2008 Saab 9-5 BioPower Review
18 Apr, 2008
24 Comments 
The ‘Fasten Seat Belts’ light over the rear view mirror, perhaps borrowed from a Saab Regional Jet sits directly next to an R2D2 swivel light. Material usage is monotone, dated and very average in terms of quality, and with the ignition key and power windows switches (which incidentally operate incredibly slow power windows) taking up the console area, you’re left with very little space for additional storage of smaller items.
Road noise is quite noticeable, the switch gear is agriculturally large, and the non-rain sensing wipers skip across the windscreen with washers that flood the cabin if you’re too slow at getting the glass up. As for the stereo, it’s decent and easy to use, but hardly a premium unit which only adds merit to my opinion that you’re not getting $60K+ worth of car.
I did like the night panel feature, which cancels the instrumentation lighting to everything except the speedo (lighting other gauges if required - or at a button press), it’s very good on dark country roads when you need all your night vision, and the dual fold sun blind is a great idea, especially when travelling south-west of a late arvo.
But how does it drive I hear you ask - well, like a ten year old, rather large, soft and heavy front wheel drive wagon really. The power is certainly there, but the drive is rather average. The cornering is lofty, top heavy and unsettled with a rigid front end creating a great deal of under steer and neutral wheel spin through those little 16″ rims in sharper corners.
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(5 votes, average: 3.6 out of 5)
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April 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
To sum it up: This car will make you hate driving. (It was gettin there with me!).
Perhaps that’s the motive behind Saab’s BioPower concept?
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April 18th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I like that you guys have the balls to tell it as it is - well done.
SAAB, get with the program!
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April 18th, 2008 at 8:29 am
My previous car was a SAAB. (the ex’s choice! grrrr)
I recently sold it after after the 3 year lease expired for a $20,000.00 loss.
I am NEVER touching the brand again. And you all shouldn’t either! :OP
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April 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
while the 9-3 is good that thing is ancient in car years it must be about 100
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April 18th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Ummmmmmm the 9-3 isn’t good. I had my first 9-3 (an 04 model) replaced with a new one after 6 months as it was a lemon. Cost me a packet in lawyer fees but I finally got my way.
Go to wwwDOTsaabcentralDOTcom and chq out the 9-3 forums.
Just giving a friendly pointer so that others don’t make the same mistake :O)
Great looking car the 9-3, underneath its all pretty horrible.
I blame GM.
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I owned a 1986 Saab 900 for a while. Great car, solidly built, handled very well and you felt good behind the wheel. This was before GM took them over and, well, they seem to continue their slide down to being forgotten about.
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I thought the point of Ethanol fuels was to become an alternative and cheaper option to unleaded, and not fuel efficiency or CO2 emmissions??
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:01 am
You have Leather as a $4000 option in your options list. It is in fact standard. The option of “Premium Natural Leather” is $4000.
Apparently the new 95 in to be shown at a Motorshow later this year and is going to be pretty damn amazing.
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I’m a fan of the 93 - its a very good looking thing. The 93 aero with its 184kW is a superb looking machine that hammers quite well and the drive train is silk smooth although, the upshifts take every bit as long as Volvo’s. Must be a Swedish thing.
I agree, the 95 Estate is not a good looking thing at all and is in desperate need of a re-style.
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Well, at least it’s not a rebadged, current-gen Impreza.
Can you imagine THAT with a Saab badge?!?!
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April 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Thats why they are called a car for life …. you are always so upside down at the end of the lease the only way to get out of it is buy another Saab as they have so much profit margin in their new cars they can bail you out
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April 18th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
And u said they don’t have auto wipers, but they do :p
Anthonia, the 9-3 Aero now has 188kW
Hey caradvice, are you guys going to do a review of the 93 Turbo X ?
Now that’s a hot Saab.
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April 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
My cousin has one of these but its normal diesel. Its nice to sit in the back of - can I say any more?
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April 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Eddy - I know the spec sheet says it has auto wipers, but believe me, if they were fitted, they certainly didn’t work. In fact, the wipers were almost useless - period.
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April 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Saabs are such a ripoff. If not for their range of convertibles, they would be finished by now.
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April 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
You’re absolutely correct Eddy, even better at 188k. I’m surprised that Saab doesn’t employ AWD on any of its passenger sedans or wagons, given their safety image. No doubt a cost thing! But then again, Subaru can do it with cars which retail for half the price?
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April 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Anothnia, the new Saab turbo will be AWD, that should be lots of fun. I do agree though,the Aero specs really need to be AWD
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April 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
India,China also Egypt and theres probably more,recently suspended grain exports for fear they would not have enough for there domestic market.And another reports says where headed for a world wide food shortage in the future.MAKING FUEL FROM FOOD SEEMS DUMB.I don’t think ethanol is the way forward.
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Agree, Making fuel from food is morally bankrupt!!!!!
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April 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Alborz - with regards to emissions…..the BioPower does put out a higher raw figure, but the point of BioPower is reduced fossil fuel emissions. So when you’re running it on E85, it reduces fossil fuel emissions significantly as the fuel isn’t pure dino-juice.
I’m betting the house on a new 9-5 for 2009 being shown at the Paris Motor Show later this year. I love the 9-5 to bits but this new one is well overdue.
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April 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Although I agree in most part of what has been written, there are a few points I would like to make.
I think the comments on the brakes are over exaggerated. I’ve never thought that any 9-5 I’ve driven was not going to to stop in time. I find them responsive and on par with any standard vehicle on the market today.
The author complains about the extra body roll on the 16″ wheels, but to me this points out that the vehicle was probably lacking sport suspension as this was the Linear version he was testing.
Lastly I like to clarify the BioPower issue.
Before I start though, I would like to mention that I think it is irresponsible for major companies like Shell, BP, etc not to supply E85. We see plenty of adverts showing they are heavily investing in BioFuels but I don’t see anything at the pumps.
Right… BioPower or BioEthanol if you wish.
BioEthanol will not reduce the C02 coming out the back of your car. If it registers 238g then that’s the amount the engine is churning out. The difference being with E85 is that approximately 70% of that C02 is non-fossil fuel based. Some may wonder why 70% and not 85% as E85 contains 85% recycled fuel.
The 70% is based on a ‘Well to wheel’ calculation meaning that a certain percentage of fossil fuel has been burnt in converting the Bio-mass into ethanol.
So the real figures are, out of 238g of Co2 only approximately 72g is fossil CO2 based. Which make this Saab 9-5 considerably more environmentally friendly than the Toyota Prius that can only burn your normal plumbed out the ground Fossil Fuel.
The other misconception is that E85 will reduce fuel consumption; It will not. E85 will increase fuel consumption by about 20%. However; you will gain an increase in performance which is mentioned in the article but not really explained why the performance dropped after filling up with 95RON. in this case the 2.3t produces 185hp on normal unleaded and 210hp on E85.
We should see an All New product late summer 2009. In the mean-time I suggest you actually take a 9-5 for a drive and judge for yourself and secondly Saab dealers are more than aware the the list price for this car is a bit high and they will be more than willing to strike you a deal.
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April 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I have got to say that Saabs are ageing alot! I reckon the 9-3 looks better that the 9-5.
The rear light set up reminds me of the HSV Maloo Ute.
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April 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Many thanks for that explanation WooDz - clears up the BioPower bit, I guess many (like myself) simply look at the CO2 rating without dwelling deeper. Obviously a need for better marketing then.
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July 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Are we not forgetting the fact that bioethanol reduces our dependency on oil? Maybe there is food shortage too, but at least it is a renewable source unlike oil.
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