after its mid-life facelift in 2007, so it was good to reacquaint myself with the car and discover the performance of the 180bhp twin-turbo diesel. First impressions suggest it’s surprisingly refined and marred only by a laborious gearshift.

Irish Herald says that the 9-5 lives on:

BioPower is one of those concepts that doesn't ram the whole Green agenda down your throat, but it does give you a choice (ethanol or petrol).More importantly than that though, the 9-5 is one of the fastest improved cars on the planet - a thrill to drive, with great poke and performance which makes it the Darren Clarke of motors - a heavyweight performer which many thought was long past its best, only to make a sensational comeback.

Australian Car Guide likes most aspects about the Saab 9-5 Aero:

It's an impressive car to look at particularly around the three quarter rear section and from straight on. The interior is awash with electronics and plenty of luxury kit including lashings of leather and woodgrain fascia and an impressive audio system. 

The engine is a sweet sounding Holden 2.8-litre, petrol, twin cam V6 with a twin-scroll turbo fitted.

Due to its abundant equipment, the Aero is a weighty beast tipping the scales at close to 2.0 tonnes but the way it goes and handles belie this.

Wednesday notes from the media

Lately the Saab 9-4X has gotten much attention in the media with the top score in the IIHS' crash test, the first cars arriving at the dealers and even the first car going out to a lucky new 9-4X owner in Ohio. So first let's continue the 9-4X news with a note from Dutch Autokopen which tells us that production of the 9-4X destined for Europe will start in August and the first cars will reach European dealers in October. I assume this means that model year 2012 production will start in August. As reported earlier, all production for the model year 2011 has already been spoken for.
Dutch prices are EUR 74,995 for the  Vector 3.0 V6 with 265 horsepower and EUR 89,920 for the Aero 300 bhp 2.8 turbo.


And let's stay in the Netherlands for the second note. Autozine tells us that the Saab 9-5 SportCombi will hit the showrooms in October. This assuming of course that the production in Trollhättan is restarted in August as planner.


Third and final note so far this day, is from Swedish media. Swedish media has had a talk with the FKG which is the trade association representing Scandinavian suppliers to the automotive industry. Svenåke Berglie, the CEO  of FKG, demands that the different players in the process of approving Vladimir Antonov as part owner of Saab, shows their cards. He is obviously, like the rest of us, sick and tired of the games the European Investment Bank and the Swedish Government are playing. 


"It's not fair what they are doing. Now is the time for those who say no to Antonov to show their cards. Neither the government or the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been able to say why they reject him," Svenåke Berglie said to Swedish Dagens Nyheter.

Anontov is scheduled to participate on a seminar held by the FKG in September, where he will be interviewed by Swedish TV4's reporter Lennart Ekdahl. Behind the initiative is Svenåke Berglie, who says that Saab must "bring in more resourceful ownership".

"It can be the Antonov," Svenåke Berglie says. 

Writers of AutoWeek give their opinion of the new Saab 9-5 Aero

AutoWeek has an article where six of their editors give their opinion of the Saab 9-5 Aero. And most of them seem to like the car. Here's one quote from each of them:

EDITOR WES RAYNAL:  The car is roomy and tight, the turbocharged six-cylinder has more than enough power and the ride is smooth.

INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: The Harmon-Kardon stereo system booms and the iPod input worked great.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Saab seats are, hands down, the best in the business.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: I find the car's styling is attractive in a classic sense. I suspect it will still look good once the last payment is made.

MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: The ride is comfortable, the handling not watered down to benign characteristics and quite surefooted, and I found the steering gave me enough feel and feedback to guide the Saab along smoothly and quickly with little effort.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This is the best Saab I've driven.

JoeR's Saab 9-5 Aero review

JoeR from Australia posted the following Saab 9-5 Aero review in the comments section earlier this week. In this driver focused review JoeR manages to put his impressions of the car into words in a very enjoyable way. And to me, a review done by an "ordinary" guy is ten times more interesting than the reviews in car magazines.

 So here it is, JoeR's review. Have a great Saab Saturday!

JoeR's review

Day 1 driving the Aero, a real Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde car and everything in-between. My Toy is a Tarmac VK Commodore that’s makes 230kw and only weights 1275kg. The 9-5 Aero drives like a limo going to a funeral, the outside is like watching the TV in your lounge but flip the gear shift over to tiptronic and use the paddle shifters with the heads up display (that shows the gear position) and the Aero turns into a rocket. The 4 wheel drive allows you to pick a gear lower than you think you need and suddenly that 30km round about in 1st makes the car sling shot out (meanwhile pedestrians continue to not notice you) the car tyres do not squeal and there is no loud exhaust. Best still I can give the car to my wife who will happily pot away with the Grand parents in the back. Better still my 186cm 15 year can fit into the back.

