New Car Review: 2007 Saab 9-5
Take eight grand off the base price of nearly any vehicle - and it suddenly becomes a lot more appealing. For Saab's 9-5, the just-announced discount of up to $8,000 (good through early June) means this nominally mid-30k luxury-sport sedan/wagon can be had for around $27k, out-the-door. That puts a whole new shine on things when you consider the 9-5s primary competitors are in well into the 30k range themselves -and don't offer anything like the massive discounts Saab has just put on the table.Well, actually, it's GM that's offering the eight grand cash back deal. Because GM owns a controlling stake in Saab. GM has also done a great job of driving a stake through the heart of what used to be a trendy up-and-coming brand that has slipped into near-anonymity while in-country cousin Volvo has become the "it" brand of Swedish cars. The wheelbarrows of cash incentives are a belated attempt to undo the damage done by years of ineffective marketing -- and declining customer awareness of the brand.
But if you're looking at Volvos, especially - it's worth looking at what Sweden's other automaker has to offer.
For openers, the 9-5's standard 260 horsepower engine - a turbocharged, 2.3 liter four -- is significantly more potent than the standard or next-step-up engines in both the Volvo S60 sedan (which comes standard with a 208-hp turbo four) or the V70 wagon - or even the top-of-the-Volvo-line S80 sedan, which comes standard with a so-so 3.2 liter, 235 horsepower six. The Saab's also got more rear seat legroom -- and a bigger trunk -- than all those Volvos.
Factor in the eight grand discount and the 9-5's also potentially much less expensive, too. A V70T5 wagon starts at $33,430; the wagon version of the 9-5 (the SportCombi) has an MSRP of $35,695 - but with the discount, that drops to $27,695. That's about $5,735 less - for a larger, more powerful vehicle with equal (or better) amenities with the same "built in Sweden" cachet.
The disparity's even wider when you compare the 9-5 sedan with the Volvo S60 sedan. The step-up version of the S60, the performance-themed T5 (which comes with a stronger, 2.4 liter engine rated at 258 hp) carries a base price of $32,735 vs. the 9-5's "discount price" ($34,695 less the eight grand) of $26,695. That works out to just over six grand in your pocket, if you buy the Saab over the Volvo.
And the range-topping S80 starts at nearly $40k ($38,705), so even without the discount on the table, the Saab's around $4k less. Figure in the eight grand reduction and the 9-5's something on the order of twelve thousand bucks cheaper - and 25 horsepower stronger. And with a bigger trunk (15.9 cubic feet vs. the S80's 14.9 cubic feet).
Volvos are very nice (well-finsihed, safe, solid, etc.) cars. But it's hard to smile on either the S60 or the V70 wagon (or even the S80) when so much cash is on the line - and the "Saab Alternative" so compelling.
The Saab's got more personality, too - a traditional strong point. From the console-mounted ignition switch to the clever pop-out/folding beverage holder in the dashboard to the unique "Night Panel" button that lets you turn off all the gauges and illumination except for the bare necessities, Saab's have a funky attitude unlike anything else. The turbo engine is also entertaining - with a strong kick as the boost spools up. Unlike so many modern turbo cars - which have been designed to feel like normally-aspirated cars with larger engines - with the 9-5, you definitely feel the turbo coming alive when you hammer the gas. There's a nice whistle, too - the signature sound of the turbo doing its thing.
Some may prefer the more muted and linear power delivery of other turbocharged engines - or simply prefer a larger, non-turbocharged engine. But for the enthusiast driver, the 9-5's fast-punching four is a grin-maker - and lives up to the "born from jets" slogan Saab's been using lately. Zero to 60 comes up in about 7 seconds - and there's punch left in reserve even at 80 or 90 mph, should you need it.
The 2.3 liter engine can be ordered with either a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed Geartronic automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The automatic actually works quite well with the turbo engine - the opposite of what you'd expect with a small-displacement turbo'd four. But there's lots of torque -- almost 260 lbs.-ft. of it - courtesy of the boosted engine, and it comes on early and strong. There is a bit of torque-steer if you launch hard from a standstill -- but here again, the little bit of wildness can be appealing if you're weary of cars whose power delivery has been almost entirely anesthetized by various electronic nannies. Sometimes, a tire-skittering launch is just what the doctor ordered.
If power and straight-line acceleration get a 9 out of 10 for cars in this class, handling's a bit lower down the scale -- maybe a 7.5 or so. It's by no means bad, but the 9-5's front-drive layout is a relative handicap in a segment where rear-drive is returning to vogue - and there's no AWD available to compensate (Volvos offer that).
On the other hand, a modern sport-sedan/wagon like the 9-5 has limits of lateral grip that are well beyond what's legal to really test out on public roads -- and also beyond those of the average driver. While 0-60 times and so on are readily definable - and fully accessible to average drivers - "at-the-limit" handling is by nature more intangible. In normal driving, the 9-5 is certainly sporty-feeling - with a firm but not over-harsh ride - and responds confidently to steering inputs and curvy roads. Brakes are excellent.
And when it comes to features-for-the-dollar, again the Saab pulls ahead.
Both versions of the 9-5 (the sedan and SportCombi wagon) can be ordered with an Aero package that bumps up the sticker by about a grand ($35,790 for the 9-5 and $36,790 for the SportCombi). It includes more aggressive suspension tuning, metallic trim, special sport buckets and an exterior body kit. All 9-5s come standard with 17-inch alloy rims, 45-series tires, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats (with a glovebox cooler to keep beverages chilled), leather, a sunroof and a premium 200 watt Harmon-Kardon audio system with six-disc CD changer. GPS, ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, park assist and HID headlights are the major options.
ABS, Active Head Restraints, stability control and side-impact air bags are included with each car.
Finally - and this is admittedly subjective - the 9-5 just seems more inviting and enthusiastic than current Volvos, which to this writer come off as thin-lipped and cold as an arctic winter. The 9-5's playful, less fussy and just more enjoyable to drive.
That's it's also one of the best deals going right now makes it even more tempting.
