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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  Eleanor will be missed... - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By dssquare85 - February 13 - 10:00 pm

  I purchased my Aero used with 30,000K on her. I immediately fell in love and still miss her to this day. I had Eleanor for almost 3 years. She gave me no problems and put nothing but smiles on my face while I owned her. It was worth the expensive insurance, premium fuel and lackluster mpg. Unfortunately, the engine decided to blow at 57,000K with regularly scheduled maintenance. Thousands of dollars later it just wasnt the same and was forced to trade her in. I gave Subaru another chance and traded Eleanor in for 11 Legacy in May 2011.

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  saab2xaero - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By risacco - February 10 - 10:13 pm

  Terrific bargain at gm employee price. Fun to drive, steering is best of any car I have ever owned, all wheel drive means no front wheel spin or hop on hard acceleration. Awesome acceleration in 2nd gear when turbo spooled up. Hatchback is very useful. Like having a high performance car that looks tame.

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  Great little commuter car - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By 9-2Xtra - December 19 - 11:03 pm

  I got this car to save on gas, but have fun while doing it. It is dead- on-target for me. I havent tested the AWD in snow yet, but you cant make it slip in the wet at all. Also, this car is closely related to Subaru Impreza/WRX, so performance modifications from mild to monstrous are readily possible - the parts are there. I really feel like I took 20 years off my age when I bought this car. It is that much fun to drive. The Linear doesnt require premium fuel like the Aero, either, so that tradeoff worked in my favor as well. If you can find one of these, you owe it to yourself to test-drive it.

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  Rippen Griffen 9-2X Aero - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Rippen Griffin - November 25 - 4:16 pm

  Best car I have ever owned! Plenty of interior room for a small family, and the rear seats fold flat for more hauling room. Super reliable - over 108k miles, and no service repairs! My car has been modified, to produce ~100 hp over stock hp, and is still a reliable daily driver.

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  Im really loving my new SAAB! - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Stewy - August 29 - 4:46 pm

  I ended up going with the Linear because I have a 35 mile drive to work everyday and the Areos turbo power means a max of 25 mpg and premium fuel - the Linear takes regular and gets 30mpg. Im not disappointed though - this car is a lot of fun to drive. The Linear has plenty of power , the styling is great and even though Ive been told other Saab 93 and 95 owners may turn there noses up at the 9-2xs Subaru heritage - Im re-assured that this car was built on a solid platform from a car company noted for reliability.

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  I love my Saab 92X except it takes premi - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By KK - August 23 - 6:36 pm

  The 92X is zippy and handles well in all weather conditions. The mileage could be better...I get 21 miles to a gallon of premium gas - Highway driving. I didnt know it took premium until after I paid for the upgraded turbo car. Originally I was going to buy the less expensive model.) My dealership did not explain the covered service features to me until after I had the vehicle serviced for the first time and had to pay for the oil change.

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  Sweet car even for a guy in his late 30s - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Chris Mackey - August 12 - 8:40 pm

  Love the looks of this car. The rear hatch opens up and fits 6 bags of groceries easily. Automatic Aero off of the line is very slow until the turbo kicks in. Makes up for that as you accelerate from 35 MPH to 75MPH in a hurry. Suspension is perfect for me. Not too tight, but still corners like a stud. The stereo is merely adequate. Meets the needs of most people. Its clear Saab expects you to upgrade the system.

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  Saabaru NOT at its Finest - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By KJReynolds - July 19 - 2:13 pm

  Having owned 4 previous Saabs, this Saab is not their best by any means - nor is it up to Saab standards. I "downtraded" my Saab 9.5 Linear to save $150 on monthly car note - definelty not worth it! I drive 100 mi/day tho it is mostly highway driving. I feel every road bump - road noise - engine noise - not a comfy car by any means. Im getting worse gas mileage, 25mpg (is a 5 speed) compared to 30 on the 9.5 - and its a very small fuel tank annoys me to fill up every 3-4 days. Ive never driven a Subaru - but I think this car is a Saab in a Halloween costume. I just hope it ends up being as reliable as my others - it better make up for the lack of comfort.

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  Id be mad if I paid full price - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Pat - July 13 - 4:13 pm

  But I spent $8500 off msrp, which makes me very happy. I paid less than my friends WRX. I really dont think its any more quiet. Its more jarring over ruff pavement (17"?). Automatic is horrible. Aggressive driving is scary because of the automatic. The cloth is better, but gets dirty really fast. The seats dont seem to keep you in place as well. Oddly enough I love my car. Normal driving is pleasant. Side by side looks much better than the WRX. I have an AWD wagon with lots of safety for cheap. Only wish I got a stick, at least until Im stuck in traffic.

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  Yahoo a Saabaru - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By b9e - March 13 - 3:13 am

  Subaru and Saab are very similar companies. Both trace thier heritage to Airplanes, both make extensive use of Turbo charging, and both are, well, a little quirky. Not quite luxury brands, but a step above thier VW/Toyota breathren. Saab has been known for hatchbacks, which, following the introduction of the 93 sport sedan, disappeared from the lineup. Enter the 92x. Basically a reskined Subie Impreza/Wrx, with some cabin quieting. The exterior looks more saab-like than the swedish made 93 sedan. And with the GM discount, its cheaper than the Subaru. Like the Impreza, this car handles great, but fuel consumption suffers (the much larger 93 gets better mpgs).