2009 Saab 9-5 Reviews

Brand loyalty is being tested around the world as Saab, under financial siege and with its factory still closed, unfurls its flagship model.Private owners will have to scrutinise Saab's future to assure them that parts and service will be available. Fleet and user-chooser owners will want Saab's corporate solidity to prop up resale values and maintain sensible balloon payments.And then there's the car. The new Saab 9-5 is a good car - in a lot of ways, equal to its peers. But the cold facts overshadow the attributes of the car itself and beg the question: Will Saab aficionados spend up to $100,000 to have the badge in their driveway given the parlous corporate state and no guarantee of sunrise in the morning?VALUEForgetting for a moment the mist surrounding its future, the 9-5 offers a big car that perfectly suits the prestige segment. It is very well equipped and I'm delighted to note it retains the indelible Saab character that classes it - and its owner - as something special. The price of the all-wheel drive 2.8 Turbo model is $94,900 and almost $20,000 more than the 2-litre, front-wheel drive version. Add $5500 for the sunroof and rear entertainment system and the 9-5 moves into the $100,000-plus zone. Harman Kardon surround sound audio is standard and sensational. The 9-5 wants for nothing except a good home.DESIGNIt looks really good. That short and almost horizontal bonnet with rounded nose and swept-back headlights, the upright A-pillars and severely curved windscreen, slim side glass that subtly rises towards the boot and the long and gentle slope of the roof and trunk put it into another class.Designers maintain Saab's link with aircraft, despite the company foolishly splitting off the now successful aero business in 1969. The cabin is very roomy, the boot huge and the dashboard has a distinctive and very purposeful design.TECHNOLOGYHistorically, Saab has always trod new roads in technology. The latest, however, doesn't introduce much new but rather gather up clever bits. For example, electronically-adjustable suspension; a heads-up instrument display on the windscreen; automatic park assist; and a night panel switch that shuts down all instrument lighting except speedo and, on standby, any emergency panel warning lights. The Holden-made V6 engine is 2.8-litres and gets a turbocharger, drives through a six-speed sequential automatic transmissi on and then through a Haldex clutch that proportions power between the front and rear wheels depending on demand. There's also an electronic rear limited-slip diff that allocates power between the rear wheels.SAFETYIt's chocka-block with safety features, starting with a five-star crash rating, six airbags, the automated park assist, full-size spare wheel and all the electronic aids including all-wheel drive, stability control, cornering control and brake assist.DRIVINGIn terms of design, the cabin is well done though time spent familiarising yourself with the switchgear placement is advised. The keyless start button is down near the gear stick, the parkbrake is electric and the seat is electrically adjustable so it's an easy car to fit into. The engine is a bit noisy at idle but no complaints about performance. It hits its straps from around 2500rpm and delivers with excellent response. The six-speed transmission can bump uncomfortably up its gears at low speeds - though is much smoother when more power is applied - and steering is light and a bit vague. While I'm here, cabin noise and ride comfort is excellent at anything over 60km/h but at lower speeds it is drummy (probably due to the tyres) and the ride gets jiggly (suspension) and handling is less than precise. The 9-5 is more American in feel than European. The all-wheel drive has merits in handling, safety and when hitting the snow but may be an overkill for most Australian buyers.VERDICTTough call, this one. I'm impressed with its engine performance and love the distinctive styling. It betters the BMW 5-Series in features and space, equals it in lots of ways but is notably out of this race in handling and driveline smoothness. Then, like a father discussing the future with his intending son-in-law, there's the small issue of what's going to happen tomorrow.SAAB 9-5 AEROPrice: $94,900Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 44%Service Interval: 15,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 11.3 l/100km; 262g/km CO2Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC. Crash rating 5 starEngine: 221kW/400Nm 2.8-litre V6 turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed sequential auto, AWD Body 4-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 5008 (L); 1868mm (W); 1467mm (H); 2837mm (WB)Weight: 2065kgTyre size: 245/40R19 Spare tyre Full-size

