With sleek head-turning lines and performance that will put a smile on anyone’s face, the brand new Saab 9-5 sedan has to be your next touring car. Saab are well known in the aviation world for producing great aeroplanes, including the Viggen that was used until quite recently for NATO’s aerial patrols over the North Sea, especially as it was capable of landing and taking off from rough beaches if it needed to. And much of this engineering excellence is applied to Saab’s cars, even if the hottest of all hot Saabs can’t quite get airborne or have massive glowing afterburners.

It is this level of excellence that has seen the Saab 95 Sedan take a number of awards. The previous Saab 95 Sedan (and its brother the SportEstate) has been named the “Safest Car in Sweden” in 2005, and was named Best in Class in 2005 and 2006. In fact, the Saab 95 Sedan’s history is studded with safety commendations and bouquets. Now, ready to fly the flag for Saab is the flagship, all new, Saab 9-5 sedan which boasts XWD and 221 kW of inspiring performance and all the safety that only the best cars could ever boast.

So what makes the Saab 95 Sedan so safe? Well, everything. The feature that has picked up the most commendation is the SAHR (Saab Active Head Restraint) headrests, which move to catch the head and prevent whiplash during a rear-impact collision. But that’s not all. The Saab 95 Sedan’s got a safety cage system that doesn’t just provide a tough capsule between crumble zones but also is designed to deflect forces away from the passengers. The list of safety features in the Saab 95 Sedan continues with ABS brakes, EBD, traction control, ESP, driver and passenger front airbags, chest/thorax side airbags in the front, pretensioned seatbelts in the front… and child restraint points already fixed – because the Saab 95 Sedan is designed to be a family-friendly car. Now with AWD, and bi-xenon levelling headlights to maximise safety during night driving, the driving experience is, simply, brilliant.

Saab’s latest 9-5 sedan comes with hot new engines and a hot new style. The Saab 9-5 TiD4 sedan boasts a very willing and efficient four-cylinder 1.9-litre diesel engine. This 118 kW engine has 350 Nm to drive the front wheels, and returns a very commendable average fuel economy figure of just 6.8 Litres/100 km. Next on the list is a brilliant Saab Turbo4 FWD package that offers 162 kW of petrol power and 350 Nm of torque. Slip inside the Saab 9-5 Turbo6 petrol model, and be prepared to fly. The sleek model glides along effortlessly, and when the need arises for the throttle to be opened right up, the sensation of acceleration is exhilarating. The 221 kW output is incredible grunty, particularly when pulling out to pass slower traffic. Over any conditions, wet or dry, the XWD makes this a very swift car. Intelligent eLSD creates grip that will leave RWD sports cars behind – especially when the rain starts to fall. All the 9-5 models have the power applied via an exceptionally smooth six-speed automatic transmission.

Saab is leading the way with a Bio Power engine that uses E85 bioethanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel. Expect to see some Bio Power models added to the Saab 9-5 range, soon. In this guise, it is possible for drivers to enjoy the benefits of Saab power and performance while having a greater regard for the environment. The result of Bio Powered Saabs is the significantly reduced emissions of CO2, the ‘greenhouse’ gas that is widely believed to contribute to global warming, by up to 70 per cent. This is something not to be read over lightly.

As with all Saab vehicles, you have the added protection and security of a traction control system, an electronic stability programme, anti-lock brakes, a sport tuned chassis and a full complement of driver and passenger airbags – including front, side and torso coverage. The front seats have an automatic weight-sensing module that adjusts the safety functions according to the weight of the person. Saab isn’t a five star safety leader for nothing! A theft deterrent system and engine immobiliser keeps the thieves at bay. Delayed headlamps provide light on those dark nights when you need to find the keys to your home.

The interior of the Saab 9-5 is an extremely well laid-out, well built space to be. You have a choice of a number of types of leather seats, with the option of power, memory and heating if you so desire. The leather seats are as sexy and as glorious as only Saab leather seats can be. The steering wheel is leather bound, and the chrome and wood trim all take shape together to provide a very tasteful and pleasing 9-5 cabin. Vector and Aero specs stamp there own mark on what are very beautiful interiors.

There are a variety of standard and optional features like a power moon-roof, dual zone climate control (with cabin air filter), tilt/telescoping steering column, Saab information display, cruise control, rain sensing wipers, lots of cup holders and even a cooling glove box! Steering wheel mounted audio controls, “follow me home” lights, automatic climate control, a cooled glovebox (perfect for chocolate), heated front seats (with heated rear seats as an option) and parking assist create quite a statement in luxury. The Saab 95 Sedan Aero goes beyond this with electric front seats (the driver’s seat has a memory function, too), an electric sunroof, and tinted metallic fascia and door trim. Both the Vector and Aero models boast a profiler personal settings system, a Saab Bluetooth hands-free communications system, an infotainment and navigation system, sentronic audio steering wheel controls, USB connection and a Harman/Kardon surround sound system…so very nice. 19-inch, ten-spoked alloy wheels, a sports exhaust and front foglights blend superbly with the low-slung exterior and Swedish design.

A Saab 9-5 Sedan is, by no means, a snail-paced and boring shopping trolley. Treat yourself to a sexy Swede today. The 9-5 will not disappoint, it is a superbly complete package. Roomy (512-litre boot space), oh-so swift…and superbly safe.

The current model series includes the:

• Saab 9-5 TiD4
• Saab 9-5 Turbo4
• Saab 9-5 Turbo6 XWD

For any more information on the Saab 9-5, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Saab dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

Back to Saab Car Reviews