All you Mad Dutchies (c) might want to check out these links relating to the Saab 9-4x.
The Saab 9-4x was in Holland recently and Luxity magazine enlisted the services of lady racer, Sheila Verschuur, to take it for a spin. The result is a combination text/video review that I know absolutely nothing about as I don’t understand Dutch 🙂
You can read the story here: Saab 9-4x in Luxity.
There’s also a video, in Dutch, that you can watch below (and if the embed doesn’t work, try here).
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As you can tell, there’s not a much to share in terms of the business side of things at this precise moment.
That gives us a perfect opportunity to have a look at something that matters….. cars!
If you’re looking for a 5-minute stress reliever with a wonderful Saaby flavour then you need to get on over to Saabworld and take a look at Wulf’s review of his new Saab 9-4x. This is a must-read for a few reasons.
First, I’ve known Wulf (in the online sort of way) for a few years now and I know him to be a very reasonable and fair guy. He’s not the sort to unduly praise or criticise anything, preferring some well measured and thought-out commentary over anything that could be taken as sensationalism. His is an opinion that you know will have been well thought out, and the fact that this is his own vehicle won’t taint that.
Second, he’s bought the 3.0 Saab 9-4x Premium FWD. Most of the reviews you’ve read thus far would be about the 2.8T Aero XWD model. This is a great opportunity to get an insight into what it’s like to not just drive the 3.0 model, but also to own it.
I drove the 3.0 model earlier this year, just on a short test around Trollhattan, and I was much more impressed than I thought I’d be. The power feels less than you’re used to from a Saab, but it’s adequate and the noise was fantastic.
Head on over to Saabworld and check out Wulf’s Saab 9-4x review (which is still in to-be-continued mode).
Last week I finally took a long-overdue opportunity to drive the latest iteration of the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, the 9-3 Griffin.
The 9-3 SS is a car that’s being regarded by some as a tag-along car in Saab’s range. The rest of the product offering from Saab is quite new, whereas the 9-3 was originally introduced as a 2003 model year car. There’s a temptation (that many succumb to) to write the 9-3 off as being ‘old’ before one even jumps into it. Don’t do it.
The Saab 9-3 Griffin shares little but the bare bones from that original car.
The design, as is usually the case with Saab, still looks fresh and contemporary even after all these years. Some might consider that it’s all just details, but it’s the details that finish the car and the work done on the Griffin sedan makes the whole package look quite distinctive.
The grille, headlamps, foglamps, bumpers, air intakes, badging and wheels have all been changed and all to great effect. A rear spoiler is standard on all sedan models and you get twin exhausts poking out the back, too.
On the inside, there’s new seat trim with leather/textile seats and contrasting stitching (super smart looking and super comfy), new dash panelling, a new graphite effect dash surround to replace the silver strip. There are new treatments on the doors, gearshift and glove compartment, too.
As with the exterior, each of these enhancements is a small modification when taken on its own, but it’s the details that make the whole package that much more impressive.
The exterior and interior enhancements make the car look and feel better as you approach the car, but it’s the drive that really had me looking forward to experiencing this car.
The 9-3 Griffin has a new petrol engine under the hood. It’s the same 2.0T inline four cylinder engine that’s found in the new Saab 9-5, with a tin scroll turbo, variable valve timing and direct injection. The engine’s available with either 163hp or 220hp, the second being the one that I drove last week.
Transplant those characteristics into the smaller Saab 9-3 and you get an engine that offers a much more satisfying drive than its predecessor. It’s only 10hp more than the old 9-3 four-banger, but it’s all in the way it delivers that extra power and torque. It’s so smooth, quite eager to please, and so easy to keep in the power band.
The car I drove was also equipped with Saab’s XWD system. The Haldex system made its worldwide debut in 2008 on the Saab Turbo-X and is still the most advanced all-wheel-drive system there is. Buyers of the more regular 9-3 petrol-driven models now have access to the XWD system and you should definitely give it some consideration.
Mate this XWD system to this new 2.0T engine and you really have the best driving Saab 9-3 we’ve ever offered and my quick drive last week backed up all the anticipation I felt prior to driving this car. It’s smooth, it’s quick, it’s very comfortable and it just can’t be moved from where you point it.
