We’ve had a pretty good run with Saab 9-4x road tests. The 9-4x is an outstanding entry into the crossover segment for Saab and early 9-4x road tests confirmed what we thought about our new vehicle.
There have been a couple of reports in the last week, however, that are a cause for concern. The one that I’d like to respond to here is a short test from Car and Driver, which popped up on my feeds earlier today.
So how does a motoring journalist raise the hairs on the back of my neck and inspire a response article with as little as his first eleven words?
What Is It?
It’s a Cadillac SRX crossover in Swedish clothing
I’m not here to pick a fight with Car & Driver, but this opening is so formulaic and it doesn’t do justice to what’s supposed to be a review by one of America’s premier sources of automotive information.
More than that, though, it’s just plain inaccurate.
Sometimes ‘the social space’ can be tough to deal with. Consumers have a voice through social media and much of the time, they use it to voice complaints or opinions that companies need to address, either to solve an issue or to correct a misconception. That’s OK, we deal with it.
Occasionally you get a social story that shows the way this new medium can be used for good.
Roger Beasley Saab in Austin, Texas, probably knew none of this when Susan walked into their dealership last weekend to take a look at a car from Saab’s Pre-Owned program. But when they gave her fantastic service and a finance deal that suited her needs (rather than theirs) they won her praise.
I came across Susan’s story from her Twitter feed. She has over 7,000 followers and many of them will have read about it as well. Susan detailed her experience on her personal blog and you can read the whole story there (and I recommend that you do).
for customers – it’s OK to use your voice for the power of good.
for dealers – you never know who’s walking into your showroom. Always provide the best service you can for the good of the customer.
for Roger Beasley Saab – Continue to look after Susan, just as she’s looked after you.
Congratulations to Roger Beasley Saab for earning the shout-out and to Susan on the acquisition of the new-to-her Saab 9-5.
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Most of us will have been to car shows in our local areas. Given that this is a Saab website, I imagine most of you would have been to shows where Saabs figure prominently, perhaps alongside many other makes that originate in your country.
When “your country” is Russia, that makes for an exhibition of vehicles that many of us don’t get to see too often.
Yes, there’s a Saab in there, and plenty of other interesting metal as well.
We’ll have more on this in coming days, but for now, if you’re in Great Britain, keep an eye out for the Nomad Theatre, popping up in a place near you.
Wonder if we can expect any news on the current situation from Saab this week? @Inside_saab Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
I’ll tell you all what I told Tobias in response, because I know there are a lot of eyes on the company at the moment.
Officially speaking, we don’t do speculation. We can’t comment on matters that involve potential investors, or matters that are under discussion and incomplete. I try to bring some commentary and perspective from time to time (which some choose to interpret and dismiss as spin, but which they took as insight back in my SU days).
We will always bring you hard news as soon as it’s appropriate to do so.
Stay tuned. We appreciate your concern and support and despite what some say, our executive team are working their tails off to solve our current issues.
If you want to follow Inside Saab at Twitter, it’s @inside_saab.
It’s time for our wrap of what happened in the Saabosphere over the last week or so.
Of course, our ongoing situation continues to make the headlines. There are some good services and some not-so-good services for keeping up with that. A few of the good enthusiast sites who cover the news in detail are Life with Saab and Saabs United.
If you want a great single piece of news coverage to show where things are at, then this piece from Go Auto is a very accurate and independent summary piece.
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I’ve heard of the Saab bull-nose era, but the long-nose? And it’s for sale!
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Another interesting tranche of historic Saabs for sale was noted by Saabworld. The collection comprises six vehicles, including a couple of very nice Saab 99 Turbos, a Commemorative Edition Convertible, a custom Saab 96 convertible, and others. All look to be in very good condition.
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Wondering how the Saab 9-4x stacks up physically against it’s GM-built Saab 9-7x SUV segment predecessor?
Wonder no more. Just Saab, a Saab dealer in Ohio, have put the two side-by-side for an album of comparison photos and measurements. It’s quite amazing how well packaged and good looking the 9-4x is compared to it’s brand forebear.
PlayboyTV took one of their centerfolds up to the Ice Hotel in Kiruna to participate in the Saab Ice Experience. Relax, the vision is safe to watch and it’s a great, non-automotive perspective on just how good an experience it is that Saab and the Ice Hotel have provided in past years.
