The Saab 9-5 is not the most obvious sports car. The body is big and chunky, and it looks a big, solid, heavy car. But lurking underneath is an incredibly quick and nimble car, with a ton of luxury to boot.
Saab have always been known to build very safe cars. The 9-5 is an example of this, ... Read review
Estate - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Automatic, 5 Speed Manual - 2290 cc - Max Speed: 143 mph - 220 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Linear, Linear Sport, Vector, Vector Sport
Saloon - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Manual Gearbox - 1796 cc - Max Speed: 123 mph - 122 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Airflow, Linear, Vector, Vector Sport, Linear SE
Advantages: Stunning power, great handling, well built Disadvantages: Still looks like a big, sluggish car
The Saab 9-5 is not the most obvious sports car. The body is big and chunky, and it looks a big, solid, heavy car. But lurking underneath is an incredibly quick and nimble car, with a ton of luxury to boot.
Saab have always been known to build very safe cars. The 9-5 is an example of this, being the car that has achieved the highest scores ever in the Euro-NCAP crash tests. Added to this impressive boast, all Saabs, including the 9-5, ... ...charged petrol engines, and so Saab have become very good at this. Most turbo charged cars, such as the Mondeo ST200 and Subaru Impreza, have 'turbo-lag', where it takes a while for the turbo to kick in, and when it does, it hits with a bang. However, with the 9-5 Aero, the turbo is instantaneous, and you wouldn't even know it was there were it not for the incredible power that it produces.
The 9-5 is incredibly smooth. This is partly ... more
The Saab 9-5 is not the most obvious sports car. The body is big and chunky, and it looks a big, solid, heavy car. But lurking underneath is an incredibly quick and nimble car, with a ton of luxury to boot.
Saab have always been known to build very safe cars. The 9-5 is an example of this, being the car that has achieved the highest scores ever in the Euro-NCAP crash tests. Added to this impressive boast, all Saabs, including the 9-5, come with about 4 air bags and ABS, along with several other safety features.
While sitting inside, you get a sense of importance. The dashboard is styled in a wrap-around fashion, giving the driver all the controls in one area. I only had about half an hour with the car, on the Millbrook test track just north of Luton, so I didn't get a lot of time to play with the control in detail. However, all the controls seemed solid and responded well. They were all laid out quite logically, and were all easily reachable without fumbling about. The 9-5 Aero that I drove had a host of extra features that would not be found on every model, including leather seats, steering wheel, etc.
But the Saabs true merit has to lie solely in its performance. The figures speak for themselves really. It does 0 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds, and is good for almost 150mph. This is all due to the 2.3 litre turbo charges engine. All Saabs have turbo charged petrol engines, and so Saab have become very good at this. Most turbo charged cars, such as the Mondeo ST200 and Subaru Impreza, have 'turbo-lag', where it takes a while for the turbo to kick in, and when it does, it hits with a bang. However, with the 9-5 Aero, the turbo is instantaneous, and you wouldn't even know it was there were it not for the incredible power that it produces.
The 9-5 is incredibly smooth. This is partly down to the incredibly smooth power delivered from the powerplant under the bonnet, but it is also due to a very well tuned suspension and tyre package. With such a large an heavy car, you would expect a certain about of wobbliness, with the car rolling side to side as it entered the corners. But, to my surprise, the car handled very well, almost like a small car such as an Astra or Focus. The Millbrook test track is quite severe, with lots of climbs and drops, up to 21% gradients, and tight corners, so it was an ideal place to test the agility of the car. It felt composed throughout the test, with little in the way of body role, yet the ride was smooth over the bumps.
Around the high speed bowl, the acceleration was very fast. I was limited to 100mph, but the 9-5 achieved that speed very quickly, and was certainly ready for more. The gear box responds positively, with a very short distance between gears. There is also a very nice lock on the gear stick as standard. The ignition key barrel is actually located alongside (just to the bottom right, actually) of the gear stick, and to remove it, the gear stick must be in reverse, which locks it in gear, thus rendering the car useless, unless it can be unlocked. This works quite well. The advantage of having the ignition key located in the centre rather than on the steering column is two fold, though in Saabs 'official' view, just the one. Firstly, it is a lot safer, as in an accident, the ignition barrel is a very hard, non moving piece of metal that will hit your chest, so moving it to the centre console is a lot safer. Secondly, it means that if you have a lot of keys, they won't keep banging against your leg as you drive.
The car is full of driver aids. The seats are fully adjustable, as is the steering column. There is electric everything, and full climate control, rather than the standard air conditioning. Also, the car is split into zones, thus enabling you to change the temperature in different areas, though dramatic differences are obviously not possible. The noise produced from the AC is dependent on how high you turn up the fan, but you can leave it on the Low setting and it still reduces the temperature nicely. When I tested it (last Tuesday (26th June), the outside temperature was around 30 degrees centigrade, yet the temperature inside dropped quite quickly to a much more comfortable 18 degrees.
