Car Reviws |
| 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero Sedan, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:41 AM PST  Jake Lingeman The 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero Sedan
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This is a nice car that could be a fine, less expensive alternative to the Audi A6/BMW 5-series cliché, though I wonder how many BMW owners even realize Saab is still in business. We’ll see how it plays out in the marketplace, but this car drives well, and I guess it should since it’s been, what, 13 years since the old 9-5 came out? This one is on General Motors’ Epsilon platform, which underpins a ton of GM stuff here and overseas. The car is roomy and tight, the six-cylinder has more than enough power and the ride is smooth. The gearbox is smooth, too, whether using the paddles or not. The seats are among the best in the business, in my opinion. The question is, under new ownership, will Saab be able to get enough buyers into the showrooms for a test drive? If it can, buyers should be impressed with this car. I was. I’m looking forward to trying the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: For various reasons--new Spyker ownership, the AWD powertrain from the 9-3 Turbo X, the first new 9-5 in more than decade, the new styling--I’ve been looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the new 9-5 for months. I’m happy to report the car lived up to my expectations and then some. The look is handsome but hardly groundbreaking, and some might complain that it lacks the distinctive Saab-ish oddness of some past models. But I think that’s a good thing for a post-GM survivor trying to live on and appeal to a wider audience. To my eye, the car is likable and is true to the 2006 Aero X concept look. Spending a few days with the car did nothing to change the positive impression that I’ve had of the car since it was first revealed, and since I first saw it on the road. Inside, there are plenty of unique styling cues, from the brightly readable instruments (yes, including the turbo-boost gauge) to the Saab-centric START button on the center console. The seats are among the best bolstered and most comfortable of any car. Meanwhile, this powertrain is just what the doctor (or maybe appropriately, the Wall Street banker) ordered, coming with plenty of boosted grunt applied to all four wheels. This XWD (“cross”-wheel drive) setup, along with the new Epsilon chassis HiPerStrut in the front suspension, eliminates the Saab hazard of overpowered, torque-steered front wheels. Understeer also is limited via the XWD, which works with an electronic limited-slip rear differential to power the car through corners rather than cutting power via ABS as in most systems. The steering loads up predictably in corners to provide a good feel for what the car is doing. The result is a launch feel and cornering grip normally associated with Audi quattro AWD cars. It’s really a blast. In the nitpicking department, in lieu of a stick shift, I’d like the steering-wheel shift paddles to control the gearbox without having to slap the shift lever into manual mode. And, I may be alone in this, but I miss the Scandinavian-design cupholders that elegantly deployed from their dashboard slots (though the new holders are just fine). I guess I’d like my Saab to be just a touch more Swedish, rather than mainstream European. Though $52,000 may seem pricey, it’s a relative bargain compared with all-wheel-drive A6s, 5-series cars and Mercedes-Benz E-class 4Matics. And Saab’s unique new position in the marketplace might give it just the special niche that those marques previously enjoyed and exploited to their current success. COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: This is the first time I’ve driven a Saab, and the drive was fine. I wondered how the car would handle in the snowy, frozen conditions, and it did well. The car felt planted, and only on one instance, at a particularly nasty intersection, did I feel a bit of slip from the back end. I didn’t get a chance to get a sense of the 9-5’s power, given the conditions, but braking was solid, the interior presents well and the controls are easy to use. To echo the guys, the seats are indeed comfy. On such a blustery day, the seats warmed up quickly, and the car followed soon after. I’m not sold on the lines of the sheetmetal, but overall, this is a nice package. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: The thing I always liked about Saabs is the power they offer off the line, and this car still seems to have that. Unfortunately, I had to take it real easy because the roads were mostly ice-covered. Saab exteriors have always been interesting, too, but this one has me scratching my head. It reminds me of a big oblong egg. It seems like it is unfinished, not polished. I’d seen photos of the car and chose to give it the benefit of a doubt and wait until I saw it in person, and my eyes were disappointed. The interior is nice and streamlined with nice accents on the steering wheel and door panels. Unlike Wes, I had a hard time finding a good driving position. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER TARA KLEIN: I was in the Saab 9-5 for what became the most treacherous, stressful and lengthy commute into work that I have ever experienced. Reflecting on my six- hour trip that spanned 63 miles, I am incredibly pleased with how this car handled not only the roads but my comfort level as well. No pit stops, no bathroom breaks—there I was, just parked in the middle of the expressway with occasional periods of crawling. Even though my patience was quickly deteriorating, my feeling of comfort inside the Saab was consistent throughout the trip. I agree with Wes and Bob that the seats in this car are above and beyond most. The quality materials and amount of support were very impressive, and the entire interior was easy to navigate and control. As for the exterior, well, I could take it or leave it. Playing it safe is the best way I can put it, and it’s really too bad considering the thought and execution that were put into the rest of the car. The icy road conditions were not a problem for the 9-5 with winter tires on it, but this also could be because I tend to go into “tortoise” mode when I see eight vehicles spun out in a one-mile span. However, when I had the rare ability to get the car over 20 mph, it felt controlled, strong and unwavering. In the days before the snow, I got to fully experience the amount of power and excellent handling this car has to offer. I am very thankful I had a vehicle of this caliber to help me achieve the AutoWeek Record for Longest Commute Into Work. 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero Sedan Base Price: $48,390 As-Tested Price: $52,530 Drivetrain: 2.8-liter turbocharged V6; AWD, six-speed automatic Output: 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 295 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm Curb Weight: 4,350 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 20/20.4 mpg Options: Navigation with eight-inch color screen ($2,395); Harmon-Kardon surround sound ($995); 19-inch alloy wheels ($750) |
| 2011 BMW 128i Coupe, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 21 Dec 2010 07:19 AM PST |
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