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2006 Saab 9-7X: Fifth Time's The Charm
Face it. As much as we all love SUVs, not every automaker is supposed to have one in their lineup. Still, others who should just can’t get it right. Many automakers are entering the SUV draft early only to find their prospect’s skills aren’t ready for the big time. Enter Saab and the 9-7X. Should the Scandinavian stalwart have an SUV? Perhaps. Did they get it right? Let’s take a look:
Canada’s scenic Quebec province provided the proving ground for Saab’s first ever SUV. After a French-inspired lunch along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, we were off on a nearly 150-mile trek through a North American slice of Western Europe. The fleet of 14 new 9-7Xs greeted us in Blue, Charcoal Grey, Silver and Black, with either a 290-horsepower 4.2-liter inline six or 300-horsepower V8 powerplant. A Grey V8 was my first choice, befitting the cold, rainy weather that accompanied us along most of the drive. During the second half of the drive, I switched to the 4.2-liter I6. The latter was quieter, smoother and felt better mated to the Scandinavian-inspired SUV than the brutish parent company General Motors inspired eight-cylinder.
Before the drive, I had to stop reminding myself that the 9-7X is a bit of déjà vu all over again. Four current SUVs -- GMC’s Envoy, Chevy’s Trailblazer, the Olds Bravada and Isuzu Ascender, are all kissing cousins of the 9-7X. But in its Swedish inspired form, this version was more than just a new nameplate. Approaching the 9-7X from the front, there’s no doubt about this rig’s pedigree. Euro-style projector headlamps, the distinctive three-sectioned Saab grill, silver lower cowl trim and crowned lion emblem said Saab all day. Even from the side, new body treatments, rocker panels and 18-inch alloy wheels give a distinctively Saab feel to this truck.
As our caravan of 9-7X’s traversed the Quebec countryside and skirted the St. Lawrence, thick fog and heavy rains rolled in. While some of my fellow journalists were concerned and others disappointed, I believed the less-than-ideal environmental conditions added an aura of gravity to the drive, making it feel as though you were taking part in the filming of a Saab commercial. Besides, the cockpit of the 9-7X provided more than ample creature comforts to soothe the gloomy weather doldrums. The interior was outfitted in supple, high-grade black leather, trimmed in contrasting camel stitching. The seats were very comfortable and supportive for the duration of the drive. Burlwood accents surround the center console, shiftgate and door handle, providing a decidedly upscale feel and a cockpit-inspired instrument panel replete with tachometer and satin-trimmed gauge bezels called attention to the 9-7X’s vitals. Aside from the standard GM stereo and climate controls, I was 90% sure this was a pure Saab!
Even this truck’s performance felt more Saab-like than I expected. The entire frame and suspension were significantly stiffened in the 9-7X, providing a solid, stable feel at highway speeds and on moderate to smooth terrain around town. But on rough roads, the 9-7X is a bit jittery and bouncy. Acceleration is brisk in both six and eight-cylinder form with the V8 holding a slight edge on steep inclines and in highway passing situations.
Safety and entertainment features of the 9-7X abound and include 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, dual stage front, front side, and head curtain side airbags, OnStar and XM Satellite Radio. Multiple cupholders, including a cool vertically-oriented, flush-mounted number that retracts from the dash, hold those beverages in place during the morning commute. With all the features the 9-7X offers, it is still competitively priced among other mid-sized SUVs at $40,000 for the six-cylinder and only two grand more for the eight.
For now, it is clear that Saab has produced a stylish, respectable SUV that should be able to compete with the X5s and MDXs of the world. But as the best mid-sized SUV that no one knows about; will it have the chance?
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