Did I mention the electric hand brake, so easy to use and no lever to clutter the centre console? The heads up display is adjustable so if you lower the seat you can lower the display, cool. Great for school zones, eyes never having to leave the screen. Aero seats are great, firm but when things get busy you are held comfortable in place. The torque of the GM V6 twin-scroll turbo is good, feels like an Ls2. They should put one of these into the VE Commodore. The leather in the car is superb, every time I got back into the car and put my hand on the wheel I would stop and appreciate how it felt.

Saab 9-5 Aero bathing in the Australian winter sun

Day 2 driving the Aero. Trip up the M4 to Penrith, right to Richmond, Kurrajong, Bells Line Rd to Bell, took Darling Causeway to Mount Victoria, Wentworth Falls (short stop) back to Sydney via M4. The M4 the Aero cruised at 1650rpm @ 110kmh. Very comfortable the sun roof open at 7c with seat warmers on and temp set to 24c. All the BMW drivers would have a sticky beak at the Aero as I edged pass. The sun visor can pivot to the side window and extend to completely block out the low rising winter sun, very handy.

The suspension was set to intelligent mode. The road to Penrith had a mixed road surface, the ride was always controlled and you were always aware that the Aero was in control of any bumps or broken road surface. Into Richmond was selecting gears by the gear shifter (+ or -) and using the normal speedo as your hands were more busy and your eyes glancing at sat nav, signs and controls. You could select 6th gear any time over 80kmh. Up the Bells Line Rd following slower than the speed limit traffic as the road narrowed, the other cars ahead seemed to have trouble holding their lane, and often crossing the inside marked lines or travelling over the cat eyes. Strange as the wide 2 ton Saab Aero start to drive like a small car as it was so precise and cut through the road like a knife through butter with no effort at all and always within the lane.

The twin-scroll turbo six was quiet and you were never aware of it, was driving with the paddles and using the heads up display now as the focus was purely on the road and traffic. It was great to have the choice in speedo. On the overtaking lanes, especially the ones on hills, the torque easily kept the car at the speed limit and would easily dispatch the slower traffic. The AWD always presented a neutral attitude into corners even if you happen to go faster then the recommended corner speed because you were scanning another radio station eg 50km into 25km bend, no drama no tyre squeal, just smooth cornering.

 At Wentworth Falls stop for a drink and continued the journey, now following the wife in the V70 2.4T. Set the suspension to comfort and listen to Elton John, Bruce Springsteen. The car rode softer but still you had the reassuring connection to the road. Cruised at 100kmh with 1550rpm, the middle gauge now set to instant fuel consumption. On the flats was slipping into the 6l per 100km. For a 2.8l and car weighting 2 tonne was quiet good, the V70 with a 2.4l was doing better but with only 1500kg weight. As the traffic built on the M4 the speed dropped to 90kmh and now the fuel consumption on the flats was into the 5's.

The seats were still comfortable after spending 4 hours in the car. Back in Sydney, BMW drivers still having a peek at the Aero, even the Porsche drivers gave the car a glance. Off course other SAAB drivers paid attention as well but the award for car envy (never though I see this) when to the Audi driver who stuck his head out the window to get a better look. The car had dropped the fuel consumption from delivered 12.2l per 100 to 11.5 (distance travelled 3500km) so the average for the trip would of been under 10. Maybe not diesel type fuel consumption but very good for a large car with AWD and power of 220kw.

Later that night, picked up 3 adults, two over 182cm, and everybody was commenting on the comfort and leg room, even my Wife (a Volvo tragic) liked the ride but not as cushy as her V70 (is anything?). Unfortunately, I needed to drop of the Aero and transferred to a 2003 9-3 SS. We all fitted (just and it was a short trip) and the willing 2l turbo impressed with its eager turbo but we all missed the comfort of the Aero.

Now would I give the Aero to my teenage daughter (19) to drive, even though it has easily enough performance to get you into an accident if you drove crazy? I would let her drive it as the car is so accomplished in everything it does I know it would protect her, passively and physically! Best of all I could take it on trips, my wife would steal it for the city work, and all of us would fit and perhaps for that odd track day....

Gay carboys excited by the new Saab 9-5 Aero

We knew from earlier that the new Saab 9-5 is well liked. But the review from the blog Gay carboys must be one of the most positive reviews I've read. As far as I know, the meaning of the word "gay" was originally "lively", "happy" and/or "excited". And this review is all that!