If you’re thinking of a new Saab, maybe your first new Saab, check out the 9-3 Griffin 2.0T. You won’t be disappointed. The Griffin is the best Saab 9-3 we’ve ever offered in terms of a standard product and it offers the absolute latest in terms of powertrain technology and driver comfort.
Remember a time when we used to talk about Saab Cars?
I’m in the middle of a big series of posts right now, but I just received a reference to this road test from a friend in the US. I figured it’d be good to post it straight away.
I first drove a Saab 9-5 mule in 2009 and right then and there I knew that the 4-cyl version of the car was going to be an absolute ball to drive. That’s the model in this test from the National Motorists Association in the US.
It’s a comprehensive review, written by Eric Peters.
Here are a few of my favourite quotes. What you need to do, though, is read the review for yourself.
So many new cars are lifeless, personality-free appliances that it’s a real treat for someone like me (and maybe someone like you, too) to find one with a pulse.
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….the 2.0 liter is a strong performer when called upon that also delivers not-bad gas mileage for a mid-sized performance sedan: 20 city and 33 highway. It’s also 10 hp stronger than the 2012 Audi A6′s base engine and competitive with the $7k more expensive-to-start BMW 528i’s 240 hp six.
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Owning a Saab is not unlike owning a Ferrari or other rare exotic. You will receive looks and attention — and everyone will know, “hey there goes Fred.” Do not use the Saab to make a furtive midnight rendezvous with your money-launderer or girlfriend-on-the-side.
Rent a Camry.
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As I said, it’s very enjoyable reading.
You can read the full Saab 9-5 review over at the NMA blog.
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If you haven’t already done so, you can read the following first:
And whilst you’re in the mood, check out the Saab 9-4x comparison table, which puts the 9-4x up against the BMW X3, the Audi Q5 and the Volvo CX60
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Driving (briefly) the 3.0 Premium model
I took the Saab 9-4x Aero for my 1,100+ km journey over a weekend. On the Monday morning following that weekend, I met up with a colleague from Saab to do a quick switcheroo. Fredrik had taken a Saab 9-4x Premium 3.0 non-turbo model for the weekend and we thought it’d be a good idea to swap cars for a brief period. I hadn’t driven the 3.0 Premium before and it was also Fredrik’s first run in the Aero.
That’s the Premium on the left and the Aero on the right.
The Premium model doesn’t come with everything that’s on the Aero, but it is still a very well equipped package. Smart shoppers can get the best of the options list and still spec up a very good vehicle for less than US$40K (disclosure: personally speaking, I’m not a big fan of sunroofs – they heat up my head too much – hence that’s not included in my calculation).
The 3.0 non-turbo engine still delivers a healthy 265hp but suffers from comparatively low torque. The end result is very decent power but a slower track to using it.
The other thing this 3.0 engine has – and something that made a huge impression on me – is an absolutely fantastic engine sound. It’s a really throaty V6 warble that animates the driving experience in a way that I didn’t expect. I’m a big fan of engine noises, which is one of the reasons I love the old 16v Saab 900 engine and many boxer engines from other manufacturers. It’s an emotional response point for me. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to hear the note on the 9-4x Premium.
This particular 9-4x Premium had FWD, the darker interior with wood-effect trim and it was specced up with the navigation/infotainment system. It was pretty much exactly how I’d order a Premium edition for my own personal use.
The drive was only a 20-minute affair before we headed to work, but it gave me a good feel for the car and I liked it a lot. Price-sensitive shoppers who can’t stretch to an Aero should feel very comfortable indeed about looking at the Premium edition. Shoppers who would rather use this vehicle for comfort, who don’t require the flat-out power of the Aero, should also feel quite good.
This car is definitely worth your consideration.
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Conclusions
I was really excited to finally get some seat time in a Saab 9-4x Aero and the experience exceeded my expectations. It’s perfectly proportioned, the interior is great, the seats are fantastic, it’s very well equipped, the power was brilliant, and it is without doubt the best looking crossover vehicle in its class. The drive is crisp, the car is very responsive and of course, the Saab 9-4x has stuck with the Saab tradition of safety in scoring a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.
