Saab 9-5 Saloon 2.0 TiD Vector SE
Saab 9-5 Saloon 2.0 TiD Vector SE
What is it?
OVERDUE replacement for the old Saab 9-5 and first model from the ‘new’, post-GM Saab under new owners Spyker. Priced from £26,495.
What’s hot?
- Slick external looks and first rate build quality
- Limousine space for rear seat passengers
- Much improved CO2 of 139g/km for this model (manual)
- Extremely competent chassis and suspension set-up: fun
- Generous levels of kit include Bluetooth and iPod as standard
- Fold flat seats make for huge practicality and payload
- Combined fuel economy of 53mpg
- Renewed ‘aviation’ emphasis, lovely green-lit dials
- A big car that doesn’t feel big on the road
- Costs £394 less per year in P11D tax than Audi A6 SE 2.0 TDi
What’s not?
- Dark cockpit marred by some dreadfully cheap plastics
- Glove box obstructed by fuse box, irritating to use
- Uncertainty over residual values
What you need to Know?
| P11D Value: | 26,330 |
| Monthly Rental*: | 369 (CH)/£434 (PCH) |
| Tax Band when posted: | 19%, 20%, 21% |
| Monthly BiK: | Click link for BIK |
| Engine: | 2 litre turbo diesel |
| CO2 Emissions: | 139g/km |
| Power/torque: | 160PS/350Nm |
| Economy: | 53.3mpg |
Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year, 3+35 payments.
Business Car Manager Road Test Rating
An elegant, long car that almost smacks of a bit of Jaguar, the 9-5 is the miracle phoenix that has risen from the ashes of the stricken GM-controlled company of last year. While new owners Spyker disentangle themselves from GM, they’ve wasted no time in transforming the 9-5.Doing away with a base, ‘S’ model, the model tested here is the entry to a range that tops out with a tax and fuel heavy 300bhp stormer, the Aero 2.8T XWD. But the great news is that despite being faster on paper, the top model is weighed down by 4×4 running gear and limited to auto-only transmission. It’s less engaging than the lighter 2.0 TiD tested here, which can be driven with alacrity.
The real revelation is the Ford-Focus level handling and supple but precise chassis mated to a decent manual gearbox. Meanwhile the brakes are superb and interior space and equipment generous to a tee. It’s just a shame that the cabin remains so GM: a cliff of black plastics, some of them woefully below class for a vehicle whose benchmark is the Audi A6. But that wouldn’t put us off.
