First drive: Saab quietly updates the 9-5

SAAB has treated its flagship 9-5 range to a mid-life update that brings 1265 modifications but - true to form - the changes are far from dramatic.

The Swedish car-maker has a reputation for a cautious and predictable approach when it comes to model updates and the facelifted 9-5 does little to dispel that perception.

It takes a keen Saab spotter to immediately distinguish the newcomer from the existing car. Look carefully and you will notice the grille is new and that its surround is now body-coloured rather then chromed.

The front bumper has also been extended to create a smooth, raked nose - in comparison to the more upright look of the current car.

Changes to the rear include a new tail-light cluster and revised bumper - hardly earth-shattering stuff.

Underskin upgrades include the introduction of a new five-speed automatic - replacing the current four-speed unit - and a few tweaks to the chassis that are claimed to bring crisper turn-in and greater steering precision.

The revised 9-5 also gains adaptive front airbags that trigger with intensity in proportion to the severity of impacts and "retuned" seatbelts that are claimed to perform better.

Performance enthusiasts will be pleased to note the updated Aero model's 2.3-litre turbo engine ekes out 184kW - compared with 169kW for the current model.

The auto version - which makes up the vast majority of sales - also gains an extra 20Nm of torque, which means it now has a hefty 350Nm on tap - all the way from 1900rpm to 4000rpm.

Saab did not need to resort to any great trickery to extract the extra power - it just cranked up the turbo boost.

While the Aero nameplate will be retained, the lesser S and SE nomenclatures will be ditched once the revised 9-5 line-up debuts here in November.

The new entry level 9-5 will be known as Linear and positioned above it will be Arc and Vector variants.

The overtly sporting Aero will retain pride of place as the performance leader of the range - and it will also take over as the flagship as Saab is opting to discontinue the V6-powered Griffin that currently tops the range.

The Linear, Arc and Vector variants will be available with a choice of 2.0 and 2.3-litre low-pressure turbo engines that are carried over unchanged from the existing line-up.

A five-speed manual transmission will be available but Saab expects the vast majority of buyers to plump for the auto. The new five-speed self-shifter brings Saab in line with its opposition from Volvo, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz - although its transmission does not have Tiptronic-style sequential shift capability.

The 9-5 Aero comes equipped with ESP (Electronic Stability Program), in addition to traction control and anti-lock brakes - which are standard across the range.

Pricing for the new line-up will be announced closer to its local launch but company officials suggest a slight hike is in store across the range.

This indicates the Linear may lob in around $59,000 (compared with $57,900 for the current entry level 9-5) while the Aero may cost about $83,000 - roughly $4000 more than the current model.

Saab Australia managing director Tony Jennett said the price increases would be offset by improved equipment levels.

He said the aim was to maintain current 9-5 sales levels, which have averaged out to just over 90 cars a month for the first half of this year.

Saab 9-5 in a nutshell
Trim levels
Linear - base model
Arc - woodgrain trim and other niceties
Vector - sporty trim but no mechanical upgrades
Aero - high-output turbo engine, sports suspension, big wheels
Engines
2.0-litre low-pressure turbo
2.3-litre low-pressure turbo
136kW at 5500rpm and 280Nm at 1800-3500rpm
2.3-litre high-pressure turbo (Aero only)
184kW at 5300rpm and 350Nm at 1900-4000rpm
New features
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) introduced in Aero
Five-speed automatic transmission replaces four-speed unit DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: WHILE the updated 9-5's styling revisions are understated - to put it mildly - there is no denying Saab's flagship model is still a handsome car even four years on from its launch in 1997.

The changes to the nose have achieved the desired result of endowing the car with a sleeker, smoother look. It could be argued the 9-5 estate is the best looking contender in its segment - along with Audi's A6 Avant.

It's no surprise that the Aero - which rides on multi-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels - is the pick of the 9-5 lineup in terms of visual appeal.

Saab chassis engineer Jan Bengtsson said the newcomer offers "the best ride and handling" of any car produced by the company - but this may not be as big a claim as it sounds.

The 9-5 and its predecessor - the 9000 - were always regarded as being competent but by no means class-leading in the ride/handling department, while the lesser 9-3 never won too many friends for its chassis balance.

Driving the new 9-5 Aero from Copenhagen to Saab's headquarters in Trollhattan revealed the car is a smooth, refined performer over a variety of terrain.

It remains reasonably poised and well balanced over twisty roads (we will reserve final judgement until we've driven the car more extensively), but the Aero comes into its own on the highway - where its effortless mile-eating capability becomes clearly evident.

The 2.3-litre turbo engine is arguably the best attribute of the car, providing ample low and mid-range oomph to make overtaking a breeze. Extracting a seamless rush of acceleration is a simple exercise - just mash the throttle into the carpet and watch the speedo needle sail around the dial with deceptive ease.

Economy is also good, Saab quoting an overall consumption figure of 9.8litres/100km for the automatic Aero sedan.

Inside, the 9-5's layout has been left pretty much unchanged, but new trim has helped smarten up its appearance.

The sporty Vector and Aero variants feature brushed aluminium or carbon-fibre-look trim while the Arc uses traditional woodgrain finish on the dash and console.

The base model Linear makes do with plastic trim - albeit of good quality.

More contoured seats mean comfort levels are improved, while accommodation remains as it was - spacious, in other words.

Overall, the revised 9-5 represents an improvement over an already accomplished package -but it faces a tall order in fending off quality opposition until the new-generation 9-5 arrives in four years.

Its task will be made all the more difficult by BMW's all-new 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz's new E-class, which are less than a couple of years away.