From the 1997 sedan and wagon that replaced the 9000 to the 2010 second generation that arrived as Saab fought for survival, the 9-5 was the brand's flagship.
The Saab 9-5 was an executive car built by Saab in two generations between 1997 and 2012. The first generation replaced the 9000, while the second arrived in 2010 and ended with Saab's liquidation. Production ceased in 2012 amid the company's liquidation.
The Saab 9-5 was an executive car that Saab built from 1997 to 2012, across two generations and a range of engine and trim options. It replaced the 9000 and carried the brand's engineering character into the 2000s, before the second generation arrived during the company's most difficult years. This guide follows the car from its launch to its final production run.
What is the Saab 9-5?
Saab's 9-5 was a large executive model that the Swedish brand sold from 1997 to 2012, in two generations. The first generation replaced the 9000 for the 1998 model year and came as a sedan and a station wagon. The second generation arrived in 2010 on the Global Epsilon platform.
The name needs a note. Saab badged the model as a 95 but advertised it as the 9-5, which is pronounced nine five. The older Saab 95, built from 1959 to 1978, was a different car altogether, so the two should not be confused by anyone researching the history.
Saab's flagship executive car, built in two generations and sold through some of the brand's most turbulent years.
Where did the first-generation 9-5 come from?
The first-generation 9-5 arrived in 1997 for the 1998 model year and took over from the Saab 9000. Its introduction was a notable moment for Saab's range. American buyers saw the car arrive in spring 1998 as a 1999 model.
Both body styles, sedan and station wagon, shared the same basic design, but the wagon brought practical touches of its own. The wagon arrived in 1999 with useful load features: tracks in the floor to lock down cargo, and a floor that slid out to ease loading.
What did the second generation bring?
Saab unveiled the second generation at Frankfurt on 15 September 2009, and series production started in March 2010. Spyker Cars owned the brand at that point, making this the first Saab introduced under its ownership, although GM had done much of the development work. Production ceased in 2012 as Saab moved toward liquidation.
The second-generation car rode on the Global Epsilon platform. Its production run was short, and 11,280 units were built before the line stopped. A wagon, dubbed the SportCombi, was previewed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, but it never reached serial production before the company's collapse.
Which engines did the first-generation 9-5 use?
The first-generation car used Saab's B205 and B235 straight-four engines. A turbocharged V6 designed by General Motors and known to Saab as the B308 was offered from 1999 to 2003, with an asymmetrical low-pressure turbocharger and automatic transmission only. Cars with that engine are recognisable by their twin tailpipes.
From 2002 in Europe an Opel Ecotec 2.2 diesel joined the range, and in 2006 Fiat's 1.9 JTD 16V diesel replaced it. From 2004 the V6 was replaced by a high-pressure turbo four rated at 220 hp (164 kW), and by 2006 that engine produced 260 hp (194 kW) in US models.
Why was the B308 V6 offered for only a few years?
The B308 was a turbocharged V6 that General Motors designed, and Saab offered it only from 1999 to 2003. Its asymmetrical low-pressure turbocharger and automatic-only gearbox set it apart from the four-cylinder range, which left it as a niche choice inside the 9-5 line-up.
Cars fitted with the V6 can be identified by their twin tailpipes. Saab replaced the engine with a high-pressure turbo four in 2004, a change that marked the end of the V6 era for the car.
Did the B2x5 engines have reliability problems?
The B2x5 engines could suffer from oil pickup problems caused by sludge in the lubrication circuit. The issue mainly affected cars built from 1999 to 2003, and from 2004 a revised crankcase ventilation system and fully synthetic oil were introduced to address it.
The company lengthened the B2x5 warranty in 2005 to eight years, but only for owners who could show regular servicing at the intended intervals. Synthetic or synthetic-blend oil was recommended as a preventative measure, and
What transmissions did the 9-5 offer?
The 9-5 used an Aisin four-speed automatic until 2001, when a newer Aisin five-speed automatic replaced it. The base cars and the Aero came with a five-speed manual as standard, giving buyers a choice of gearbox at the entry level and in the performance version.
Anyone comparing two 9-5s from different years should therefore check the gearbox before judging the drive. The automatic was the only transmission for the turbo V6, which made that engine a distinct proposition for buyers who preferred to leave the gear selection to the car.
How did the 9-5 Aero perform?
The Aero was the performance flagship, first sold in 2000 with the 2.3-litre turbocharged B235R engine. Saab first rated the engine at 230 PS, but later admitted that manual versions made 250 PS and carried more torque than stated. By the final model years the B235R was rated at 260 PS.
The Aero's sporting character was reinforced by its own equipment. From 2002 the standard Aero engine was rated 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp), with more torque after 4,500 rpm. The top-of-the-line model in its last years carried 260 PS and 350 N m, while manual versions could overboost to 370 N m for 20 seconds.
From 2006 to 2010 the 260 PS B235R was the standard engine across both the 2.3T and Aero trims. Saab added an Aero badge to the boot lid from 2007 to help buyers tell the two apart.
