One of the things that comes with every Saab 9-5 wagon is the slick, instrument panel that is unique to Saab. Its instrument panel is more like that of an airplane than any other in the automotive business. Perhaps that's because Saab is one of the few car companies that also makes airplanes, and they believe in the concept of a cockpit surrounding the operator as close in as possible. Some drivers find it claustrophobic, but we've been driving Saabs for more than 20 years, and we have grown to love it, even as more and more systems are added to the car. They always seem to find a logical place to put everything and an easy control system for whatever it happens to be.
Also up for high marks is the $895 OnStar communications system, the first one ever installed on a European car. We have used OnStar in Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles all over the country, and we recommend it to anyone who travels away from home regularly. It can be a godsend, a pushbutton servant who never, ever sleeps.
Saab's seats are terrific, and the new ones, with a built-in system for preventing whiplash, are even better. They are comfortable and supportive, with plenty of adjustment for all sizes of drivers.
Behind the two rows of seats, there is perhaps the most utilitarian, best-rigged cargo area of any wagon on the market. The 9-5 comes with 37 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. That increases to 74 cubic feet with both rear seats folded flat. The 9-5 also comes with two rows of aircraft-style Cargo Tracks cargo cleats in the floor that move fore and aft with simple finger pressure, so that loads of every shape and size can be secured directly to the floor. Saab has come up with a unique, dealer-installed slide-out load floor that pops up at the rear and slides rearward so heavy loads can be placed on it. Then the whole panel can slide forward into the wagon's cargo bay, a great way to save trips to the chiropractor. It also doubles as a small picnic table. The slide-out floor will hold up to 440 pounds of cargo. The cargo compartment cover is a hard, two-piece unit that can safely be used as a temporary storage shelf as well.
We salute Saab for thinking the wagon proposition all the way through and offering a workable dog retainer system to keep Fido vertical in a braking or cornering situation. Saab offers a separator cage, a cargo organizer, a roof rack, and several other wagon-only optional features that no one else offers, in addition to the bicycle racks and cargo boxes offered by the aftermarket.
Add to that the glove compartment that is kept chilled to 42 degrees F. to keep drinks cold, and you have one versatile wagon.
The 200-horsepower V6 engine provides plenty of power. It revs freely and makes good sounds. Driving a Saab smoothly can be a bit of a challenge at times. Part of the Saab character demands that the engine be allowed to rock back and forth freely on its transverse mounts, creating a strong moment in the drivetrain as it does so, and making on-throttle and off-throttle transitions less than smooth.
Saab's 3.0-liter V6 is tuned to offer a much broader torque range than the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Therefore, it's much more pleasant to mash the throttle on this wagon at any rpm and let the automatic transmission deal out the power smoothly and quietly. It delivers solid performance, and you it's easy to get better fuel economy than the EPA rating of 25 mpg.
The steering is well weighted here, accurate and not too much overassisted at highway speeds, but more so at lower speeds and in parking maneuvers. Saab went to an independent rear suspension on this wagon to increase the load width in the cargo bay, and got a lot better handing in high-speed corners in the bargain. The anti-lock disc brakes are more than up to the job on this wagon.
The Saab 9-5 (pronounced "nine five") wagon comes in only the base and SE versions. The base model has a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The loaded SE comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6; it also comes with a higher level of standard equipment, including traction control and leather upholstery, both of which are optional on the base model. Options include a dealer-installed slide-out cargo floor, heated front and rear seats, and special ventilated seats with electric fans built into them.