A few quotes from the review:

Is the new car any good? In a word, it’s a cracker. For a start there are the looks. As I said a few days ago, it looks like the love child of Al Capone and Boeing. It’s just scrumptious and the test car had the lowered Aero sports suspension polished off with a set of huge 19’ wheels. It comes from the factory looking fully pimped.

The ride was firm but supple, the steering was truly fabulous and the performance amazing from such a tiny engine. It felt luxurious with tasteful, elegantly designed finishes for a top drawer, up-market look. Quite simply, it’s a sensation.

The SAAB made me feel special and I looked for every excuse to take her out for a turn round the neighbourhood.

So visit Gay carboys for an excellent review!

Saab's new 9-5 wins 'em over

The title is not my creation. It is the words of the Belfast Telegraph. Their test driver has test driven the new Saab 9-5 Sedan for a whole week and has been seduced. Just like we are seduced each and every day.


Here's what Belfast Telegraph's test driver says about the 9-5 after a week:

...having now lived with the car for a full week of mixed motoring, I have to say I have been fully seduced by its qualities. It's a first-rate executive express.

The boldly expressive styling is low-slung and muscular, inspired by the company’s acclaimed Aero X concept car.

There’s a premium feel to the cabin, with very clear deeply recessed main dials, including an aircraft-instrument style speed read-out.

Out on the road, comfort levels are high despite the car’s sporting demeanour.

Another great review for Saab! 


On the other side of the world Aussie CarsGuide has also tested the new 9-5 Sedan. And they also thinks the car is a worthy alternative to the three German competitors:

It's not going to set the world on fire but it is definitely appealing, with its long bonnet and swept back windscreen.

The 9-5 has plenty of cache for the price and is a genuine alternative to mainstream Audi's, Benzes and BMWs.

And one fun observation on CarGuide's test. If you download their picture of the 9-5, the picture title is Saab 9-5 Hero instead of Saab 9-5 Aero!! :)

Saab 9-5 testing

A couple of Saab 9-5 reviews have turned up this weekend.

Car and Driver reviews the 2011 Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.0T and they seem to like it:

The 9-5’s tailored sheetmetal, approachable price, and roomy cabin provide an attractive way to enter the premium segment.  

British The Independent has test driven the upcoming Saab 9-5 Sportwagon, also known av SportCombi. I assume this is a test drive of a pre-production car. The British press was quite negative to the ride quality of the 9-5 Sedan when it first came out. Now Saab's engineers have worked to improve the suspension so that it will ride better on UK roads. And it looks like they have improved the car. The Independent especially likes the version with the two liter turbo engine and HiPer strut suspension:

That final car had the HiPer strut suspension in Sport specification, a smooth and lusty 220bhp petrol turbo engine, and standard, non-adaptive dampers. This was the one; its steering was crisp, progressive and natural, its ride was supple but controlled. This is how a 9-5 should be, even on 18in wheels, and it shows how good a 9-5 can be. Saab's own engineers like it best, and so do I.

Would it make me buy a 9-5 Sportwagon over an obvious German rival? I do believe it would, not least because it's a refreshing and worthwhile break from the default choices.

Finally a web page called Mother Proof has checked the 9-5 Sedan to see how easy it is to fit child-safety seats in the car. It seems they had to struggle a bit to fit the seats, but in the end it looks like they all was fastened. One thing to note is that they did not have to move the front passenger seat forward to fit the rear-facing child-safety seat.

A Saab 9-5 review beyond the car

Most of you who visit this humble blog do so because Saab is more to you than just a car. Our Saab interest reach beyond the mechanical, the technology and the quest for speed and excitement. Many of us have some sort of emotional and spiritual connection to the Saab brand. And this also seem to have happened to the Saab 9-5 Sedan Fleet And Personal Car Reviewer. Here is some of what she writes about Saab and the 9-5:

While driving the Saab 9-5 Vector in the past months I have come to realise that it is not just a car, but also gives you a sense of belonging to a community. It makes me feel like a film director or script writer, not sure which yet!!  

The Saab brand brings about an attachment at the emotional level which does not happen in case of other brands.

The Saab Vector 2.0TiD SE has a distinctively refreshing and unique appeal coupled with a powerful road presence, which in itself is a strong reason emotionally for owning one.

She seems to enjoy both the car and how it makes her feel. All in all it's a somewhat short but very enjoyable review.