Saab's hopes of a phoenix-like rise from the ashes rest squarely on two cars - the 9-5 Vector four cylinder in diesel and petrol and V6 petrol Aero. Both are built on a GM platform and use GM underpinnings.VALUEThe Aero is a $94,900 competitor for the likes of BMW 5-Series, E-Class Benz and Audi A6. Whether punters will chance their hundred grand on a Saab is an interesting question.DESIGNIt's an impressive car to look at particularly around the three quarter rear section and from straight on. The interior is awash with electronics and plenty of luxury kit including lashings of leather and woodgrain fascia and an impressive audio system. It's a good place to be especially with multiple adjustments for the driver who can set up the car within a range of parameters for ride, response and feel. These can be set to default or will reset to normal settings after every startup.TECHNOLOGYThe engine is a sweet sounding Holden 2.8-litre, petrol, twin cam V6 with a twin-scroll turbo fitted. It sees life in various cars including Alfa Romeo and in larger capacity (without turbo) in Commodore. Outputs are 221kW/400Nm through a six speed automatic transmission and then all wheel drive that seems to work... sometimes.DRIVINGWe had couple of "moments" when the front wheels started spinning with the rears stationary reversing up a slippery drive. What's the point? Due to its abundant equipment, the Aero is a weighty beast tipping the scales at close to 2.0 tonnes but the way it goes and handles belie this.Fuel economy hovers around the 11.5-litres/100km mark.It has a large boot and generous rear seat legroom with passenger DVDs. The drive experience is positive with the big Saab delivering on most fronts. And it appears to be built to a high standard, in Sweden.VERDICTIt's just that lingering doubt that needs to be overcome, something that took Audi more than a decade after it came and went in Australia a couple of times.

It wasn't so long ago that Saab was for all intents and purposes dead in the water.Dumped by General Motors during the financial crisis, it was eventually bailed out by German sports car maker Spyker which has in turn joined with a Chinese company Hawtai Motor Group with a guarantee of substantial financial support in return for shared technology.It's all a bit confusing really, apart from the fact that Saab is back and back with an all new resuscitated 9-5. So what? I hear you say. They couldn't get it right the first time what makes you think they'll do any better this time around?The short answer to that question is that the new and improved 9-5 ain't half bad.It's not going to set the world on fire but it is definitely appealing, with its long bonnet and swept back windscreen.The 9-5 has plenty of cache for the price and is a genuine alternative to mainstream Audi's, Benzes and BMWs.Going forward, however, Saab needs to work on putting some distance between its cars and those of the opposition.It needs to emphasise the points of difference that make a Saab a Saab, like returning the ignition key to its rightful place between the front seats. That's what will sell cars.DESIGNBuilt on GM's Epsilon platform, the new 9-5 is a much larger, more substantial offering than before.It's 172mm longer than the first generation 9-5 and, more importantly, 361mm longer its sibling the 9-3. Previously the two models were far too close in size.Suprisingly, the 9-5 is longer and wider than the Mercedes E-Class, although the Benz boasts a longer wheelbase.In keeping with its aircraft heritage, the car's interior features green instrumentation, with some aviation cues like the horizon-style speed gauge and the night panel button that knocks out all but essential instrument lighting at night.Ironically the speed gauge is not necessary because the holographic head-up display projects the car's current speed in the lower part of the windscreen.The interior is light and bright and friendly, with clean unclutterred styling and easy to read instruments.The centre console is dominated by a large touch screen navigation screen with a an upmarket Harmon Kardon sound system and 10Gb hard drive.Bluetooth, park assist, bi-xenon lights, automatic lights and wipers and heated front seats are all standard.TECHNOLOGYMotivation in the Vector model is provided by a 2.0-litre turbo charged petrol engine that delivers 162kW of power and 350Nm of torque from 2500 revs.It's good for 9.4 litres/100km and will do the dash from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, with a top speed of 235km/h.The four cylinder engine is hooked up to a 6-speed Japanese Aisin transmission, with the option to change gears manually via the shifter or steering wheel mounted paddles.For another $2500 the optional DriveSense chassis control system provides intelligent, sport and comfort modes _ but we reckon sporty doesn't feel all that sporty.DRIVINGPerformance is brisk but the turbocharger has trouble keeping up with the demands of the throttle. Although traction control is fitted, the front wheels tend to scramble for traction, especially in the wet.VERDICT The 9-5 is an appealing car, but we're hoping there's better things to come yet as Saab seeks to redefine its identity. The 9-5 Turbo4 Vector sedan is priced from $75,900.