Was the 9-5 safe in a crash?
The 9-5 was one of the first cars with extensive side-crash protection, and its Active Head Restraints moved up and forward to reduce whiplash in a rear impact. The front seats carried torso and head airbags from the earliest models, which few rivals offered in the late 1990s, and ESP became standard from 2002.
The Pendulum B-Pillar mixed steel grades, using high-strength low-alloy material at chest and head height and tailored blank steel near the floor. Its job was to steer crash energy downward, away from the occupants. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that the design protected occupants in side crashes.
Awards followed the Active Head Restraints in Australia, Denmark and the UK. The Night Panel option dimmed the instrument lighting except for essential information, which reduced distraction when driving at night.
How did police forces use the 9-5?
Several police forces used the 9-5 as patrol cars, which widened its footprint beyond private buyers into public fleets. Lothian and Borders Police in Edinburgh ran three Aero 2.3T cars within a fleet of 580 vehicles in 2006. In the United States, Aspen in Colorado used Saabs as patrol cars until 2005, when it moved away from the 9-5.
Vail, Colorado, saw its black 9-5 patrol cars replaced by Ford Explorers in 2005 for budget reasons.
Which trims and engines did the second generation offer?
US buyers could choose from Turbo4, Turbo4 Premium, Turbo6 XWD and Aero trims. UK cars used the Vector SE and Aero, while Australian cars offered the Vector and Aero, since the base Linear was not part of the Australian line-up.
North American buyers had a turbocharged V6 or an Ecotec four, and other countries also offered an optional turbodiesel four. Hirsch Performance, Saab's only factory-approved tuner, raised the V6 to 330 hp from 296 hp, and the four to 260 hp from 220 hp.
How many 9-5s were built?
The first generation totalled 483,593 units, made up of 252,236 sedans and 231,357 wagons between 1997 and 2010. The first generation was narrowly outbuilt by its predecessor, the 9000, which reached about 503,000 units. The first generation's last sedan came off the line in 2009, and its last wagon was assembled in February 2010.
Production equipment for the first generation went to BAIC Group of China in 2009.
How aerodynamic was the 9-5?
The sedan's drag coefficient was 0.29, and the station wagon's was 0.31, rising to 0.33 for the US version. Those figures show a body shape tuned for efficiency, even though the wagon's load features added bulk. The 9-5 was built as a long-distance car, and its aerodynamic numbers reflect that focus.
For a large saloon, a lower drag figure helps the car hold speed with less effort on long journeys. The sedan's figure was the better of the two, so buyers who covered big distances often favoured that body style for its efficiency.
Did the 9-5 have a motorsport career?
No motorsport programme is recorded for the 9-5, so its reputation rests on road cars, safety engineering and the Aero's performance. The Aero's performance figures were the closest the model came to competition-style claims. The alternative-fuel engines are covered below.
What alternative-fuel engines did the 9-5 get?
The 2.0-litre turbo four was adapted as the 2.0t BioPower, optimised to run on E85, and it produced 180 PS, or 178 hp and 132 kW, at 5,500 rpm. A 2007 E100 concept based on the turbo 2.0 claimed 300 PS and 400 N m of torque.
The BioPower engine arrived in the European market in 2005 with the updated 2006 9-5, and a 2.3T BioPower version followed from 2007. The variant was also introduced in Australia, which broadened its reach beyond Europe.
Saab 9-5 specifications at a glance
The table below collects the core figures for both generations, from the engine families and aerodynamic claims to the production totals. Where a figure applies to one engine or one trim, the table says so, so the Aero and standard car values stay separate.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Class | Executive car, sedan and station wagon |
| Generations | First 1997 to 2010; second 2010 to 2012 |
| First generation engines | B205 and B235 straight-four; B308 turbo V6 (1999 to 2003) |
| Aero engine | 2.3-litre turbo B235R, 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) in final years |
| Aero torque | 350 N m; 370 N m on manual overboost |
| Drag coefficient | 0.29 sedan; 0.31 station wagon (0.33 US) |
| Hirsch V6 upgrade | 330 hp, from 296 hp |
| First generation total | 483,593 units |
| Second generation total | 11,280 units |
Frequently asked questions
What did the Aero's first rating say?
Saab first rated the Aero's 2.3-litre engine at 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp). Later the company acknowledged that manual versions were rated at 250 PS and carried more torque than stated, which made the early figure look conservative.
Did the 9-5 ever have a diesel engine?
Yes. An Opel Ecotec 2.2 diesel arrived in Europe from 2002, and Fiat's 1.9 JTD 16V replaced it in 2006. Second-generation cars also offered a turbodiesel four in some markets.
Was there a wagon version of the 9-5?
Yes. The first generation came as both a sedan and a station wagon, and the wagon gained floor tracks and a sliding load floor in 1999. A SportCombi wagon was previewed for the second generation at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
How many second-generation cars were made?
The second generation totalled 11,280 units. Production stopped in March 2011 at Trollhattan, as the company's liquidity failed, and the wagon never reached serial production.
