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STYLING | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
An archetype of yesterday's midsize SUV
Cars.com
Carries Saab-specific styling cues
ForbesAutos
Far sportier and more sophisticated than any of the vehicles with which it shares so much
Kelley Blue Book
The exterior styling of the 2008 Saab 9-7X has its highs and lows, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com were largely split in their reaction.
From the front, the 2008 Saab 9-7X definitely looks the part of a refined, upscale Saab vehicle, but in profile, it is unremarkable. Car and Driver doesn't see much of anything stylistically special in the 9-7X Saab, claiming that it is "a Chevy TrailBlazer with only slightly more-becoming clothes." Cars.com is indecisive, split between the Saab's "sleek styling" and the fact that it seems like "an archetype of yesterday's midsize SUV...inefficient and rough around the edges." Taking a stance firmly against the exterior of the Saab 9-7X is ForbesAutos, which advises viewers to look elsewhere if they think "slapping a Saab badge on a GM truck is a bad idea." While the criticisms from ForbesAutos have some basis in reality, Kelley Blue Book counters by saying that "given that most of its exterior panels are borrowed from its domestic-branded cousins, Saab's designers did an excellent job of giving the 9-7X its own identity," and that they successfully managed to create an SUV that is "far sportier and more sophisticated than any of the vehicles with which it shares so much."
Inside the 2008 Saab 9-7X, occupants will find an interior that feels like a Saab despite its GM heritage. Edmunds says, "Drivers who have piloted other Saabs and don't look too closely will feel comfortable behind the wheel of the 9-7X." For those who decide to look closely, though, ConsumerGuide points out that "some elements retain the cheap plastic feel of TrailBlazer and Envoy." Overall, however, the interior scores higher than that of some other Saab vehicles, notably the 9-2X, and Kelley Blue Book feels that "contrast stitching, wood-like trim and familiar air vents help further differentiate the 9-7X as a premium European-like vehicle." ConsumerGuide adds that "controls are clear and handy, though adjusting the low-mounted climate system demands a long look away from the road."
Conclusion
The 2008 Saab 9-7X looks distinctive from the front and inside, but in profile, it’s recognizable as an old-age GM SUV.