Are there some improvements that could be made? Quite possibly. If the car could shed around 10% of its weight to match the competition at just over 4,200lbs then it’d be even more impressive in terms of performance and economy. Some of the Aero’s weight comes from its generous equipment levels which would see competitors gain weight before they get delivered. But it’d still be good if it could be done.
Some say that Saab got into the SUV/crossover market too late, and that fuel prices will shut this market down. Sales in the US market indicate otherwise. The SUV market is still a hot one and the crossover segment within that market is gaining steam as more car-like vehicles take over from the small trucks of yesteryear.
Saab have got in as quickly as they could, and the best part of it all is that they’ve got into the market with one heck of a good vehicle that they’ve wisely chosen to equip and price very well.
I suspect that we’re going to have a lot of very happy customers over the coming years, thanks to this car. I find myself looking forward to work each morning just so I can see one in the carpark. Coming from me, a small-car traditionalist, that’s high praise indeed.
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Fit for a king……..
I thought I’d put this together as a supplement to the writeup I’ve been doing on my time with the Saab 9-4x. One of the things that impressed me about the 9-4x was that it had a very high level of equipment. As I started writing up my report, I had the SaabUSA web page open to look up various bits of equipment to see if they were standard or optional. I was amazed to see that just about everything on the car was standard.
In fact, on the 2011 Saab 9-4x Aero there are only three options:
That’s it.
Think of everything on this car – the powered tailgate, the XWD system, the satnav, HDD music system with iPod connectivity, Drivesense …… you name it and it’s standard equipment on the 9-4 Aero (and much of it is standard on the 3.0 Premium, too).
I thought it would be a good exercise to put together a comparative table, showing the 9-4x and how it weighs up against three of its European competitors: The BMW X3, the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60.
I’ve used the USA webpages from those manufacturers to specify similar levels of equipment to that which is standard on the 9-4x. In some instances, there are packages where you get more than the needed item, including some things that the Saab doesn’t have available (hello, thermal cup holders).
I think the exercise is a worthwhile one, showing just how good the spec level is on the Saab 9-4x Aero. We hold very little back and when you build up some competitors models to a similar level, the pricing is interesting to say the least.
Note: This is not a full spec sheet of features on the 9-4x or the other vehicles. Go to Saab’s US 9-4x website for that. This is just a list of some of the more interesting options and the contrasts between the four vehicles. There are common features amongst all of them that I’ve left off – e.g. electrically adjustable passenger seats – simply to save some time (it’s been a very time consuming exercise).
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| Component | Price |
|---|---|
| Motor (Netgain Warp 9) | $2,395 |
| Batteries (Thunder Sky LFP160AHA) - 45 in series as per recommendation | $9,450 |
| Battery Management System | $295 |
| Motor Controller (cheaper option - ZEVA MC600S) | $1,295 |
| Contactor (cheaper option - Nanfeng ZJW400A) | $68.50 |
| Fuse (Bussmann FWH Fuse - 400A) | $86.50 |
| Vacuum Pump (for braking) | $335 |
| Power Steering Pump | $450 |
| DC/DC Converter (optional, but recommended) | $322.50 |
| Instruments | $295 |
| Charger | $1,685 |
| Emergency Stop (optional) | $25 |
| Inertia Switch (compulsory) | $22.50 |
| Cable | Sold by the meter |
This is a tough one. How do you go about writing a review of car made by the company that employs you to write? I’ve said it here before: enthusiast first, employee second – but I understand that some may (and probably should) take this article with a grain of salt. Still, I hope you find it informative and enjoyable.
Last weekend I had the good fortune to pilot a Saab 9-4x for three days, covering 1,140kms from Trollhattan to Västerås for the Midnight Sun Rally, and then on to Stockholm for one night before returning to home base in Trollywood.
This was my first time driving a Saab 9-4x. I’m not what you’d call an SUV traditionalist. In fact, I’m the exact opposite, preferring smaller cars with efficient use of space and some sort of fun factor – that the 1999 Saab 9-3, a Mazda MX-5 and an Alfa Romeo 33 have all made appearances in my garage in the past should bear this out.