It has been a long time since I've driven a Saab and even longer since I've driven one I liked. So long, in fact, that I can't really remember if there was one at all.Under the stewardship of GM, the cars became bad, dull or hopelessly outdated. The previous 9-5 was a symptom of that regime. It lacked the upgrades needed to keep it relevant and fell behind the competition.DESIGNThis car has at least as much GM involvement and, in gestation terms, has been ready for 12 months or more. But it does have a couple of advantages. It's much larger than its predecessor; the previous 9-5 was too close in size to the smaller 9-3. This car has generous rear seat room and a capacious, if shallow, boot.Besides turbocharging, other Saab signatures are realised through the car's sheet metal, which has a distinctive cabin shape with visor-like glass. It looks like a Saab even without the liftback rear that used to be part of the formula.Inside, the asymetrical speedo, grid-pattern vents, shapely seats and cockpit-style centre console also echo brand strengths. It's a pleasant place to be.Trainspotters will notice the absence of a central ignition key slot and funky flip-out cupholders. Those will be a deal breaker for no one.TECHNOLOGYThe underpinnings are good. Although they're shared with lesser brands such as Opel, the car's composure and chassis tuning feel up to segment standards. It feels solid and substantial.VALUEIt's packed full of gear. There's not a lot missing from the spec sheet and an entry level car comes almost fully loaded. The list includes stuff that's now de rigueur, such as Bluetooth, as well as premium kit such as an informative head-up display. Active cruise control seems to be the main omission.DRIVEThe range has been rationalised. Previously, there were almost as many Saab variants as buyers. This time it boils down to three engines: the petrol four-cylinder, driven here, a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel and 2.8-litre V6. All have turbocharging, a Saab signature, and the petrol four delivers surprisingly adequate, if unspectacular, performance.Driving the front wheels via a six-speed transmission, it reaches 100km/h in 8.5 seconds. The V6 offers all-wheel drive but is a lot heavier.Some will question the ride quality, though, which rumbles and thumps over road details, and the tyre roar generated by unfavourable tarmac. But on a first taste the 9-5 exceeded expectations. In a very real sense, the only way was up.VERDICTThe 9-5 must redefine the brand for a new generation of buyers and it is at least in with a chance.Read more about prestige motoring at The Australian.

A new flagship is waving the Saab flag again in Australia. The all-new 9-5 is the first newcomer since the Swedish brand was released from more than 20 years of suffering under General Motors, and comes with the promise of value pricing, impressive quality and styling that breaks away from the origami school of creasing in European design.Now, if only they could get the ride and handling right... The 9-5 is a good looking car that's noticeably bigger than any previous model to wear the badge, and a bottom line from $71,900 - helped by a Luxury Car Tax break for an eco-friendly diesel engine - will help to get it on shopping lists against everything from the BMW 5 Series and Benz's E Class to the Volvo S80.Saab Cars Australia is planning a slow burn on the 9-5 - and the rest of its comeback plan - and is only predicting around 100 sales this year. "Our brand is not something we shout about. We want to talk to people individually," says Steve Nicholls, managing director of Saab Cars Australia. He says the point of difference for the 9-5 is the way it looks."All our communciations are based around design. That's the key message. It's not about kilowatts or how much you can fit in the boot," says Nicholls, who flew global design boss Simon Padian to Australia for the introduction of the 9-5.VALUEThe starting price of the 9-5 is helped by a diesel that comes in at 6.8 litres/100km, but even the petrol-powered Vector is affordable - for the class - at $75,900. The flagship Aero Turbo6 XWD is priced from $94,900 with all-wheel drive and most of the good luxury stuff, although a back-seat DVD system is an extra-cost option.Good stuff on the Vector includes a head-up instrument display and chilled glovebox in addition to the usual satnav, an all-speaker Harmon-Kardon sound system, leather trim, bi-Xenon lamps and more. The top-line car is boosted by park assist, sports seats cornering headlights and more. Every 9-5 comes with keyless entry and the start button is in the console between the seats, the traditional location for the ignition key in any Saab. "We've created a big gap now between the 9-3 and the 9-5," says Nicholls.TECHNOLOGYWhen Saab was part of the GM family, the way the company was treated was basically just child abuse. That meant investment and development was always limited, so Saab is playing catch-up. Even so, its all-turbo engine philosophy is sound, it promises body strength