Check it out: Fleet And Personal Car Reviews-An Unbiased Review Of The Saab 9-5 Vector SE 2.0TiD

2012 Saab 9-5 adds engine start/stop functionality and cuts CO2 emissions

Back in April I came across the Swedish specs for the upcoming Saab 9-5 SportCombi and started pondering why it was more fuel efficient than the Sedan. Now J Fan (Irishcarfan) has come up with the answer in the comments. According to a press release from Saab UK, the 2012 model year Saab will introduce engine start/stop functionality in the 9-5. The result is a CO2 emissions cut of 4.7 per cent across the model range. In addition to the stop/start system, a gear shift indicator will be fitted in the main instrument display for all manual transmission variants.

“The latest 9-5 range offers customer benefits across the board, with lower emissions, improved fuel consumption, enhanced cabin features and even better driving dynamics,” says Saab Great Britain Managing Director Charles Toosey. “The New 9-5 SportWagon is also a stunning addition to the range which substantially broadens the appeal of our product offer. It builds on Saab’s strong brand tradition for versatility, and will provide a compelling choice for customers who value distinctive design, premium quality and great flexibility.” 


The Saab 9-5 Sedan/Saloon with the 2.0-litre TiD engine with 160bhp will cut the emissions from 139g/km to only 125g/km. The SportCombi/SportWagon will achieve 128g/km. In other words, it's getting close to the magic 119g/km level!


Also worth noting is that British buyers will get both DAB digital radio and 8-inch touchscreen with hard disc storage and satellite navigation as standard.


Full price list below.

IIHS rewards new Saab 9-5 Sedan with Top Safety Pick

The Saab 9-5 Sedan has received Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA. This means that the car got the best score in the frontal offset, the side impact, the roof strength and the rear crash protection/head restraint tests.

In the new roof-strength test, the 9-5 was able to withstand the highest peak force—either absolute or relative to its curb weight—of any large luxury sedan. 

In a press release from Saab,  Per Lenhoff, Head of Safety Development at Saab Automobile says:

“We are very pleased with the 9-5’s performance. IIHS is an independent body and the results of their tests are easily accessible and objective information for car buyers. It is therefore important for us to achieve good results in this type of testing. Our main priority, however, will always be to protect real people in real accidents, not just to do well in crash tests. It's the core of our Real-Life Safety philosophy.” 


Earlier Saab has also earned five stars, which is the top score of the EuroNCAP crash test.



Saab's own crash test film clip:

Saab 9-5 an excellent sport sedan and luxury sedan all in one

In times of deals, investments, production stop etc etc, it feels good to point you in the direction of Motor Authority and their test of the Saab 9-5 Sedan. It's a comprehensive test that not only looks at the car in detail, they even seem to like what they see and drive! Not that this should be a surprise for us who have driven or own this great car :)

Motor Autority about the exterior design:

This is a very sleek, sophisticated design that looks great from all angles and has great proportions.

About the interior and cabin:

Saab design heritage is here in full force, with the swoopy instrument-panel design, canted toward the driver, with a wide center console.

Accommodations are in a word, awesome. The 9-5 not only has some of the best front seats on the market.

The engine and drivetrain:

The turbocharged, 2.8-liter V-6 makes 300 horsepower here and offers some pretty lively performanc. Saab's XWD all-wheel drive system just puts the power to the pavement neatly.

The steering and handling:

Steering here is an unexpected delight. It's nicely weighted, with a natural easygoing feel right on center but a very precise feel just off center where you need it.

Ride quality with the Aero's DriveSense system [...] is really quite good; it's on the firm side, always well-controlled and tight enough for crisp turn-in, while just pliant enough to soak up minor bumps and coarseness.

The only think they don't really like is a bit of turbo lag and the sticker price...

Saab 9-5 among best in anti theft protection

Svensk Försäkring Administration AB (Swedish insurance administration) has tested cars on the Swedish market by the british NVSA (New Vehicle Security Assessment) norm to rate the cars by how good anti theft protection they have. The test includes breaking into the vehicle through the boot, bonnet or doors, overcoming steering locks and include trying to start the engine without the original vehicle keys.

The cars are rated by how good they are protected from theft of the vehicle and theft from the vehicle.

The new Saab 9-5 is among the best in anti theft protection. Top score (five stars) in theft of vehicle and a good score (four stars) in theft from vehicle. (The Vector and Aero get this score, the linear only gets four and three stars because it lacks alarm).
Only the Citroen C5 is better with top score in both categories. This means that the new Saab 9-5 is right up there on top with the competitors Audi and Volvo. BMW and Mercedes chose to not participate.


The full list is below.