Category: Executive 
Price Range: £19,580 to £29,536
Comfortable ride, fine interior design, distinctive image, powerful and characterful petrol engines, good crash protection, improved diesel
Only one diesel engine to choose from now; though fast, not that sharp a drive; 2005 facelift won't please the conservative Saab faithful
Interesting and well-made alternative exec, if hardly state-of-the-art; estate models make the most sense. The updates of autumn 2005 have gone a long way, however, towards keeping the 9-5 appealing in an ever-more competitive market sector.
Saab dealers aren't especially cheap for servicing and maintenance, and labour rates are still high at many of the independent specialists, especially in the London area.
Fuel economy is nothing special for any model, either; the Aero is a heavy drinker, whatever the official figures say (just 32.1mpg for the manual saloon, the most economical variant and just under 28mpg from the Aero estate). Carbon-dioxide emissions - and hence company car taxation - are quite high, too.
The diesel is more cost-friendly, obviously, though don't expect it to hold its value much better - all 9-5s suffer heavy depreciation, especially the saloons, and second-hand Saab devotees tend to go for the uniquely Saab turbo petrol models.
Greater depreciation relative to the Saab's obvious rivals works in the favour of used buyers and a pre-owned 9-5 can be a great-value buy. The first examples are best avoided, though, because their suspension was softer and gave a soggier drive. Saab dealers hold the best low-mileage stock, but tend to be on the dear side; cheaper examples are now readily available at the independents and, for the real bargains, in the private classified ads.
The 9-5 comes well-equipped and undercuts its German rivals, though it doesn't feature the same degree of gadgets, gizmos and high-tech electronic and telematic advancements these days.