and safety as good as anything in the class, and there is independent rear suspension - but not in the turbodiesel.Engine outputs are 118kW/350Nm for the diesel, 162/350 in the petrol four and 221/400 in the 2.8-litre V6, with all cars using a six-speed automatic gearbox. To put the 9-5 in its place, it's just over five metres in length with a wheelbase of 2837mm, has 513 litres of boot space and a full-sized spare.DESIGNThe shape and style of the 9-5 is a welcome move away from the creases-and-crunches, origami style of so many modern European cars. It even has a blacked-out A pillar to disguise the traditional bulk around the front of a car, and an aero-influenced curving windscreen."Because we're Saab we're allowed to be different. To be honest, I think if we followed the rest of the crowd we'd lose our soul," says Saab's chief designer, Simon Padian, in Australia to preview the 9-5."Saabs have always been durable, practical cars that are designed to be used. Our customers want cars that have meaning and substance." "The 9-5 is the result of a very conscious journey. We're always looking for a way to create more desirable products."So the body is smooth an distinctive, while the cabin has a driver-  focussed dashboard and the sort of quality final finishing you expect in a Saab.SAFETYThe 9-5 should easily clear the five-star bar at NCAP, but Saab says it wants more and is bringing everything from its 'black panel' dash - which blanks everything but the speedo on command to cut after-dark strain - to the head-up display. There are front-side-thorax-curtain airbags, ESP stability control and ABS brakes, as well as a rollover sensing system.DRIVINGThe look and feel of the 9-5 promises a lot. It's a classy car where you can see and touch the quality. The engines also respond well, from the quietness of the diesel to the pull of the V6, with a smooth shifting automatic - although there is no response to calls for a downchange when you tug the shift paddles in D, only in Sport.Based on a very short drive in a full range of cars, the 9-5 is fairly quiet - apart from some wind noise around the mirrors - the seats are very comfy and supportive, and the dash is well laid out with plenty of toys. The head-up display is the best we've seen but there is a silly extra display in the dash that means you can have three speedometers operating at once - main, head-up, and an 'altimeter-style' extra - and that's plain silly.The real problem with the 9-5 is the suspension. Regardless of the car, and despite running through 17-18-19 inch tyre sizes, the suspension is crude and fails to cope with Australian conditions. Saab says it wants a sporty feel, but the 9-5 crashes through potholes, is nervous on corrugations, and is generally not a nice place to travel. And there is torque steer and kickback, as well. The 9-5 is promises a lot but urgently needs to have its suspension fixed before it can be considered as a serious prestige contender in Australia.VERDICT: "Looks good, drives not so good."SAAB 9-5 ***1/2 

They’ve been running cars on ethanol for years without incident in South America. But apart from adding a small quantity of the stuff to our unleaded petrol it really hasn’t taken off here yet.And even this small quantity has not been without controversy, with claims that it can damage engines.That could all change, however, with the arrival of Saab’s BioPower cars, designed to run specifically on ethanol – led by the Saab 9-5 BioPower.We’re not talking about 10 per cent, but E85 or 85 per cent pure ethanol, which is combined with 15 per cent unleaded petrol.While some engineering changes are required to run E85, Saab says it does not require any special technology. BioPower vehicles will run happily on either petrol or ethanol, but some modifications are required before you go sticking ethanol in the tank because of its corrosive nature.They include the addition of more durable valves and valve seats and the use of ethanol compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors. In return you get a more environmentally-friendly fuel and one that delivers better performance, because of its higher octane rating. The trade-off is that you burn more of it.Ethanol is alcohol distilled from grain, cellulose or sugar cane. It has been produced from sugar cane for many years in Brazil and also from corn in the the US Mid-West.In Sweden, it is produced from wood pulp and forest residues, with feasibility studies to see whether it can be produced from lignocelluloses.As a fuel, the most important difference between petrol and ethanol is that ethanol does not add to global carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.This is because CO2 is removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis by the crops grown to produce ethanol.The main thing, of course, that ethanol is renewable and oil isn’t.Currently Saab offers BioPower versions of its 2.0 and 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder engines.Our test vehicle was a 2.0-litre wagon with “Saab BioPower” emblazoned