Saab Standard
Author: Andy Hum, Amery Reuben

As much as the brochures would like to tell you how much of a fighter jet cockpit the interiors of Saabs resemble, the new one, in comparison to the older models, is far from it. No, you don’t get a cool screen that has a radar on it, nor do you get a whole array of switches and buttons with baffling acronym labels.

Actually thats good.

No, there isn't a Heads Up Display (HUD). What you do get though, is a button called “Night Panel” which turns everything off except the speedometer and a few other LEDs on the console. Unless you were in a JAS 39 Gripen trying to avoid being spotted in the night sky, why would you want that?

Past experience however, has told us that a dim interior is good when travelling along pitch black stretches of road. You just see the outside much better. This might help, if we tested the car at night.

On the outside, even though this supposedly took inspiration from Saab’s 9X concept car, it seems as if their designers forgot about the rear and were satisfied with the back and its jutting jaw.

The new front grilles are fabulously designed; nothing that seems dated, yet aggressive enough to challenge the modern day competition. Unfortunately, that’s about as good as it gets. The 16-inch rims failed to fit the car’s overall profile in a complementary manner (17 inchers like on the sportier models would have been great!) and neither did the rear.

The tail lamps, in comparison to the competition, looked like everyone barely gave a thought to it when drawing. We even wondered if somewhere in Ikea there would be a suitable lamp for this car. It didn’t get any better after I climbed into the “cockpit”.

As this is the non sport version, the dials on the instrument cluster, as were the rest of the “fighter jet” centre console buttons, were a little uninspiring. The "silver carbon fibre" look of the plastic finish, didn't really go with the rest of it all. Give us the black and aluminium finished interior Saab!

Read more here: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Accompanying photos:

GM is ruining Saab.

Definitely mate, as a massive Saab fan i am very angry at GM. They are utterly useless. Ford has done an ok job with Volvo while GM did sh*t all with Saab.

Saab cars may look boring and un-sporting. The engine's on paper performance figure do not suggest a lot of potential but once you have driven one you will understand , the car is fast. I let my friend drive my Saab and he was surprised how fast it goes.

The review is dead right about its performance and handling ability. "The car charges forward with such ferocity, and with its lovely, meaty engine, felt like it was going to punish the traffic for being slow. The torque range, be it on the highway or along urban roads, is definitely very suitable when you need to get a quick move on.
In tight corners such as South Buona Vista Road (or commonly termed, the "99 bends") the car feels relatively nose-heavy a tad reluctant to turn in when punted hard into a corner (not like anyone would be doing so though).

In addition, it accelerates and holds its speed so well, you wouldn't notice that you're barelling along the highway at such velocity.

While its suspension feels a little soft and a tad bit wobbly, it delivers a comfortable ride and at the same time, it definitely won’t make you want to reach for the sick-bag. However, when put in a difficult situation, the car gets uncertain, rolling and pitching about with hints of understeer."

The 9-5 and other Saab cars may lack showroom appeal but once you have own one you will understand the Saab philosophy.

I hope GM will take Saab seriousely and give it the respect it deserves.

The car looks like a draq queen. 9-3 is lightyears ahead in design.