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Your must-read piece for this week is this review of the Saab 9-5 2.0T from LeftLane News. If you’ve read my own Saab 9-5 reviews on Saabs United a year or so ago, you’ll know that the 2.0T was my personal pick of the bunch. It’s lighter engine and good equipment level make for a fantastic, engaging driving experience. I’m glad LLN seemed to enjoy it just as much.
During our time with the 9-5, we couldn’t help but compare the big Saab to one of its chief rivals, the BMW 528i. It might be powered by the wrong wheels and it might have too many GM bits, but the 9-5 just became the driver’s choice between the two. Where the BMW felt cold and artificial, the 9-5 delighted with its sporty responses and thoughtful touches.
Now if only Saab can find a few more buyers for what might be the best car that nobody’s noticing.
If you’ve read Pierre’s work before, then you’ll know that he’s a man who doesn’t mince his words. It’s always well worth a look and this brief look over the Saab 9-4x, which just arrived at CRS, is no exception.
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.
The 9-4x Premium can be ordered with or without XWD. You’ll potentially take a grip penalty with FWD-only whilst gaining a fuel consumption bonus. If you don’t experience slippery conditions that much where you live, it’s not a bad way to configure it. If you want the best grip you can get, XWD is the only way to go as the system is second to none.
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.
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:
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
The Saab 9-4x Aero with its 2.8 Turbo engine produces 300hp (221kW) of power and 295 ft lb (400Nm) of torque. Believe me when I tell you that that’s more than enough to make this big momma get up and dance. This car goes and when pressed, it goes quick.
Saab’s Drivesense system is standard on the Aero and Premium models. This offers a two-stage map, the options being comfort and sport. Sport mode tightens up the suspension, steering and throttle response and offers quicker gear changes. Comfort mode, as the name suggests, provides a more comfortable drive.
2012 models will get a third option – ‘Intelligent’ mode – which will read your driving style in any given situation and change the parameters on the fly when it is safe to do so. If you’re wondering whether the lack of an intelligent mode in the 2011 model is a detraction, then fear not. I found that I enjoyed making the decision for myself and switching modes manually rather than leaving it on the ‘Intelligent’ setting as I might have otherwise done. In fact, switching manually is most likely how I’d personally treat a Drivesense-equipped car with all three modes (like the Saab 9-5) anyway.
Sport mode reveals the real Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Saab 9-4x Aero. Even in comfort mode, the car will easily overtake another vehicle at highway speeds. In sport mode, it’ll do it before the other car even realises you’re not there any more. The acceleration and responsiveness of the Aero in sport mode reminded me of what it was like to drive a Saab Turbo for the first time, but without the lag or torque steer.
The art of designing and engineering vehicles really has come a long way in the last 20 years. Just the difference in engine refinement between my 1991 Saab 900 and any Saab thereafter is amazing. The fact that Saab (and others) can get a vehicle with the height and weight of an SUV to handle like a car is downright astounding.
The Saab 9-4x can’t completely hide its size, but it does a darn good job of it. Here in Sweden, we have a lot of highway exits that involve very tight 270-degree loops to change to a different highway. The 9-4x handled these with aplomb, even if you could notice the weight transfer a little by the time you got to the final 90-degrees of the turn. It’s not a Mazda MX-5 in the cornering department, but for the amenity it delivers as a larger vehicle, it’s damn good (the MX-5 is no 9-4x in the load-lugging or comfort department – it’s all about suitability for purpose, which I’ll talk about more, below).
We spent the vast majority of our drive on the highway, but there was also a good portion of time on what you might call ‘B-roads’ heading to a rally stage outside of Västerås. The 9-4x showed its worth on this drive, covering the 200km+ drive that included some winding backroads with ease.
Fuel Economy
It should be understood that anyone buying a Saab 9-4x is someone who most likely doesn’t consider themselves to be a hardcore treehugger. The 9-4x is a larger-than-average vehicle here in Sweden and amongst all the regular sedans and wagons here, it certainly did feel like a big vehicle. Depending on specification, the 9-4x weighs in between 4,200 and 4,700 pounds. Whilst it behaves with extraordinary manners on the road, it’s still a hefty beast and requires a deft touch to eek out some good fuel economy for its size.
My journey involved a lot of highway mileage and I drove (generally) to the posted speed limits, which varied between 90 and 120 km/h. I wasn’t kicking it. It also involved a bit of ‘city’ driving in Västerås as well as some city cruising around the streets of Stockholm looking for photo opportunities.
