Overview & Reviews

Looking to appeal to younger, less affluent buyers, Saab took the easy way out with the 9-2X by using the "badge-engineered" approach practically pioneered by parent company General Motors. By leveraging GM's overseas partnerships, starting with a Subaru Impreza wagon and adding some unique styling, a retuned suspension and different fabric inside, Saab wound up with the entry-level 9-2X sport wagon. Although the 9-2X came together quickly with the desired blend of style and practicality, Saab's unique Scandinavian character was largely left out of the mix.

The "X" in the Saab 9-2's moniker referred to its standard all-wheel-drive system, a core attribute of the donor vehicle. Differentiating the Saab 9-2X were its softened exterior lines with unique front and rear styling, as well as larger alloy wheels and all-season tires. Carried over, however, were two engines: an un-Saab-like, non-turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder on the base 2.5i model, and a much stronger turbo version on the high-performance Aero.

Was the transformation worth it? In our opinion, not really. Despite a longer warranty and a more fetching appearance, the Saab 9-2X came off as a poor value at the time. Its Subaru-sourced interior felt rather cheap for a premium brand, and it didn't deliver the sort of refined ride quality one might expect from a high-end vehicle. The 9-2X also lacked upscale features like stability control, navigation and premium audio.

Not surprisingly, sales were slow. Because of this as well as disruptions with GM's partnership with Subaru, Saab discontinued the model after just two years. As a used model, the 9-2X fares a little better, especially since there will likely be good deals to be found. Subaru fans simply wanting a nicer Impreza are potential buyers. But most people looking for a premium small wagon will be better off paying more for a true, small luxury wagon.

Most Recent Saab 9-2X

The Saab 9-2X wagon was produced for 2005 and '06. Two trim levels were offered in the first year -- the base Linear and the more powerful Aero. The Linear was renamed "2.5i" for the second year. Standard features on the base model were 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth sport seats, manual air-conditioning and a single-CD sound system. The upmarket Aero was a bit more appealing with foglamps, metallic-ringed gauges, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, automatic climate control and a CD changer. The 9-2X could be further dressed up with 17-inch alloys, leather seating, seat heaters, xenon HID headlights and a moonroof.

The base Linear and 2.5i models were motivated by a naturally aspirated, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed ("boxer") four-cylinder engine. It was rated at 165 horsepower and then upgraded for the 2.5i model to produce 173 hp. The Aero model's engine also changed slightly. For '05, it was a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-4 making 227 hp. The following year, it had a 2.5-liter version that made 230 hp. All engines were hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. All-wheel drive was standard.

While the exterior styling of the 9-2X may have whispered "Saab," the interior was much less distinguished. The gauges were clean and legible, but also somewhat plain for this price point. Attractive two-tone cloth upholstery graced the seats and decently textured materials were used on the dash and door tops, but there were also hard, shiny plastics used elsewhere and a cheap, cardboard-like headliner overhead. More practical than pretty, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat helped with bulky cargo and up to 62 cubic feet of cargo space was available.

Although the suspension settings were retuned and softened for the Saab 9-2X, we found that the refined ride quality of its competitors was missing. Making up for this was a tossable character on curves and back roads, especially in Aero guise. The base engine provided enough power for around-town driving, but it felt a bit sluggish when passing on the highway. The Aero's turbo engine was a gem, though, with a broad power band and smooth delivery except for a slight bit of lag off the line. The automatic transmission tended to blunt the 9-2X's performance in either case, so enthusiasts will want to look for a manual gearbox.

User Reviews:

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  Great Car, Great Price - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Tim - December 12 - 3:10 pm

  It was nice to see that I could get a high quality car for an affordable price. The seats are a little stiff at first but they loosen up a bit later. It would be nice to have a one touch moonroof but I think I can manage. If it seems I am being nit-picky, I have to be. I can find no major thing wrong with this car. The ride and power obviously are comparable to the Subaru WRX. The styling is Subaru with enough extras and finess to make it a Saab. This is definitely not your mothers Saab. I love it.

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  A real fun car to drive - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By fred walters - August 1 - 11:03 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive. you must get the 5 speed standard shift to really appreciate the handling and the pickup. The fuel economy is very good. The quality is also very good and it looks great.

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  nice awd wagon for cheap money - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By old_wrx_owner - June 27 - 9:43 pm

  I owned a 2001 wrx sedan and loved it (until the turbo lag got to me). i replaced it with a 325xi sedan. but my dog-toting lifestyle demands more space then a 325xi has, so i needed a wagon. i didn;t want to spend much but i needed awd. thanks to the gm employee discount, i got a 9-2x linear for $17,300. so far the car has been great. i drove it from Texas to New York and back (4,300 miles) and it didnt even burn any oil! the brakes are a little mushy just like the ones on my wrx.

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  One with the auto.... - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By Chris Shuba - April 25 - 4:10 am

  I just bought this car a bit ago, and decided to go with the 2.5 linear simply because of cost and fuel economy. They both get relatively similar mileage, but the aero takes premium. Aside from that the car is a dream. Though the engine does lag a bit when the petals fully down, this thing is quick. The "cock-pit" flawlessly integrates the driver into the vehicle. The most attractive feature is the suspension. The car glides silently and smoothly over any road abnormality. Its a clean, simple, beautiful automobile. Quirky and different it may be, but its solid and practical as well. I look forward to errands... nough said.

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  the 9-2X is great - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By MAF-CPD - November 27 - 11:16 pm

  Dollar for dollar, the best car I have owned. In addition, low production numbers (10,000 approx) should aid in holding its resale.

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  Exellent Value - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Markart - November 13 - 2:10 pm

  If you like the proven reliability of a Subaru and Saab styling this Saabaru is a great buy.

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  Su-baab - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By ScottB - October 23 - 1:50 pm

  I would have bought the Impreza wagon but, the seats were too narrow. However, the Saab Leather seats are slightly wider, much more comfortable. What astounds me about this car is the fuel mileage. I drive pretty quickly in town, and get 29-30. On the highway, I get up to 34 mpg. Wow.

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  Saabaru...Best five door for the money - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Zach - September 27 - 4:20 pm

  I was going to buy a WRX until I test drove the Saabaru. This is simply the best five door available--not just for the money, but period. Sure, there are some more upscale models filled with fluff (onboard navigation, various electronic gadgets, etc.) but most dont offer 220-hp with a tried and true engine, drivetrain, and turbocharger, let alone what is quite possibly the most reliable all-wheel drive system on the market. This car moves when you want it to (especially in Aero manual form, though the automatic is still spunky), just like the WRX, but is also a friendly daily driver. It performs like the WRX but drives like a Saab!

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  Aero 9-2X - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By mpk - July 12 - 8:33 am

  This has been a reliable, superb-handling, and practical car. The aero has great acceleration - the turbo is well-engineered from Subarus boxer line. Great on dry pavement and on snow.

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  Go manual tranny.... - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By wingnuttzz - June 6 - 10:10 am

  With the employee discount and dealer incentives, I paid 18.5k for a 25.5k car. I went to Subaru dealer, moonroof and heated seats only avail on sedan version of WRX, not on standard impreza or even the WRX wagon. This car drives like it is on rails. I test frove the auto linear and it was underpowered, (165hp) for a AWD car. 5 speed is fun and optimizes performance. Seats I scotch guarded, only complaint i have is that it came with the crappiest floor mats I ever saw. I am gonna buy the Saab mats, $110 if they dont give them to me. Stereo also lacks punch, but its my wifes car primarily and she doesnt play it loud anyway.