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The resident sport-ute fans at TheCarConnection.com studied a wide range of road tests to write this definitive review of the 2008 Saab 9-7X. TheCarConnection.com’s truck experts also drove the Saab 9-7X and have added driving impressions and details where they help you make the best decision on a new truck or sport-ute.
Likes:
- Saab-like interior
- Towing capacity
Dislikes:
- Fuel economy
- Crash-test performance
- Trucklike handling
- Inefficient interior
The 2008 Saab 9-7X is an anomaly--the only real truck in the Saab lineup, it seems out of place with its big six- and eight-cylinder engines, its truck-frame construction, and its American assembly-plant heritage.
At least it looks like a Saab--from some angles. Designers did a commendable job in creating a Saab persona for the same mechanicals that underpin the Buick Rainier. The front grille fits right in with Saab's newer 9-3 range, and the interior's richer textures and linear styling are a big improvement on GM's versions of the ute, which also include the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy. A special Aero edition gets even better, with blingy 20-inch wheels, a cocoa-colored paint job, and special trim. From the side, though, the 9-7X reveals its heritage--and it's not so modern or alluring.
Two engines power the 2008 Saab 9-7X. The 4.2i version gets its go from a 290-horsepower, 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that's commendably smooth. The 5.3i and the Aero use a high-torque (generating 330 pound-feet), 300-horsepower V-8 powerplant. It's good for 0-60 mph runs in less than six seconds, but bad for fuel economy. The inline-six musters 14/20 mpg; the V-8, a low, low 12/16 mpg.
All engines are fitted to a four-speed automatic transmission, and a fully automatic all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip rear differential comes standard, as does a fully independent suspension with electronically controlled air shocks in the rear. Think "sport-ute" and the capabilities shine, with towing and low-speed grunt particularly good. However, on the road, the Saab 9-7X's ride gets busy, and the steering becomes as vague as a campaign promise. The front seats are good for longer trips, but the second row is somewhat tight for adults, and there's no third-row seat offered.
