Don’t believe everything you hear about the SAAB 9-5 NG!

The SAAB 9-5 NG gets a lot of stick, but does it deserve it?

Car on review: 2011 SAAB 9-5 NG Aero 4 (2011 - 2012)
#saab #saab95

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[JohnEvans-zokk]

Love all Saabs, the world is a duller place without them in it.

[a.m.]

I agree with you, it's by far one of the best looking Saabs. I love the exterior and interior.

[richardelson]

Last minute substitute. Perfect analogy

[Sid]

They nailed the styling of the 9-5 NG, especially the rear end in my opinion. The Ford Scorpio also tried to have a tail light going across the boot and people called it ugly, but Saab managed to pull it off. Now everyone does it! The gearstick looks the same as the one in my mums Vauxhall Viva, would prefer an auto.

[serenawatkins]

It may have been based on the Insignia’s platform but Saab worked their magic and made the 9-5NG a tremendous car. It was miles better and more reliable than the equivalent 5 series, E class and A6 of the day and it was so much more stylish than all of them too, rivalled only by the Jag XF in my opinion. The 9-5NG deserved success.

Even the last model 9-3 was a great car, while the convertible must surely rank as the best saloon based 4dr drop top in its class ever, it looks stunning.

[Waskapmutni]

I'm a Saab enthusiast in Sweden and I bought one of these in May. 2011 Aero XWD automatic BioPower. 148k km. Made March 28th 2011 and among the last 225 made.

I absolutely love it - except the fact that it will not play music from your phone over Bluetooth. Sure the solution to that is simple, but this capability lacking annoys me.

Getting one of these, you also have to consider that there are parts no longer available new, and cost a small fortune if you need it. Examples of this are the headlight assemblies, tail lights or that lightbar/trunkbar.

Common failure is heated seats and the lightbar/trunkbar. There are videos on how to fix both but, it's still something good to know. My heated seats don't work for instance, but since it will be a summer car, I'm in no rush having that fixed.

[JurgenLahey]

I had one for 7 years, 2.0T Aero XWD auto with every option available. Absolutely loved it, I'm sad I had to let it go for tax reasons...it was my last ICE car and it will keep a special place in my heart. I've testdriven a few Saab 9-5NG and there is a big noticable difference between the different suspensions and drivetrains. Drivesense and XWD are a must have in my opinion and a good ECU tune, especially on the 2.0T makes it more economical and more fun at the same time 🙂! Very reliable if well maintained (XWD and gearbox maintenance every 100k is necessary!). I've put 330.000km on mine before I had to let it go...I still hope its spiritual successor "Project Emily" will make it into production!

[wertywerrtyson]

As a Swede I love SAAB as well my mom had a 9000 and my stepdad a 9-5 but they weren’t first with those back lights going across the entire back. I’m fairly certain many American cars had that in the 90s.

[johngaudet]

I've been driving Saab cars since 1989. I just got my 6th Saab a 9-3 cabriolet with 60K on the clock. I am a blessed man and say Saab is and always will be the best cars EVER made.❤❤❤❤

[chrisbolton]

What an honest review of that car. Realistic but enthusiastic too.

[katthompson]

GM scalped SAAB 😢 I have a 9-5 Aero a 9-3 convertible (the same as the one you featured). I gave a Saab 9-5 to my daughter but she had to rebuild the motor 1st .. she did... so proud... Noone is allowed to touch her Saab on fear of death. 😅 I would have 1 of these in a shot. I ❤ Saab and thank you so much for featuring this. I just wish they would come back... best car ever.

[rhrynq]

I've considered a SAAB 9-5, but ultimately went with the 2001 Lexus IS300SC. I know, it's a bit different category, but the thing that sent me the Lexus path was one thing: part availability. On my Lexus it's not perfect already (try finding a new heater fan, good luck), but buying a car from a manufacturer defunct for more than a decade... that must be TOUGH. So all the praise to the people who've decided to keep those awesome vehicles on the road, despite the odds.

[joshuakarabinos]

Nice video. Thanks! Best car I’ve ever owned (and I didn’t expect that.) In the USA, I have the Aero XWD (300 shot, all wheel drive.) there is nothing “fidgety” about my auto transmission w/ paddle shifters on steering wheel. It’s big, comfy, and a rocket! The smaller than standard flat bottom steering wheel adds to tight handling, the power, the uncluttered and ahead of it’s time style sets it apart (blacked out A&B pillars on a white one w blacked out windows, etc.)- every time I have it out, total strangers have positive comments from “is SAAB back, is that new?” To “what is that? I thought it was a Porsche at first?” … glad to see someone give it props!

[UKAbandonedMineExplores]

I always liked that Saab, shame they stopped production.

[daryljoseph]

I have 4 Saab 9-5 OG's. 3 Aero Wagons and an Aero Sedan, all 5-speeds. I have them all in the hopes that I will never drive another car again. They're that good. The only thing they're missing is a 6th gear and I plan on swapping an F40 six speed into my 03' wagon, which is my favorite and the one I'm really building up. I have no desire to own one of these. I'm not sure why. Maybe if i could get one of the sportcombi's with a stick, which is almost impossible, but even then I still think I'd rather have a 02-05 Aero wagon. They're the best looking wagons ever for my money. Thanks for posting this for us Saab people, I appreciate it.

[qc]

I remember driving one of these and genuinely enjoyed the styling and drive. If I remember correctly it even had the built in hard drive to store music? I found that incredible at the time. Beautiful looks, you’re right, they did get it right with this.

[randallbrown]

1st off, that car is in phenomenal shape for 120, 000 miles on it. Kudos to builder and owner(s). 2nd, yes, the soulless GM Product Managers finally achieved the cost cutting homogeneity they had long battled with SAAB over. Bob Lutz, the then GM product guru, had wanted to ditch them in 2008 because a) they were losing money on every single one sold, and b) he perceived the market to be tiny, perspective was “they are quirky/weird expensive to build cars” that maybe 300, 000 customers globally would ever buy. I had a 2004 95 Wagon, a 9000 CSE, OG 93 Sedan, then NG 93 hatchback, and I can honestly say the 2004 era was the best of both worlds. The Auto transmissions, indeed all SAAB transmissions for that matter, left a lot to be desired. My 95 had what I’m sure was a GM Tremec 5SP which had been the best experience I ever had in a SAAB. Eleven the 5SP Manual I had in the 04 93 Convertible was a revelation. The A/C units were industrial strength, and the brakes, like a lot of other components, became waaay cheaper. But the bottom line is the 95, and by then all SAAB’s suffered from an identity crisis. They more or less did everything competently, but excelled nor bested their competition at nothing.

[autoscribe]

In the US, the Aero only came with the 2.8 V-6/XWD/autotragic, but the FWD 2.0T was available with that 6-speed. I test-drove one back in the day and quite enjoyed the 9000/OG 9-5inspired interior and how that big car seemed to shrink around me as I hustled it. I’ve always wanted to own one, but have been scared of parts problems. Sadly, most survivors here are ragged since they had little resale value and weren’t necessarily owned by Saabistas who valued them for what they represented.

[zm]

The estate version looked stunning. Just 25 or so prototypes sadly made, but I'm privilileged to have seen 2 of them.

[neilmckay]

First time I've seen one of these. True Saab style statement. Love it