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 Sportswagon - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Photoguy - June 9 - 6:56 am

  I got the auto transmission Aero even though I heard that you need the manual Tranny to get good performance.(My wife doesnt like to drive manual transmissions) I have been pleasantly surprised with the performance with the auto- if your engine rpm is less than 3000 and you downshift to third gear before hitting the accelerator it will kick down to second gear and move out fast.Cornering and steering are exceptionally good on this car!

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  A good but not great little car. - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Johnnymauler - February 24 - 1:50 am

  I have had some problems with the tires and wheels on this car. After only about 10000 miles all of the Bridgestone tires bubbled and half my rims were bent. I had to buy new tires and aftermarket wheels. The car handles great but turbo lag and cheap seats are a downfall.

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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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  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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  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).

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  Great car and value - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Chad - March 6 - 3:50 pm

  We just purchased our 9-2x Aero and have been extremely satisfied. We purchased under GMs Employee Discount promotion for approx. $8000 below MSRP. Thus, we have a premium label, upgraded stereo, climate control, etc.,arguably better looks and handling with the same engine performance and reliability as the WRX, all for $1000s less. Many articles have been written about the cars performance, so Ill just say it is very quick and has excellent handling. The AWD is a useful feature on the slick Seattle streets. Up until the promotion I was set on a sedan (Legacy GT or TSX), but the value was too good to pass up and now I have to admit I really like the styling and driving something unique.

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  Saaberration - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By Pete - September 6 - 2:50 am

  This is definitely an aberration from the typical Saab lineup. Albeit a quick way for Saab to get an AWD to market, it still leans heavily towards Fuji Heavy Industries. Ironic that both companies originally made aircraft. Saabs adjustment to the exterior, gearing, steering, and suspension definitely paid off. Its handling was excellent. It loved to be pushed and responded well to pinning it centripetally into corners with acceleration. On the other hand, it was loud and the interior was most definitely Subaru. After professionally soundproofing all 4 doors, it was still noisy.

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  Nice Car - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Derek - June 22 - 10:03 pm

  If you are looking for something practical but fun the 9-2x is a good choice. I am 23 and very active in basketball and baseball and the 9-2x can fit all my gear plus a few friends. Also I plan on owning this car for a long time so it is nice to know I can grow into it as well.

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  BEST BUY - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By CHLLR - February 8 - 10:30 pm

  Excellent combination of Saab inspired good looks, quiet cabin and Subaru practicality, sporty performance, race proven chassis design and reliability. Umpteen suppliers from aftermarket for Impreza WRX souped-up parts.