Still, this is a vehicle designed from the ground up as a Saab by a team led by Swedish engineer, Peter Dörrich. This is a vehicle we’ve been anticipating since we first saw the concept car in early 2008. To say I was excited about the opportunity would be an understatement of considerable proportions.
Saab recently hosted members of the automotive press in Washington DC. Their mission – to drive the all new Saab 9-4x crossover.
It’s fair to say that the reviews have been very positive for the Saab 9-4x. It’s been noticed in Saab-land, too. Just Saab, a dealer in Ohio, tweeted the following this morning:
In over 16 years with Saab, I cannot recall better press toward a new model than the new 9-4x. It’s almost euphoric. Great Job Saab team!
Naturally, we’re pretty happy with the outcome of the road reviews. And we’re equally happy that our dealer network and customers are excited about it, too. This is a vehicle that Saab has needed for some time and we’ve finally done it, and more importantly, we’ve done it right.
You should rarely take one review as the chapter-and-verse about a vehicle. Different reviewrs have a different emphasis. Accordingly, here’s a sample of some of the reviews that have come online recently. We recommend that you check them out at your leisure:
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Autoblog: “From its cantilevered roof to its sweeping “hockey stick” greenhouse, ice-block blue headlamps and full-width LED taillamp band that echoes that of the 9-5 sedan, Saab has done a remarkable job imbuing brand hallmarks old and new into this simple two-box form…..
…..the 9-4X clearly skews toward the sportier end of the luxury crossover arena, eschewing leather-lined kinschleppers like the Lexus RX and Volvo XC60 in favor of chasing sportier entries like the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and BMW X3.”
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AutoGuide: “Saab hasn’t been cruising on easy street, but the 9-4X could be the x-factor that changes negatives into positives.”
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Car and Driver: C&D took a comparative approach, looking at the 9-4x in comparison with it’s sister vehicle at Cadillac, noting that Saab engineer Peter Dörrich was the chief architect behind both vehicles. You can see Peter’s view on the “Saabness” of this vehicle in this video, shot in Los Angeles last year.
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LeftLane News: “Unlike the SRX, the 9-4X’s steering felt linear and direct, if a little light on feel. Reactions were quick at any speed, with positive turn-in and good straight line stability. Despite the Aero’s big 20-inch wheels wrapped in performance-oriented tires, the 9-4X was nearly silent on the highway. That bling hardly disturbed ride quality, either, which was several notches above the SRX. Where the Cadillac is wooden and confused over undulating surfaces, the 9-4X happily took anything in stride. Body lean is modest, as it should be in a soft-riding crossover.”
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Motor Authority: “Cargo-wise, there’s lots to love here. Although the floor is a bit taller than you might expect, there’s a ‘hidden’ compartment under a large portion of it; rear seatbacks also fold flat, and they can be adjusted for rake to three different positions. The cargo management system is very useful, with a bar that can be configured to split part of the space off—to keep grocery bags from tipping, or suitcases from sliding around the space.”
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Winding Road: “The controls enhance this feeling of refined responsiveness. The steering has a well-chosen ratio with decent on-center operation. The brakes are firm, with a pedal feel that should be studied by some sports car makers. Best of all, the automatic transmission, especially in sport mode, anticipates the downshift you will need so that you seem to be in the right gear for acceleration much of the time.”
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We’ve been waiting for the Saab 9-4x road test to come in and now, Winding Road has come to the party with the type of review we always thought the 9-4x would be capable of achieving.
I’ve been writing about Saab for around six years now and one of the common complaints I’ve had about automotive journalists is that they don’t “get it” when it comes to Saab. Too many write from a cookie-cutter viewpoint, a perspective that is commonplace, but one that Saab just doesn’t fit.
Winding Road doesn’t just “get it” in this review, they take steps to show you why they “get it” and how you can “get it” too.
The entire first half of the review deals with Saab’s brand positioning. Why are Saabs different? What sort of customer do they attract and how can they be so bold as to position themselves against Audi, Mercedes and BMW?
