2000 Saab 9-5 - Page 1 Review

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Shopping for a 2000 Saab 9-5? MSRP: $33,120 - $40,195

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BARCELONA, Spain — From all indications, the climate is right for the introduction of the new Saab 9-5 Wagon. And we’re not just talking about the weather, though Spain, where the car was introduced, is balmy this time of year.

While the U.S. seems more receptive to luxury station wagons, the entire station wagon segment has grown quite rapidly in Europe (which has no SUV market, to speak of). Consequently, every European car manufacturer now offers a wagon model in the compact and/or midsize segments.

The premium segment (into which the Saab 9-5 Wagon falls) also offers a choice of models. In Europe, Volvo is the dominating brand, so much so that 69 percent of all Volvo models sold in Europe are station wagons. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz also offer roomy luxury wagons. Saab, however, has not had a station wagon since it stopped production of the 95 model in 1968. But given the growing popularity of wagons, especially in Europe, Saab hopes to sell 25,000 new 9-5 Wagons worldwide during 1999 and perhaps 30,000 the following year.

Saab's slippery shape 

The 9-5 Wagon, which in some markets will be called Estate, was styled to provide a dynamic and strong identity. The new version is built on the same platform as the 9-5 Sedan and shares the front end. However, the roof and the rear doors are different. Aerodynamics played an important role in the car’s development, which is why most of the attention was concentrated on properly designing the rear edge of the roof, as the airflow there has a great affect on drag and lift forces. Engineers found that a small "lip" at the back reduced drag without adding any lift. Also, the wraparound corners in back are not only for good looks, they add to the stability of the car. The slippery shape also plays a role in reducing the car’s drag coefficient to a remarkable 0.31 — the best among premium wagons.