on the side. Normally this engine would produce 110kW of power and 240Nm of torque, but with E85’s higher octane rating of 104RON this figure is boosted to to 132kW and 280Nm.The wagon certainly has plenty of zip, but at the same time seemed to chew through a full tank of E85 quickly.We had barely travelled 170km before the 68-litre (not standard 75-litre) tank was reading half empty and at 319km the low fuel light came on.By 347km the trip computer was demanding we refill the car. If you are planning any long distance trips this could be an issue, as there only half a dozen fuel outlets in NSW that offer E85. At the time we refilled the tank, the trip computer was proclaiming fuel consumption of 13.9 litres/100km.However, the tank only took 58.4 litres of E85, which working out the maths put our consumption at 16.8 litres/100km – about the same as a hoary old V8.There are no official fuel consumption figures for the 9-5 BioPower, but in comparison the same car with a 2.0-litre petrol engine delivers a claimed 10.6 litres/100km.Of course this needs to be weighed up against the cost of E85 (85.9 cents a litre when we filled up), compared to unleaded which was selling at the same servo for 116.9 cents – 26.5 per cent less. However, as we were burning 58 per cent more fuel, that in fact puts us 31.5 per cent behind the eight ball.Saab meanwhile claims fuel consumption for the BioPower is about the same as a petrol model at constant cruising speeds. But in mixed driving conditions it is uses about 25-30 per cent more E85. Carbon emissions for the petrol engine are 251 grams, but there are no figures on ethanol.

Generally, I’m in favour of trying the local delicacies in a foreign country, but a plate of hair-rings (sometimes spelled “herrings”) or some briney kippers is enough to turn anyone’s gills the colour of mushy peas.The Swedes are also very Green people, as in so environmentally aware that if they ruled the world we’d all live in flatpacked houses made out of recycled Ikea packaging and there’d be so little global warming we’d all have to wear black skivvies.Of course, we’d all have to drive Volvos or, for the slightly luckier, Saabs.Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for the meek Swedes to inherit the earth before you can use their know-how to do your bit for the planet.The Saab 9-5 BioPower is the company’s current future vision, and the best news about it is that, finally, someone has delivered a clean, green machine that doesn’t accelerate like a snail with chronic fatigue.In fact, the BioPowered 9-5 has more power and torque when it runs on ethanol than it does when chewing nasty old petrol, which pretty much makes it the great leap forward those of us who love driving and trees equally have been waiting for.The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 132 kW and 280 Nm when running on E85, (a mix of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol). That’s up from 110 kW and 240 Nm, or a 20 per cent increase in maximum power and a 16 per cent increase in torque over the equivalent petrol model.To put that in terms teenage boys will understand, the Bio version will do 0 to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds, compared to 9.8 seconds on petrol.It should come as no surprise that the Swedes have been snapping up BioPower vehicles the way they normally Hoover up salted fish, with 12,000 sold since they were launched in July, 2005 – accounting for 80 per cent of all 9-5 sales in Saab’s home country.Obviously, it helps having ethanol widely available, but the struggle to find the stuff shouldn’t put off Australian buyers because, ingeniously, the car’s “flex-fuel’’ system means it can run - without any LPG-style flicking of switches - on any combination of E85 fuel and/or petrol.Of course, if you have to fill it up on normal unleaded, you’ll notice the lack of zip. The 9-5 we tested had the words BioPower written in 30-foot-high letters down both sides of the car (and if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me whether it ran on laundry powder, I could have bought one) so I was too embarrassed to drive it very far.But, late at night, I did do enough kilometres to note that it really did have considerable, tweaky-turbo-style get up and go.Unlike some Saabs, though, it had plenty of off-the-line grunt to match the top-end turbo rush.It’s not a sports car, by any means, but for a family sized vehicle it was a more than honest performer, with plenty of overtaking ability.The steering and dynamics didn’t seem too poor, either, but the 9-5 does fall down slightly on the interior front – which used to be a Saab strong point.Some of the fit and finish didn’t seem to be as good as we used to expect from the Swedes, and a cynic would point to the fact that the company is owned by GM these days and thus not quite master of its own destiny.The car also feels a little dated, but this could be because I can vaguely remember going to the launch of the original 9-5 in 1997 (and being forced to starve because there were only 