Snapshot: Front-wheel-drive, powered by a choice of three turbocharged 4-cylinder engines up to 250 hp. Comes in three series, Linear, Arc, Aero. Even the base Linear is well-equipped. Safety is a Saab strength, as is the Swedish design character. Station wagon's a real beauty.
How Much?: US prices for a 2004 Saab 9-5 range from $32,200 for the base Linear to $40,170 for the Aero Wagon.
The Inside Story: These are roomy cars with decent headroom and a quiet ride. Standard equipment includes leather seats (two-tone is an option), automatic climate control, and a Harmon Kardon 200-watt 9-speaker sound system. Moving up to the Arc adds heated front seats and a power sliding glass sunroof. The SportWagon rear seat can be fully folded, comes with the handy CargoTracks loading system.
Under the Hood: 2004 Saab 9-5 Linear has a 4-cylinder, 2.3 liter 185 hp light turbo producing 185 hp. The Arc ups this to 225 hp, while the high performance Aero raises the barrier to a whopping 250 hp with 258 lb.-ft. of torque.
Transmissions: 5-speed manuals are standard on all 2004 Saab 9-5 models, a Sentrenic 5-speed automatic is optional. The latter allows self-shifting.
Warranty: 4years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper. 4 years/60,000 miles powertrain.
Should You Buy A 2004 Saab 9-5?: The last of the "real" Saabs, with a minimum of GM input, the 2004 Saab 9-5 exemplifies Swedish design and engineering. Sleek, fast (even in base Linear) form, it handles well and has excellent disc brakes all-round. Saab, more than anyone else, has mastered the art of getting more power with the use of turbocharging, and proves this by offering only a 4-cylinder engine throughout the range. The 250 hp engine in the Aero, however, can fool the unwary, which is why Saab gives Aero buyers a 2-day driving course at its own performance Academy. There is no lack of luxury in this sports sedan, the wagon's a beauty, so we can easily recommend the 2004 Saab 9-5.
