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.
Suspension settings of mainstream 9-5s are now as stiff as those of the early Aeros, though thankfully, the tyres aren't as unyielding. So the ride is taut, but still reasonably supple; the 2005 revisions have made the 9-5 smoother still and road noise has been much-reduced. The new 1.9 diesel engine, in particular, is much less obtrusive than its rattly predecessors. Aero models are stiffer yet, but certainly ride a lot better than they used to - much more relaxing at motorway speeds and for long-distance cruising than they were.
On the plus side, the seats are excellent; many people with back problems have found that only Saab can seat them without pain, and super-tall drivers also commend the company for accommodating them comfortably. Equipment levels are high, even in entry-level Linear models and you can even specify extractor fans for the front-seat cushions and backrests to keep you cool.
The 9-5 has a generously dimensioned five-seater cabin, 60/40 split rear seats and a boot that's as long and deep as its styling suggests. The front-wheel-drive layout gives it an advantage over rear-drive rivals, both for front occupants (wider foot wells) and rear passengers (a smaller centre tunnel).
The estate isn't as cavernous as, say, the Volvo V70 or Audi A6 Avant, but frankly, there should be enough room in there for most activities. Its load bay is wide and easily accessed, though it's not that deep - due to the fact that Saab sensibly still insists on providing a spare wheel, a must-have for venturing up into the Arctic Circle in the winter, rather than a can of so-called 'get-you-home' spray for tyre repair. That alone would be reason enough for many people to opt for this car.
All versions have a single-disc CD system, now with MP3 compatibility. A multi-disc system is optional, as is DVD satellite navigation and the top-end 200-watt Harman Kardon Prestige system comes with touch-screen controls and colour LCD for the sat nav.
