2007 Saab 9-5 SportCombi

Sleek Scandinavian Station Wagon

The quirky Saab 9-5 SportCombi station wagon is an engaging alternative to a front-drive crossover SUV, and it wrings more power than you'd expect out of its turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The Saab 9-5 SportCombi station wagon is an offbeat alternative to European station wagons like the Audi A6 Avant, the BMW 5 Series Wagon and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, though it doesn’t share the brand cachet (or sticker prices) of those cars.

While the Saab wagon has lost a bit of its quirky Swedish appeal over the years, it remains distinctively styled and carries over traditional Saab affectations, like locating the ignition key on the floor between the two front seats.

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The Saab 9-5 SportCombi was last refreshed for the 2006 model year with updated styling. It’s offered in base and Aero versions, and as a sedan (which is reviewed separately, although the mechanical details are virtually identical).

A 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is the only available powerplant in the Saab 9-5 SportCombi. Despite its diminutive size, it generates impressive power with good fuel economy, and it is more than sufficient to get the 9-5 up to highway speeds at a brisk pace. For many years, Saab’s Swedish engineers have insisted that a turbocharged four-cylinder engine is the ideal compromise of power and fuel consumption. To have more cylinders was wasteful, they believed, even if most American customers thought the more cylinders, the better. Under parent GM, Saab grudgingly offers bigger engines in other models.

As European tradition dictates, a five-speed manual transmission is standard. Most buyers will likely be happier with the optional five-speed automatic, which includes a manual shift function.

See Saab 9-5 SportCombi specs

The suspension in the Saab 9-5 SportCombi delivers a relatively smooth ride with better-than-average handling abilities. It’s not as sporty as a BMW 5 Series Wagon, but then the 9-5’s ride is a bit less harsh in the bargain. Those willing to accept a more-edgy ride in exchange for sharper cornering prowess will want to opt for the Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi, which features a sport-tuned chassis.

Safety features included with the Saab 9-5 SportCombi are plentiful and range from front side airbags to active front-seat head restraints that minimize whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. Four-wheel disc antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are standard for secure stopping abilities. Stability control and traction control are also included on the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, to help keep the car on track during extreme conditions or handling situations.

Saab 9-5 SportCombi Vehicle Summary

The leather-clad cabin in the Saab 9-5 SportCombi is spacious, comfortable and efficiently designed. The 60/40-split rear seat backs fold forward to maximize its cargo-carrying capacity. One of the many beefs that Saab purists have is that under GM, Saab dropped hatchbacks in favor of sedans, wagons and even an SUV. Veteran Saab owners squawked about the 9-5 Sedan when it debuted for the 1999 model year, because it came in sedan or wagon body styles, but no hatchback. For many years, the Saab brand was associated with the hatchback body style. Families in Europe tend to own fewer cars than American families, so hatchbacks are prized for their versatility. However, hatchbacks are unpopular in the United States.

The Saab 9-5 SportCombi is particularly practical, and for some owners it can be an alternative to a bulkier and less-sporty crossover SUV. Unfortunately, unlike some rivals, such as the Audi A6 Avant, the 9-5 SportCombi is not available with all-wheel drive.

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One feature that’s still fairly unique to the Saab 9-5 SportCombi is a cooled glove box that allows passengers to keep a few bottles or cans chilled when the air-conditioning is engaged. The 9-5 was also one of the first cars to offer optional front seats that are perforated, heated and “ventilated.” The front seats have their own fan inside, which keeps them cool and dry on a warm day, or warm and dry on a cold day. Some competitors offer ventilated seats, but only on their most expensive models, and some competing systems are noisy, with the fan on full-blast. Only a handful of other options are offered, and the Saab 9-5 Sedan lags a bit behind most other large luxury cars in terms of offering the latest high-tech gadget features.