Last Bearer Of Hope

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

The long wait ends. The Swedish car manufacturer is finally sending the new 9-5 to the dealers. He faces competition from Audi and BMW, among others.

The new Saab 9-5 is now to roll to the remaining 60 German dealers. With this luxury sedan, which is more than five meters long, Saab is trying to get ground under its feet again. The Swedish brand was in a state of shock for a while before it was acquired for about $ 53 million in cash plus $ 326 million in preferential files. The buyer is the small Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker. After a break of seven weeks, production has been back in the Trollhättan plant in Sweden since March 22nd.

Opel engines

When it comes to the motorization, Saab used Opel. The four and six cylinders all come from the Insignia. The entry-level model, which costs 33,700 euros, has a 1.6-liter engine with 132 kW / 180 hp. There is also a 2.0-liter petrol engine with 162 kW / 220 PS. Plus a 2.0-liter diesel with 118 kW / 160 PS. A 2.0 liter diesel with 140 kW / 190 PS and a bio-power engine for ethanol operation with 162 kW / 220 PS will follow in September. The V6 with 221 kW / 300 PS, all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission is the top model. Turbochargers are mandatory on all engines. Apart from the V6, all have six-speed gearboxes.

In Germany, the 9-5 meets competitors such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, all of which it towers a few centimeters above with a length of 5.01 meters. Unfortunately, the length of the vehicle was not used consistently. The trunk is impressive with a volume of 513 liters, but a few liters smaller than the German counterparts. You also don't sit upright in the rear of the Swede as carefree as in an E-Class, for example.

Because there is a lack of headroom when you measure more than 1.80 meters. In contrast, there is no lack of knee room. After all, you are dealing with a 2.84 meter wheelbase. As with all competitors, the rear seat backs of the Saab can be folded down to transport bulky items. This is just as helpful as the extremely practical and easy-to-use rail system in the trunk, with which you can fix loose items of luggage, as well as the two umbrella compartments.

Similarities to Insignia

The Saab 9-5 is not only related to the Opel Insignia in terms of engines. The platforms of the two front-wheel drive cars are also similar. The Opel has to make do with a wheelbase that is eleven centimeters shorter. The proximity to Opel is also noticeable in the interior. The steering wheel and some control buttons come from the Insignia. Old Saab customers will still feel at home in the cockpit of the 9-5. Because the layout of the dashboard, instruments and ventilation grille are typical Saab. The thick A- and C-pillars, the relatively steep windshield, the extended roof and the flat side windows unmistakably bear the Saab stamp.

As far as the interior ambience is concerned, the new Swede can almost compete with the German competitors. The front-wheel drive car has excellent, tight, almost shell-shaped seats. Start button and electric parking brake are not missing. Modern assistance systems such as a head-up display, traffic sign recognition and active cruise control are also available, as are cornering lights and automatic parking and an active chassis. And like its predecessor, the new Saab 9-5 is also available with four powered wheels for an additional payment of € 2,500. However, natural luxury features such as an electric steering wheel adjustment are missing. An automatic start-stop system would also have looked good on the Saab.

Without a doubt, the 9-5 is very comfortable to drive. The upper middle graders can be directed precisely without letting the driving force be felt in the steering. It even copes with rough road bumps with ease, does not clatter with the axles and does not annoy passengers with excessive vertical movements. He hurries through curves slightly understeering. In the limit area, he pushes harmlessly over the front wheels before he willingly let himself be caught again by the ESP. (mid)