Poll: Will the Saab 9-5 Save the Company?

We just heard that Saab will cull its dealer base in the U.S. because of slow sales. Its new product lineup kicks off with the 2010 9-5 sedan — check out dozens of pictures of it below — and the last we heard a new 9-4X crossover will follow it.

But all we know is next year Saab will be selling the 9-5. Is it enough to save the brand? Poll below.  

Comments

the first shot makes it look like a Passat. the rear looks like a blend between the last generation ES and the Jaguar XF. Neither of those are bad things, as the Passat and ES are both bestselling vehicles (Passat in Europe and to an extent here and the ES in the US) and the XF is often praised for its looks. That said, Saab needs a legitimate SUV to compete with the RX350, SRX, MDX, and MKX.

Saab also needs a true competitor for the 3-series, C-class, and A4 as well. The 9-3 has been an also-ran for years, and needs to be redesigned to make it truly competitive. If Saab is smart, they will use all three cars as the benchmark, taking each one's strengths but not their weaknesses. The 3-series is a blast to drive, but is pretty cramped and the cabin is austere. The A4 is very fuel efficient, very fun to drive (a bit less than the 3), luxurious, and has the biggest cabin of the three German models, but is heavy. The C-class looks great and unnaturally high levels of grip, but the cabin is small and its the least efficient of the three. a Saab 9-3 should be fuel efficient, comfortable, really fun to drive, very well finished, light, and fast.

Saab would be a waste of money for any consumer; assuming a finance company would assume the risk of financing a car with a bleak future. You would be STUPID to consider this. No wonder Saab as a company can't even break 500 monthly sales of their dismal cars. Hmmm... I have $40k to spend.... I would buy a Chrysler 300 before this car anyday, and thats saying as a Lexus owner. Saab should have been packaged with Volvo. Volvo at least has cars that don't look like sh*t and have new and exciting designs in the near future.

Mike,

SAAB has consistently scored extremely well in safety tests all over the world.

The Swedish insurance company Folksam investigates car accidents in Sweden, and their conclusion the past couple of years is that Saab 9-5 (the old model) is 30%+ safer than the average car. A rating that it until this year shared with no other car. The 9-3 had the same rating up until last year in its class.

If the worst thing happens, a 9-5 customer might be hurt financially by "investing" in a 9-5, but that person will survive more accidents than drivers driving other brands.

If all you care about is your car's second-hand value, then sure... Buy something that everybody else does.

If, OTOH, you crave excitement, nice design and top-notch safety, the choices are limited, and currently the 9-5 is the top dog.

GM put money into a couple of cars including the new 9-5. Aside from that they were about branding vs. quality. For Mike, you bought a Camry or an Avalon with leather seats and paid 10 more grand for it. So friend ...you're not that bright.

This is another car based on the Insignia platform. I think GM even wanted to built it in Germany alongside the Opel Insignia (Buick Regal?).

I like it, but I really think Saab is not going to make it unless they can find a company they can share their showrooms with. People will stop going to Saab only showrooms because they do not have enough cars to pull people in.

Saab seems to have lost its way. I have yet to see a review that gives it character -- be it luxurious ride, sporty handling, etc. If Saab wants to play with the big boys with its pricing, it needs to build some character

John good answer to Mike I have been driving Saabs since 1974 the cars have been safe,fun to drive and unique unlike every other Toyota/lexus.I had a friend who said his Toyota was reliable and I said so is my refrigerator but I dont want to drive it every day Saab is unique and fun and safe !

Saab was ahead of its time back then and it's still true today. With a turbo and AWD, we have the cake with the icing, too. In other words, great controlled power and high mph both co-existing in a finely tuned machine. The Saab team did an excellent and thoughtful design, which makes it more than competitive. I hope to pick up a new 95 at the Trollhättan factory sometime this coming year and drive around Sweden prior to having it shipped to the USA.

A professional designer myself (leading a german design company), I think the upcoming SAAB 9-5 is a new DESIGN ICON! Like Apple products: fascinating, cool, timeless, puristic, understated but powerful.

Unlike many current BMW, Mercedes and Audi, the new SAAB 9-5 will stand the test of time - it will look modern even in ten years.

Much better than theese pics here - the Aero-version: look under

http://www.saab.de/de/de/start#/Cars/all-new-9-5/overview/Images/image=5/

I know a professional guy, who had the opportunity to drive one pre-series 9-5: He says this car is great driving, he was full of honour.

And this car is 70% original SAAB development. That is a lot for todays industry habits. Most AUDI models are related to VW, LEXUS are Toyotas, …

I'll buy a new 9-5 Aero next year. Hope (and think so) SAAB will survive and there'll be great things to come …

Neither the New 9.5 or the 9.4X will help a manufacturer who is cutting 37% of the their Saab dealers in the United States

This car would look so much better if the back end were shortened.

There's no reason for anyone to buy a Saab. IF they can claim any innovations, they took place decades ago. Other car makers do it better for less in 2009.

Maybe they can sell Saabs on Saturn/Pontiac lots??

The only thing that will save SAAB would be to remove it from the grubby hands of Governemnt Motors. Ever since GM has had controlling stake in the swedish manufacturer, the brand has been losing money hand over fist and NEVER MADE A PROFIT.

Meanwhile GM fed the brand scraps like Rental car (Malibu) platforms, Cavalier/Cobalt engines, rebadges of piece of junk Trailblazers while lowering the quality down to GM level.

What it Government Motors get out of it? They get SAABS safety expertise.

Basically GM raped SAAB the same way they did Isuzu and luckily Subaru stake was sold off before damage was done there as well.

GM scumbags.

Do a little research Yoing. SAAB only has GM to thank for allowing them to survive as long as they have. And Isuzu?! Big time stretch

certainly no reason for me to buy one of these new saabs.

mainly because I have 2 saabs with 90k miles each and they still look and run like new. need another 200k or so before I trade up, tho I suspect I may be a little jealous of folks like RJD on occasion.

I have owned a 9-5Aero and currently wife has a 9-3 Linear. I like the design of the 2010 9-5 but am afraid that as usual, Saab will think Americans will pay $47k+ for a loaded one< when I can get a packed Genesis-yes, a Hyundai, or a TL for probably less. These models may not have the "fun or excitement" of a Saab, but is it worth $8-10K more just to have a Saab nameplate? I need to be in absolute awe when I testdrive it. Not to mention, I have to find a dealership since they are all closed.

Mike, you are a Lexus driver. That says it all. Saabs are unique and have a rich history, unlike Lexus that is made by the worlds largest car company. You are the kind of person who looks at fact and buys the best car on paper to get you from A to B, but Saabs are so much more. And the reasoning behind low sales are ownership concerns and GM's handling of Saab.

The 9-5 appears to be an ok looking car but I do not think this new model will save Saab. At the LA Auto show last weekend the Saab booth was the lonliest place on earth. No interest from the crowd-at all!

Saab was bought by GM to destroy. No one wants to buy SAAB b/c no one wants to deal with GM, and who could blame them?

At the recently LA Auto show the Saab exhibit was empty. I kind of felt bad but then again they have been not produced one single car that I find interesting. Maybe the 9-2x. Anyways they are definitely on the right track with the 9-5. But maybe too little too late. Oh and it looks like a cross between a Jaguar, Taurus, and Lexus HS250h.