The Sport Wagon Enthusiast

Spearheading Saab’s reinvention is their new 9-5 and its bread-and-butter Sportcombi variant. While U.S. sales of the wagon lag far behind the sedan, the 9-5 cargo-hauler accounts for a large percentage of all worldwide 9-5 sales. Saab’s styling department has not disappointed with their newest estate, with aggressive lines carried over from the Aero X concept, a seamlessly integrated wrap-around rear window, and “bold design language.”

From an engineering perspective, the 9-5 Sportcombi is a mixed bag. Saab’s last generation engines are carried over, with no mention of increased innovation. This means U.S. buyers have the choice between a 258 horsepower 2.0L turbo-four or a 295 hp 2.8L turbo-six in the Aero model. With the Aero model, drivers can expect a 0-60 sprint of just under 7 seconds. Like the sedan, the 6-speed manual will only be offered on the four-cylinder (the automatic is a 6-speed automatic).

On the bright side, Saab’s engineers have fitted the Combi with their excellent XWD sophisticated all-wheel drive system (only available on turbo-6 models), a cool heads-up display, adaptive chassis control, and an impressive coefficient of drag. It seems the new 9-5 Sportcombi offers impressive styling, but sticks with its traditional strengths: turbo-power, refined dynamics, and the “3^rd way” between German and Japanese wagons.