Home / Vehicle Search / Saab / 2008 Saab 9-5 Sedan / Reviews
2008 Saab 9-5 Sedan
2008 Saab 9-5 Sedan
Head of the Family
The flagship Saab 9-5 Sedan remains an anti-establishment alternative to more-familiar luxury cars.
• Get a Saab 9-5 Sedan price quote
While the car has lost a bit of its quirky Swedish appeal over the years, it remains distinctively styled and carries over traditional Saab affectations, like the ignition key on the floor between the two front seats. It’s offered in base and Aero versions, and as a SportCombi station wagon (which is reviewed separately, even though mechanical details are largely the same).
A 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is the Saab 9-5 Sedan’s only available engine. 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 efficiency.
As European tradition dictates, a five-speed manual transmission is standard. Most buyers will likely be happier with the optional five-speed automatic. The automatic includes a manual shift function.
The suspension in the Saab 9-5 Sedan delivers a smooth ride, with better-than-average handling. It’s not as sporty as a BMW 5 Series, but the 9-5’s ride is less harsh. Those willing to accept an edgier ride in exchange for sharper cornering will want to opt for the Saab 9-5 Aero Sedan, which features a sport-tuned chassis.
Safety features included with the Saab 9-5 Sedan are plentiful and range from front side airbags to active front-seat head restraints that minimize whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution are standard for secure stopping. Stability and traction control are also included on the Saab 9-5 Sedan to help keep the car on track during extreme conditions or handling situations.
• Saab 9-5 Sedan Vehicle Summary
The leather-clad cabin of the Saab 9-5 Sedan is spacious, comfortable, and efficiently designed. The 60/40-split rear seat backs fold forward to maximize its cargo-carrying capacity.
One feature that’s unique to the Saab 9-5 Sedan 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 fans that keep 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.
• See all Saab models in the Saab Showroom
Only a handful of other options are offered. The Saab 9-5 Sedan lags a bit behind most other midsize luxury cars in terms of the latest high-tech gadget features.
You want a roomy and comfortable European sedan that’s a step off-center compared to more mainstream models.
You require more power, high-tech features, rear- or all-wheel drive, or a more prestigious nameplate; you want a European station wagon, in which case the 9-5 SportCombi wagon might fit the bill.
Five passengers can take a trip in relative comfort with ample cargo room for luggage.
Acura TL, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac STS, Infiniti M35, Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S60
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.
New-Car Pricing
Get a free online price quote from a dealer near you: