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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  Saab 9-2x Aero - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By Teresa - March 31 - 10:03 am

  I enjoy my Saab. It is a roomy car for my active life style. I can easily fit my bike in the back or on top with the racks. It is very reliable and a fun to drive car.

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  Excellent small wagon - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By nigel - March 28 - 11:30 am

  Acquired a 9-2X Linear with cold weather package & moon roof for the same price as a Subaru Impresza OB SE (GM empoyee discount). Excellent handling, with a firm but not harsh ride; nice 2-tone interior and very supportive seats; lots of trunk room and great fuel economy (~29MPG)

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  Comments on car - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By nave - November 21 - 11:23 pm

  The car is very reliable and the awd makes it fun to drive.

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  Resolving a midlife crisis - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By L. Zeitlin - October 29 - 10:30 am

  This is a "Q" boat of a car. It packages the firebreathing performance of the Subaru WRX in a skin that you would not be reluctant to drive to a meeting at the Harvard Club. I can recapture the sports car days of my youth yet remain outwardly respectable. The build quality is excellent and the car has proven ultimately reliable. Fuel economy is good but every time you use the blazing acceleration, its like throwing a 50 cent piece out the window.

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  Saab 9-2x Linear - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Eric - September 5 - 9:46 am

  Bought the last 9-2x Linear available in the city. Even without the turbo, this car with 5-sp manual is a blast to drive.

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  My 9-2X - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Bret - August 13 - 8:43 am

  Great car wish it came with leather seats in the 05 model. I like the Subaru engine and look. Runs very fast and agile. Needs a little better interior design like the new Saabs have to make it more expensive/Saab looking up to the Saab standard not Subaru standards.

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  Best of Both Worlds - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By archprof - July 29 - 10:56 am

  Right, so I bought my Satin Grey Aero for 22,500 out the door--9 miles on the clocks, bags on the seats (9 grand off sticker?? Ill take one, maybe two). Only option on mine is the Sport Package, which is just a sunroof and beautiful 17" wheels wrapped in decent RE011 Bridgestones. Most dont realize that this car has the STis steering box (2.7 turns vs. 3 on the WRX) which is mounted with rigid bushings to the car, for a more responsive feel. And responsive it is! Great handling, with all the body roll expected from Fuji Heavy Industries. Easily fixed, mind you. Really, the cornering is spot on--you will hug this car after driving hard in the rain! Buy it now before August 1!

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  Beauty for the beast - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By beemboy - July 15 - 4:06 pm

  Anyone up for a Subaru entree with Saab spices? I was, and its delicious! The 9-2x Aero combines the practicality of a wagon (great for carting small- to medium-sized dogs, for example, or camping gear), the thrills of a turbo engine (it will put a silly grin on your face that you cannot wipe off), and the safety of all-wheel-drive with ABS and a limited slip differential. The turbo characteristics have been refined, so you wont necessarily take off like a Tasmanian devil at 3000RPM. The shifter is notchy and can definitely be improved. Seats are decent, and the two-tone interior is nice. Road noise is acceptable, but more than the Jetta I owned. In all, a practical car that spells F-U-N.

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  Saabaru 9-2x - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By John - June 5 - 11:53 pm

  This is a great little car the only problems I had when I bought it was that the tires bubbled in under 10000 miles and I had to replace them with performance tires because no good tire company makes all weather tires for this car but bridgestone and they were the original tires.

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  So Far... - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Red9-2X - April 3 - 4:26 am

  I have owned my 9-2X for 3-1/2 months and so far Im generally pleased with my selection of the Saab 9-2X as my daily driver. Its a refined fusion of Euro-Style & Japanese AWD Technology. I am pleased with its functional side as well as its sporty/fun side. I like knowing that I have several safety features working for me with Side curtain and front airbags, ABS & 4 wheel disk brakes, AWD for slippery road conditions, and the Xenon driving lamps. I also feel secure with the great warranty offered. I really like the cargo capacity. The split fold down rear seats are vesatile feature. I would recommend this car for anyone whose functional criteria match up to what this car offers.