2011 Saab 9-5

The new 2011 Saab 9-5 is built to go head to head with the Audi A6, which offers similarly sized engines and front- or-all-wheel drive, like the 9-5. Other 2011 Saab 9-5 competitors include the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Lexus GS and ES, and Volvo S80. To a lesser extent, the 9-5 competes with more mainstream sedans like the Toyota Avalon, Ford Taurus and GM's closely related Buick LaCrosse.

The Saab 9-5 probably isn't the most thrilling car in that set, in a visceral, seat-of the pants sense, but it's well designed and executed in nearly every respect. Its body structure is as solid as the proverbial brick outhouse, and our appreciation for the 9-5's strengths increased the more we drove it over winter-slick, beat-up roads during heavy commuting hours around Detroit.

This sedan was created when Saab was a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, and was ready to launch when financially strapped GM began negotiations to divest itself of the Saab brand. And while Saab is once again independent, the 9-5 carries a GM legacy. It's built on GM's Epsilon platform, which provides the foundation for sedans such as the Buick Regal, and its engines and transmissions and are drawn from GM's global inventory. Experts who drive lots of cars will notice the 9-5's similarities with some recent GM models, but consumers probably won't. Old-time Saab enthusiasts will certainly see familiar Saab traits in the new 9-5, both inside and out.

Think of the Saab 9-5 as a big car. It's roomier than most of its European competitors, providing interior space on par with the full-size Toyota Avalon and Ford Taurus. Yet it's a bit more responsive in terms of driving dynamics than either of those cars. We found the interior straightforward and nicely finished. It offers one of the largest trunks in its class, with folding rear seats that increase cargo volume.

The new 9-5 comes well equipped, with leather standard along with seat heaters and driver-seat memory. It has more standard safety features than the federal government requires, including side-impact airbags for rear passengers. Options include a fine-sounding audio upgrade, rear-seat DVD and climate controls, and safety features such as lane-departure warning. Saab's bi-xenon Smart Beam headlights might be the best we experienced. 17/27 mpg.

The 9-5's turbocharged engines are powerful for their size, more powerful than many larger ones, and they can run on E85 ethanol. The 9-5 offers four-cylinder and V6 engines. The turbocharged V6 comes with all-wheel drive.

The Saab 9-5 Turbo4 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 generating 220 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque. The Turbo4 is front-wheel drive. A 6-speed manual transmission comes standard, a 6-speed automatic is optional. We found the 9-5 Turbo4 delivers sufficient thrust with either transmission, and excellent fuel …
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