2006 Saab 9-5 Review

2006 Version is Most Thorough 9-5 Upgrade in Years

At eight years old, many consider the Saab 9-5 to be on its last remaining leg. Having had a facelift once already, with several interim powerplant and model-line upgrades, the car that remains is truly an acquired taste. Nevertheless, needing to give its loyal consumers a large car to move up to while the next-generation 9-5 is in development (speculated for 2008), the current 9-5 will soldier on with yet another post-mid-cycle revision. Making its debut at this years Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2006 9-5 is the most comprehensive redo to date, covering everything from powertrain to interior.

The most obvious changes affect its exterior, which now sports completely revised outlined in chrome, to catch the eye. Below this, the bumper is completely new, and featufront and back ends. Its quite an aggressive approach to Saab styling, and is the first production implementation of the design language first spotted in the bold 9-X and 9-3X concepts. Saab has taken its traditional grille with two offset, diagonal spars and separated them; the central grille is now smaller, and the headlamp bezel incorporates the components, as well as the covered headlamp bulbs. Both areres a center intake with body-colored ribs, offset on both sides by Audi-esque intakes that have teardrop bulges for fog lamps.

Around back similar changes take place, but they are less dramatic. Saab has swapped out the old 9-5s frumpy trunk lid for a new unit thats flatter, while a new rear bumper delivers up an optical illusion. The new car looks as if its got a loading lip thats much lower than the previous model due to its cut-in indent, and curving sides, however, dimension-wise its the same. New tail lamps have also been fitted, looking a might bit similar to the ones on Audis new A3 Sportback, A4 and A8. Body colored trim on bumpers and doors, body-colored door handles, and a new selection of alloy wheels round out the exterior changes.

Underneath, the old platform remains, but Saabs engineers have tried their best to extend the 9-5s shelf-life by revising its suspension. New springs, dampers, uprated anti-roll bars, all with wider front and rear track for a better footprint on the road, are just some of the modifications, which should go far to refine what is now an elder chassis architecture. Other important revisions include a sharpened steering system, hopefully something that will help filter out the 9-5s torque steering tendencies and somewhat fidgety cornering. More information about these changes will follow in an in-depth overview.

Included in this change is a model shakedown, revising trim levels, names and standard specifications. The Arc trim line is a casualty; while currently available in North America as the base-model station wagon it has been discontinued, replaced instead by a Classic package. This option group includes heated seats, dark walnut accent trim and integrated fog lamps. Elsewhere, the model names stay the same: Linear now designates the base model, with mid-grade models dubbed Vector, and the performance Aero model rounding out the top.

As before, the 9-5 engine lineup relates directly to the trim level selected. Linear models are badged 2.0t, and powered by a 185-horsepower turbo-four motor, the ethanol-powered E85 Biofuel turbo-four (not available in North America), or a Fiat-designed 150-hp 1.9-liter JTD turbodiesel (also not available in North America). The Vectors 2.3t motor generates 220-horsepower from its small-displacement turbo-four, while the top of the line Aero model receives a modest 10-horsepower upgrade for a total count of 260. The Holden-designed 2.8-liter twin-turbo V6 as fitted to the 9-3 Aero will not make an appearance on the 9-5 due to what would be extensive and costly re-engineering required to make the components fit.

The cockpit - we stress this because of its fighter jet layout and Saabs fighter jet manufacturing history - has also been freshened. The driver-focused, wrap-around cabin, a true Saab trademark now, has new door trims, new faces for the semi-circle gauges on the instrument cluster, and a sportier multi-function steering wheel, borrowed from the 9-3. Also freshened is the center console which includes new, simplified HVAC controls that use round knobs rather than tiny, complex pushbuttons, and a new large-format satellite navigation screen. Yes, the clever ballerina cupholder, and the floor mounted key are still there.

The new 9-5 marks 2006 as a year in which every product has been revised, from the more powerful 9-2x to the newly introduced 9-3SportCombi, as well as the more powerful Aero models. The 9-7x, a North American-only version of GMs light-duty SUV, is also now on sale.

While GM has committed to keeping the Saab brand name alive despite red ink and poor sales, compromises have been made, including moving engineeringand assembly into Opels under-capacity Russelshiem facilities in Germany. The next-generation 9-5, which is supposed to show up sometime in 2008, will be based on an extended wheelbase version of the Epsilon Mk.II Platform, also slated to underpin the next-generation 9-3 product line.

For now, this update is a significant step forward for a model which has been overshadowed by its smaller, less expensive 9-3 sibling.