Redesigned 2010 Saab 9-5: Larger, still some quirkiness

Jul 28, 2010 3:07 PM

Redesigned for the first time in 13 years, the new Saab 9-5 is the largest car in company history. The Swedish carmaker says is the upsizing is intended to better differentiate it from the 9-3 and make their flagship a more viable competitor with the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series.

Designed when General Motors owned Saab, the 9-5 shares its platform with the Buick LaCrosse. But company officials are quick to say that's where the similarity ends. For example, the 9-5 has its own powertrains and suspension tuning. It also has a distinctly Saabish look and obligatory quirkiness, with the traditional ignition between the front seats now updated to a push-button start.

Two trim levels and two turbocharged engines will be offered, with only the top-of-the-line Aero available at launch this summer. Powered by a 300-hp, 2.8-liter V6 matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, the all-wheel-drive Aero will be priced at $49,900. A 220-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model arrives early next year, available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Four-cylinder models are expected to start at around $39,000. Saab claims the 9-5 will offer class-leading fuel mileage, with 27 mpg overall for six-cylinder models and 34 mpg for the four cylinder. (The EPA rates the base six-cylinder Audi A6 at 22 mpg combined and the BMW 528i at 21 mpg combined.)

A raft of safety features will be offered, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, stability control, and curtain air bags.

We had a chance to drive a new Aero, and found it to be a pleasant car, roomier, quieter, and more refined than the old 9-5. The six-cylinder engine provides quick, smooth acceleration, and the car handles nicely, with a comfortable ride. Some GM switchgear remains as a reminder of the past, but the upside is the 9-5 inherited OnStar from its ex-parent.

Saab is aiming high with the 9-5, and it faces some stiff competition from more mainstream luxury brands. Thirteen years is an eternity for a model to go without a redesign, and it's long enough to take a brand that was always a bit on the fringe off some buyers' radar altogether. But Saab still has a loyal following, and it is good news for Saabophiles that the 9-5 is making it to showrooms at all.

Between the GM bankruptcy proceedings, failed attempts to sell the company, and a couple of years of tanking global sales for all cars, Saab nearly passed into oblivion. Under new ownership, Saab is looking ahead with several new and redesigned models planned for the next few years, including a next-generation 9-3 and 9-4x crossover.

If you're one of the Saab faithful chomping at the bit for the new car, we suggest you hold out for the 2011 9-5 due in a few months, as it may have additional features and refinements, as well more models to choose from. Company officials told us prices won't go up.

—Jim Travers