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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  14 Months of Ownership - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Jm94 - January 28 - 7:36 am

  I had the Silver Bullet for 14 months before I traded it in. The 92x is a very fun car to drive. On an open winding road, I cant imagine a better vehicle. It also handles extremely well in the rain. Every day use though is a different story. In stop and go traffic, it beats you up. I took a 5 hour road trip and found that it performed much better on the highway than I expected, but by hour 4, my back, shoulders and neck hurt so much I couldnt wait. Turbolag is poor, slow off the line, from 30-70 in 3rd gear, its an F16, arguably one of the fastest cars on the road. Bottom line, this car is like driving a race car. What it lacks in comfort, it makes up for in fun.

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  Good for the discount price - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Anand - December 29 - 3:40 am

  For the $20k or so that an Aero is going for now with the discounts, you wont find a more capable car. It is not the prettiest car, inside or out, but everything is well laid out and functional.

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  Rockin Pocket Rocket - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Aaron Clow - October 27 - 6:53 am

  As soon as I found out Subaru was making a Saab, I had to have one. Subaru reliability + saab styling/tuning have lived up to promise. Zero issues in 15000 miles so far. I always felt safe, even going out in the heavy snows last winter here in NY. Love the sound of the flat-4 with the windows down.

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  Saabaru Wagon - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Jim - September 11 - 6:13 am

  Got this car for company trips. So far it has been good. Decent cargo room, nice leather interior, xenon headlights are great. Not a performance car by any means but will get you from point A to B while letting you have a good amount of fun with the 5sp.

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  The perfect sleeper - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Mike - August 16 - 9:03 pm

  Ive lived Saabs for years. I briefly owned an unfortunate 86 SPG, but loved its quirkiness (overused adjective when describing Saabs, I know) as well as its performance. The Saabaru is a near perfect marriage of two iconic marquees, in terms of performance, quality and quirk. Its a real shame more people dont even consider this car when shopping, especially considering the ridiculous incentives GM is currently offering. The power is there, the handling is better day to day than the WRX, its stealthy (both to cops and the kid in the modded Civic), its well made, it has a great warranty, and its different. That counts for a lot with me in this age of SUVs and boring Asian lookalikes.

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  Long-term ownership review - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By waveho - May 28 - 12:50 am

  Wife bought the 05 9-2x Linear, with cold weather package (heated seats, windows, leather, etc.) at the end of 2004 to be used exclusively as her primary vehicle in her pharma sales job, which requires a LOT of driving. About 180,000(!) miles later, its Subaru quality is still shining through. In all this time, its only required new tires and brakes at regular intervals. This is a car that is driven often in the back roads of central Virginia and the Appalachia area of West Virginia. Its always burned a bit of oil, and the fog lights have had to be replaced due to sand and rocks thrown from trucks during the winter. This is a quality car, fun to drive (5-spd). Highly recommend.

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  Sleeper - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By LCACBOSN - April 26 - 5:16 pm

  Overall this automobile is an excellent value. Its definitely Subaru however the added Saab soundproofing and ride quality makes a huge difference. The front-end sheet medal appearance is better than the 05 Impreza. I recently drove the car north from Virginia to New Hampshire in late December. I found that driving in all snow conditions to be safe and pleasurable. The dry weather performance is fantastic for a grocery getter.

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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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  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.