53 types of herring on the menu), and things don’t seem to have changed much.The exterior design has at least been tweaked a little, though, and it’s undeniably a classy looking vehicle, with plenty of prestige presence and a svelte nose.So, alternative fuel issues aside, it’s not a bad car, but is turning to ethanol a worthwhile investment, or just a worthy one?The bad news is that, because it has less energy than petrol, you need to burn more ethanol to go the same distance – about 30 per cent more, according to Saab.We were seeing slightly scary figures – like 22 litres per 100km – on the trip computer. So, that loss of economy is going to take out any price advantage.On the plus side – and anyone whose seen An Inconvenient Truth will appreciate this – ethanol is a renewable and carbon-neutral fuel.This is because emissions from the exhaust pipe are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere, through photosynthesis, when the crops that the ethanol is harvested from are grown.Saab Australia estimates that you can cut your carbon emissions by 80 per cent with a BioPower vehicle.And ethanol really can work as a fuel source. Nearly all of Brazil’s domestic road transport needs are met by bioethanol, which is produced from sugar cane.The bad news is that E85 is not readily commercially available in Australia yet, but a company called Manildra owns a number of service stations which have ethanol pumps.Despite this fact, Saab is taking orders for the BioPower vehicles, and expects to have them on sale here by June.Unlike some alternativeish cars (think the Toyota Pious), the price premium won’t be huge, with Saab Australia tipping just a $1000 to $1500 sting on top of a base 9-5, which sells for $57,900.The company is determined to take the moral high ground, with a pledge to become the country’s first carbon-neutral marque.Saab is buying a one-year ‘offset’ from Greenfleet for every one of its vehicles purchased.Under the agreement, Greenfleet will plant 17 native trees for each car sold, which will absorb the greenhouse gas emissions produced by those vehicles in one year.

Speculation continues over the company's longterm future, but in the meantime it's business as usual.For the flagship 9-5 model this means a makeover and in the case of the SportEstate wagon the deletion of the Vector model.Just entry level Linear and top of the range Aero remain.Our test car is the Linear wagon priced from $62,400. 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers 136kW of power at 5500rpm and 280Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm, with drive through the front wheels. Saab uses the same 2.3-litre engine for Linear, Vector and Aero models, turning up the turbo boost for each application. Guess there's nothing to stop Linear owners doing the same thing to achieve the same results. The engine is hooked up to a five-speed sequential auto that allows the driver to change gears manually, using steering wheel mounted thumb buttons. There's also a sport mode in full auto. Performance is generally adequate but the car exhibits some annoying traits. Driven sedately it's reasonably smooth, but frequent application of the accelerator generates some confusion between the turbocharger and trans- mission. As a result turbo boost tends to cut in and out and the transmission continually realigns itself accordingly, with real on again off again performance. Push down hard on the accelerator and there are two pauses, one for the turbo to kick-in and then a second one for the transmission to change down. 0-100km/h takes 9.5 seconds and top speed is 225km/h. Saab reckons it has adjusted all major suspension components to improve ride and handling. It has been too long since we last drove the car to really comment. We thought the previous model looked pretty good. The stylists have to justify their existence, but the new rounded, swept back headlights give the car an "interesting" look. Inside the styling is trademark Saab with the ignition still located between the front seats. But it's starting to look a little dated compared to the new crop of Volvos from the same country. 9-5 gets a five-star safety rating, with front and side airbags plus active head restraints standard. ABS, traction and stability control are also fitted. A Night Panel switch is fitted which blanks out all instrument lighting except for the speedo at night, presumably to avoid distrac- tion and eye strain. Fuel economy is rated at 10.0 litres/100km for the auto and the car will run on either standard or premium unleaded. We got about 12.2 litres/100km during testing from the 75-litre tank. Although it has heated door mirrors the driver's mirror of our test car took an inordinate amount of time to to clear. Standard equipment includes leather, heated front seats, climate air, rain-sensing wipers and 16in alloys. VERDICT: A mixed bag. Lots to like but has some annoying traits. Will struggle at the price in view of the competition. For instance VW's V6 all-wheel drive Passat wagon is better equipped and cheaper.

