The Anti-SUV: Saab 9-5 SportCombi 5-Door
By Greg Rubenstein
Photos courtesy of Saab
Nowhere in the 26-character name of the Saab 9-5 2.3T SportCombi 5Door is there mention of the “W-word.” Yet at one glance, everybody will surely recognize the 9-5 for what it is: a (hushed tone) wagon.
There—I’ve outed the 9-5 2.3T SportCombi. It’s a station wagon, and a fine one at that. Not only is this wagon fun to drive, it handles great, stops quickly, accelerates briskly and can do triple-digit cruising without breathing hard—all while achieving nearly 30 mpg with an automatic transmission.
Try that in an SUV.
While an athletic SUV may be able to run well in a straight line, if you get into the twisties—or worse, get yourself into a situation where agility, maneuverability, or short braking distance is your only way out—a wagon like the Saab 9-5 can save your bacon. In an SUV, you’re lunch meat.
It’s simple physics, folks; a two-ton-plus SUV with a high center of gravity that is caused by putting lots of weight up there so you can see over other tall vehicles doesn’t stop or turn as quickly as a more “down-to-earth” wagon. That big bulk of a ride is also much more likely to turn itself wheels-up in an accident, which is the absolutely worst thing you want to happen. You might feel safer in an SUV, but it’s a delusion, especially when you factor in that the best way to survive an accident is to avoid it in the first place. That’s a lot easier to do in a vehicle that handles like a car, not a truck.
Wagons are cool. Like our test 9-5 turbo, they hold lots of stuff. This Saab was also finely appointed with soft leather seats, exemplary fit, finish and switchgear, excellent ergonomics, solid about-town MPG (we averaged a touch over 24 in combined heavy-footed city/highway driving with the automatic; expect another MPG with the standard five-speed manual) and good value.
This model was thoroughly refreshed in 2006, and for 2007 the 9-5 received a few revisions, although it doesn’t really need them. Powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 260-horsepower/258 pound-feet torque 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine, the 3,730-pound SportCombi with five-speed automatic isn’t especially svelte, but it carries its weight like a champ. Turbo lag is present but not prevalent, and torque steer is virtually nonexistent unless you romp full-throttle from a stop.
Helping to keep its meaty 235/45/17 Pirelli P6 high-performance all-season tires stuck to the road is a front suspension featuring MacPherson struts with lower wishbones, twin-pipe gas shocks and antisway bar. The independent multilink rear suspension includes antisway bar, coil springs, and gas shocks.
Stopping is accomplished via ABS-enhanced four-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. Other safety features include dual front air bags, head/torso side air bags, seatbelt pretensioners, and active head restraints (front seats only).
Standard equipment on all 9-5 models includes leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, cooled glove box, dual-zone climate control, power front seats with driver’s side memory, six-disc in-dash CD audio system, trip computer, antitheft alarm/immobilizer, and free scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.
Our test vehicle started with a base MSRP of $36,290. Besides its standard list of goodies, Jet-Black Metallic paint added $550, and Parchment Vented Sport Leather was a $995 upcharge. The $1,095 Visibility Package (xenon projector beam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, Saab Park Assist (SPA) and auto-dimming outside mirrors), OnStar ($695), and Sentronic Automatic Transmission ($1,350), plus $720 for destination rounded out the package at $41,695.
That’s a healthy chunk of change, but Saab delivers a lot of content in a ride that’s light-years more fun than a SUV.