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TheCarConnection.com's editors drove the new Saab 9-7X in order to give you an expert opinion. That’s in addition to all the research that TheCarConnection.com has done, gathering some of the most useful information from road tests on the 9-7X to produce this conclusive review.
Likes:
- Towing capacity
- Rich interior materials
Dislikes:
- Inefficient, cramped cabin
- Pickup-truck handling
- Poor crash-test performance
- Fuel efficiency
Forged in an American assembly plant with either a six- or eight-cylinder engine riding in a truck frame, the 2009 9-7X is the nonconformist in Saab’s mode lineup. But it looks like a Saab—at least from some angles, if you’re squinting.
Because the 9-7X utilizes the same basic mechanical structure as the Buick Rainier, the fact that designers were able to create a Saab persona in the 9-7X is as impressive as it is surprising. From the side, though, the 9-7X reveals its heritage, and it's not so modern or alluring.
Compared to GM’s other SUVs, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy, the 9-7X is endowed with an interior that’s richer in textures and tastefully styled. Out front, the 9-7X’s grille fits right in with Saab's newer 9-3 range. For the 4.2i and 5.3i models, a special Altitude Edition is offered and includes DVD touch screen navigation radio and highly polished 18-inch alloy wheels; for the exterior finish, you can choose Carbon Flash and Diamond Silver Metallic. All models receive Bluetooth hands-free telephone connectivity.
Shoppers have a choice of two very different engines. Inside the 4.2i is a commendably smooth 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower, while the 5.3i is powered by a 300-horsepower V-8 powerplant. The 5.3-liter engine accelerates the 9-7X from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds, but burns a lot of gas in the process. The inline-six musters 14 mpg city, 20 highway, but the V-8 only manages a pitiful 12 mpg city, 16 highway.