Over the course of those 1,140kms, I averaged what I thought was a quite reasonable 10.5 litres of fuel per 100kms. That’s 22.4mpg in the US and 26.9mpg in the UK. The US is the only country with stated consumption figures for the 2011 model and those official figures state 22mpg highway, so getting 22.4mpg on combined driving (city/hwy) was pretty impressive for a vehicle of this size and power.
A word for the wise, though……. If you sink the boots in and make use of the ample acceleration and higher speeds that the Aero is capable of, you will notice it at the pump. Other 9-4x’s being driven by staffers here in Trollhattan – driven with a little more gusto, that is – are reporting consumption around 12l/100km (that’s 19.6mpg (US) or 23.5mpg (UK)). The good news is that you’ll cover the distance to the pump a lot quicker. The bad news is that you’ll need to.
It’s all about suitability for purpose. People looking for a 9-4x are looking for a bigger vehicle with a bigger engine and the driving experience that such a car delivers. People looking at the price point of the 9-4x should take into account the running costs and their driving style and do the math. Driving this car sensibly will deliver good fuel economy for the size of the vehicle. Driving this vehicle close to the limits of its capability will require a bigger fuel budget (and remember to use premium fuel, as recommended, and factor that cost in. Don’t spend the money on getting the right car and then skimp by using the wrong fuel).
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.
I just wanted to post a quick note on the new wheels in the parking lot tonight.
This is my chariot for the next few days……. click
It’s a Saab 9-4x Aero – 2.8T V6 with XWD – and I’ll be taking it up to Västerås tomorrow for a few days of action at the Midnight Sun rally.
I’ll be arriving in the afternoon and taking in all the final day’s action, checking out all the Saabs in play and of course, sharing plenty of photos and maybe some video here in Inside Saab.
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Mrs Swade and I took the 9-4x out for a nice leisurely drive this evening, taking one of the back roads out of Trollhattan towards Lilla Edet. It’s a winding, uneven surface and in the rain, there’s plenty of reason to be cautious (which I was). The 9-4x was totally planted, however, and didn’t miss a beat. It was an incredibly encouraging first run, even if just a short one.
The difference between Sport and Comfort modes is a marked one, as it should be. Comfort soaked up all the road’s uneven surfaces quite nicely and Sport turned it (surprisingly) aggressive. A real Jeckyl and Hyde, this one – in a good way. Those two modes should be different, otherwise why have them?
Can’t wait to get it out on the open road tomorrow. I’ve got my wife here, an iPod, a Saab 9-4x and 300+km of roads to travel. What more could you ask for?
A press release we’re very happy to see, from our US offices……
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ROYAL OAK, Mich., July 13, 2011 — Saab’s all-new 9-4X crossover has landed in US dealer showrooms. The greatly anticipated vehicle is Saab’s newest addition to the Saab product family.
“Our first vehicles are just hitting retailers and our first customer sale took place last weekend at Saab North Olmstead in Cleveland, Ohio,” said Tim Colbeck, President and COO SCNA. “This is an exciting product, with a true Saab crossover that gives us entry into a new segment.”
Saab’s first 9-4X sale went to Martin Reuben of Ohio. “Before even driving it off the lot, I put my butt into the seat, looked around and bought it on the spot,” replied Martin. “So far everything I’ve discovered on this car is pure Saab – purposeful & well designed.”
The 9-4X which was recently awarded “Top Safety Pick” by IIHS, brings car-like handling and ride qualities to the crossover segment. Key to its dynamic performance is a unique body structure, purpose-designed for a crossover application and free from compromises through adapting an existing sedan or wagon format. The Saab 9-4X’s advanced chassis offers car-like handling characteristics with sporty and responsive driving qualities. Available technologies include Saab’s DriveSense adaptive chassis, with real-time damping control, and Saab XWD, a cutting edge all wheel-drive system with an electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential (eLSD).
Comfort and convenience standard features range from a start/stop button and adaptable cargo storage. As well as options including: passive entry and exit, a powered tailgate, tri-zone air conditioning and rear seat entertainment packages. Satellite-navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bose surround sound system and hard disc ‘jukebox’ music storage are among the infotainment options.
The 9-4X crossover entry level price is $34,205 MSRP for front-wheel-drive and $48,835 MSRP for the 9-4X Aero XWD model.
For more information on the Saab 9-4X, please refer to SaabUSA.com