We are different here at Saab. It’s true. A Saab fits you like no other car IF you’re of a particular mindset. It’s like you’ve found an automotive soulmate and can take a rest from the posturing and just relax, enjoy your natural excitement and the fact that yes, you do have some sort of symbiotic relationship with a car. It’s a little strange, but true.
Anyway, Winding Road spend some time on Saab’s attributes and the way they compare to other brands in Saab’s market segment. It really does go some way to explaining the Saab appeal to readers who might not already understand it.
If you really look at the chart and think about it, Saab stands out from BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and Lexus pretty well. Saab stands out against these brands because of what a Saab isn’t. A Saab isn’t a BMW, Mercedes or Lexus with their social-climber attributes and it isn’t a boring luxury car, like a Volvo, Mercedes or Lexus. Those at least are the views of the Saab buyer.
After examining the Saab ethos, Winding Road take a good look over the Saab 9-4x – and the good news for Saab fans continues.
If I had a single fear about reading Saab 9-4x reviews, it was that the review would include a whole bunch of comparative references to the Cadillac SRX (both vehicles were developed at the same time, with Saab’s Peter Dörrich as head of the project). Not so. In fact, the 9-4x shines purely because its own attributes.
Here are some excerpts:
We don’t know if Saab will be able to impress people in the showroom, but the 9-4X, at least in the Aero trim we drove, is certainly good enough to pull it off on the right test drive….
….and….
…..For those paying attention, the driving dynamics of the 9-4X are positively brilliant. The 9-4X has a smoothness and stability going down the road that buyers will find hard to beat. The genius here is that Saab does smoothness not by giving the driver a flaccid, mushy chassis, but by using a very stiff body structure and a carefully designed suspension…..
This is one that I really like….
….The brakes a firm, with a pedal feel that should be studied by some sports car makers.
…not enough people appreciate the importance of a sorted braking system. Kudos.
I could include so much more of this review from Winding Road, but they’d end up suing me for breach of copyright.
The best thing you can do is read the Winding Road Saab 9-4x review for yourself.
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Saab are hosting automotive journalists from around the world this week, for a test drive of the all new Saab 9-4x. I brought you a few images from the first day of the event, yesterday. Today, we’ll take a look at how things are going, as well as giving you a peek behind the curtain as to what actually goes on at these events. Do automotive journalists really have the best jobs in the world?
First, the update.
I’ve been in touch with Mikael Jacobsson, who is the Product Manager for the Saab 9-4x. He summed up the event in one word – SUCCESS!
The event itself has gone wonderfully well, but better than that, the reception given to the car from the automotive press has been uniformly positive.
The scenic Swedish-like route we are driving is fantastic, but more importantly the journalists have been extremely positive about the car. The design, handling, comfort, versatility, features and technologies – the entire car has been getting superlatives. This is something we’ve thought ourselves for a while, but now we can start to share it. The media the first to drive the 9-4x. Our dealers and customers will follow soon. Can’t wait to hear their feedback.
Here are some images from day 2 of the test drive event. Click to enlarge.
PhoeniX is at the event and everyone wants to stand near it, even Victor Muller, the Chairman of Saab Automobile……
Product Manager Mikael Jacobsson gives the media a few lessons (on XWD technology, perhaps?)…..
The new head of Saab Cars North America, Tim Colbeck, addresses the cameras alongside PhoeniX…..
The Saab 9-4x shows some light and shade. This is the first time I’ve seen a darker color in Aero trim, which looks fantastic.
Peter Dorrich, the father of the Saab 9-4x and sister vehicle from Cadillac, addresses some questions from the motoring media.
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So……
What exactly goes on that these events? Do automotive journalists have it as good as everyone thinks?
Here’s the program for the Saab 9-4x test drive event. 25 US media persons went through this program today and a dozen or so from Europe will do the same tomorrow.
So, do you think automotive journalists have the best job in the world?
This is definitely nice, and it’d be great to be driving the Saab 9-4x in the countryside. Unfortunately, however, for every Saab 9-4x they get to drive, they also have to drive a bunch of small, generic city cars or bland family sedans.
I’m not suggesting you feel sorry for them, not by any means. It’s just a matter of perspective. Hopefully Saab are giving them all some pretty nice perspective right now.