That's not to say that Saab is not trying and that there is no hope for the future.But it just seems to be getting tougher and tougher for the little Swede at the bottom of the GM totem pole. I might as well go on the record here and say that I am an unrepentant fan of Saab's interior styling — generally.I hate the stupid handbrake arrangement that is designed solely for the purpose of looking good and jamming fingers but that apart, Saab's aircraft-inspired instrument panels and ergonomic seats are certainly on the list of favourites.The 9-5 wagon, as old as it is, remains a superbly practical, stylish and safe family conveyance. That only serves to make the 9-3, and the 9-3 Convertible in particular, even more of an enigma. The latest offering for Australia is a little bit of a "coals to Newcastle" philosophy with the bolting in of a 2.8-litre Holden-made V6 in the 9-3 Aero.From the same Alloytec basics as Commodore's 3.6-litre powerplant, albeit with a twin-scroll turbo attached, the V6 gives the 9-3 some serious punch, with 184kW and 350Nm from 2000-4500rpm. With 90 per cent of that considerable urge available from just 1500rpm, it is no surprise that Saab claims it as the fastest-accelerating model in the company's history.Even quicker, it says, than the manufacturer's brutish, and almost uncontrollable, Viggen of the late 1990s.The 9-3 V6, with just a hint of low-down lag, will put the 0-100km/h sprint behind in a respectable 6.7 seconds.And, more importantly, it has a good willingness to find some urge when that is what's required for overtaking.Gearing in the tested six-speed automatic was well-suited to the engine, with minimal hunting and, once up and running, displaying an easy ability to operate within the power and torque bands.Don't bother with the awkwardly mounted shift buttons on the wheel.Rather, use the shifter for the manual mode, even if the forward-up back-down pattern is counter-intuitive.Ride comfort is quite acceptable on smooth or undulating surfaces but is found out quickly over sharper surfaces such as lane dividers and crumbling tarmac.Steering is light and quite direct on turn-in but there is an uncomfortable aggression and sharpness as the wheel "fights" to get itself back on centre.The car's ageing design still shows itself in the amount of scuttle-shake that is evident with the roof down, particularly when cornering over broken surfaces.The cabin, in keeping with Saab in general, is comfortable and encompassing. The seats are not over-bolstered but they do provide ample support and adjustment when finding an optimum driving position.There is no feeling of being cramped in the front of the cabin and for rear-seat passengers, the space allowance is better than most in the convertible world.The one-touch roof deployment is good and the ability to raise the roof at up to 20km/h is a blessing when showers move in. There is also reasonable boot space available and no intrusion of the stowed roof into that space.Surprisingly, given the quality of the interior trim and the double roof skin, noise isolation in the cabin with the roof up is particularly poor. Even worse is the rear vision with the roof in place.Reverse parking becomes an act of faith, with huge tracts of vision blocked by the B-pillar/roof supports and only a miserly rear window and smallish wing mirrors for help.At $92,400 as tested, including the $2500 premium for the six-speed auto, the Aero convertible is not an insubstantial purchase.With premium pricing, the 9-3 Aero faces some serious competition but Saab is getting used to doing the tough yards.

07 July 2006 Quick Squiz: Saab 9-5 Linear SportEstateFind your own Saab 9-5 Linear Sport EstateSee the Saab 9-5 Linear Sport Estate Specs