This is truly a great car, and has to be recommended 100% to anyone who can afford it. The power is just sensational, the handling solid and smooth, and the luxury unparalleled in its class. Plus, everything comes as standard, so you don't have to fork out more money to get the specs you want, unlike with BMW, Mercedes and Volvo.
...service costs. I chose the Saab 9-5 due to previous positive experiences with a Saab 9000. I've also driven BMW, Honda and Audi cars in similar circumstances.
First impressions are that the car is not attractive. I don't think anyone considers Saab to design eye-catching cars but if you can get over the looks and actually get inside the cabin you really begin to appreciate what saab does really well.
The inside is, like the 9000, huge. I have not ... ...as Vauxhall and Honda the Saab seats are incredibly comfortable and supportive. When you drive a lot of miles this is crucial.
The driving position and display are good with a very useful computer to calculate all the usual things such as remaining distance to refuel. Cruise control is very precise and easy to operate. Other nice extras are the very effective drop down cupholders (I'm sick of spilling coffee on upholstery)and the large central container ...
pmiller 02.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
I bought my saab 9-5 2.3t 4 years ago and it was a high mileage second hand car at the time and I'm only just thinking about replacing it. This car is superb. I bought it after owning a saab 9000i which I found to be very comfortable and reliable and the saab 9-5 is no different. Although the servicing costs are relatively high I have only once had a problem with the engine and this is in a car which is fast approaching 200000 miles on the clock. ... ...the passanger compartment, with the saab stereo, climate control and power steering your comfort level doesn't change, in fact its very hard to believe the speed your doing without looking at the speedo. And this is because its a big, heavy, motorway machine.
Driving it around town and trying to park it at the local supermarket is hard work. The massive boot, where you can store your whole families luggage for a two week holiday, makes reverse parking ...
hairy3074 04.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
This is an anonymous-looking saloon that at first glance could be one of many as it stands in the car park. Look closer and you will see that it probably doesn't fit the parking bay, overlaping at either end. It is a big car. Bigger inside and out than most other luxury saloons.
When you get inside you immediatley experience solid comfort. Everything is restrained, well designed, well made and quality. Like a gentleman's club, it's not flashy but ... ...You would like to have seats like this in your living room. Put your foot down, however, at any speed, and the turbos kick in with no lag and before you know it, the speed cameras are flashing like lights on a Xmas tree. BUT - fuel consumption can be high if you keep using the turbo. Normal driving expect 27mpg; motorways 34mpg. Dealer servicing costs are high but not compared to other luxury saloons and it never seems to break. And don't forget, ...
brinjon2043 22.12.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
The saab 95 is what my dad owns. I find a very quiet car and it is also very fast, reaching speeds up to 145mph. It is a saloon car with a leather and wood ineterior. It has a 2.3 litre engine, but because of an enhanced turbo system, has the power ofa 3litre. It is a very good car for long distances, as we travelled from aberdeen, all the way to Alton Towers and I didn't get carsick, as I usually do. I would reccomend this car to a family who travel ...
Road_dogg 08.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
Value for Money
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Quick review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
9-5 2.3 Aero saloon.2005 (2006 model) What a car. Best SAAB I've driven and I've had 12. New shaped front doesnt look much like a SAAB of old, but then this isnt a SAAB of old. ...
Watsondog 03.01.2008
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Saab 9-5 2.3T
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I said this car was good but that keeps in mind that "satisfactory" is a car that can just about work correctly. My dad recently bought this car though I told him not to. Look at it. On the outside the styling is HORRIBLE, you don't want to be outside to have to look at the headlights or the backlights and it looks uncomfortable in any colour I've seen. The only thing for it is to step inside. Ahh, much better. This is where the car redeems itself; the dashboard lights up and theres not of green light, its a much nicer place to be. The engine also performs with that famous Saab acceleration that can outstrip most supercars.
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. But compared to rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and the Mercades C-Class, the 9-3's German rivals look grossly overproced. At £17.320 for the 9-32.2TiD 5dr, the Saab isn't very cheap, but it does get a host of kit including...
AIR CONDITIONING
DRIVERS AIRBAG
PASSENGER AIRBAG
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ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution)
A SINGLE CD PLAYER
ELECTRIC WINDOWS (FRONT AND REAR)
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As you can read from the above, the Saab9-3 gets a wealth of safety and security kit. But does it all work in practice. Well, judging from it's 4 out of 5 rating for the compulsary NCAP Crash tests, the 9-3 should protect very ...
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