Overview & Reviews
When is a Saab not a Saab? Certainly, the 9-7X, the company's first SUV, had Saab's signature grille, requisite badging and floor-mounted ignition. But underneath the Swedish veneer was General Motors' midsize, truck-based SUV platform, which means that the 9-7X shared its core mechanicals with the departed Chevy Trailblazer family (including models from Buick, GMC, Isuzu and Oldsmobile).
The Saab 9-7X thus felt like a trucky GM SUV that was taken to Sweden to get a mild infusion of Saab character, which -- no surprise -- is exactly what it is. It's like putting Uncle Sam in a Viking helmet, or Bruce Springsteen in an ABBA jumpsuit. In spite of Saab's best efforts at altering the interior and exterior styling and revising the vehicle's suspension tuning, it could never hide the fact that the Ohio-built 9-7X was limited by its heritage. As a choice for a luxury SUV, it was and remains mediocre. We feel most consumers would be happier with other choices, such as Acura's MDX or Mercedes' M-Class.
Most Recent Saab 9-7X
The Saab 9-7X was produced from 2005-'09. It originally came in a single trim level, but the next year saw each available engine get its own trim level: Linear and Arc. These were renamed the following year to reflect engine displacement: 4.2i and 5.3i. A higher-performance Aero model was introduced for 2008.
Forget small displacement and turbochargers -- the 9-7X's engine lineup was pure Detroit iron. The 4.2i came with a 4.2-liter inline-6 engine with 290 horsepower (275 hp for 2005). The 5.3i had a 300-hp 5.3 V8 with considerably more torque than the 4.2-liter. The Aero got a 6.0-liter V8 good for 390 hp and 395 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission available on the 9-7X was a four-speed automatic. All-wheel drive, a limited-slip differential, traction control and stability control (2006 and later) were standard.
Despite the different trim levels, all shared the bulk of standard equipment like side curtain airbags, leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic climate control, a premium Bose stereo with six-CD changer, satellite radio and OnStar. The only major options for most of the 9-7X's run were a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Aero had a performance-tuned chassis, 20-inch wheels and sport trim.
The fact that the 9-7X was not equipped with a turbocharged engine is one good clue that the vehicle wasn't a real Saab, and the layout of the interior was another. Despite some classic Saab features like the driver-canted dash, soft-touch knobs and center-console-mounted ignition, the interior still looked very GM.
The 9-7X seated five. Third-row seating, a feature common on vehicles in this class, wasn't available. There was plenty of cargo space, though, with 80 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded.
In reviews of the Saab 9-7X, we found that this SUV's positive attributes included a smooth ride and well-weighted steering. The Aero, in particular, offered a surprising level of performance. One strong criticism we had was regarding the four-speed automatic transmission, which couldn't match the efficiency or smoothness of the five- or six-speed transmissions in other luxury SUVs. Otherwise, our affection for the 9-7X was only slightly greater than that of its GM SUV platform mates -- which wasn't very high.
User Reviews:
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Mercedes to Saab - 2008 Saab 9-7X
By JT from NC - December 23 - 10:30 pmDrove 9-7X from FL to NC and it handled beautifully. Not quite the E320 Mercedes ride but more than adequate. Great interior comfort and distinctive exterior. The Bose sound and the add ons to basic vehicle make for a nice package. Pricey and wish mileage was better 15-18/gal. Certainly didnt see many on the road so a unique. So far so good.
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SAAB 9-7x Aero (SS-Package) - 2008 Saab 9-7X
By bIll - November 5 - 10:40 amThis is a Trailblazer SS in SAAB Suit! The Performance and ability to hide in a crowd is Great! Push down on the GO PEDAL and life changes in 5.5 secs flat. Gas Mileage is 13-15 at best, but this isnt for the faint of heart. The Seats dont hold you in the corners like an SS and that would have been an EASY fix (JCI-GM) The Cup holder in the dash was totally a waste of time and money, but SAAB Wanted that. (I wonder why) The Auto AC is a TOTAL JOKE! No feed back loop to confirm real air temp in cabin. (Duh, I guess they didnt have enough engineers that day at GM-HVAC)
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Frustrated and Fearful - 2006 Saab 9-7X
By Frustrated - October 21 - 9:46 amIve had my SAAB 9.7x just over 2 yrs. Mileage at purchased 23,000. Before my 9.7x, I owned 1998 Lexus ES and 2002 Audi A6. I travel three months out of the year averaging about 300 additional (highway) miles per week. Repairs to date: over $4,000 from wheel suspension and other minor problems. Last week, the fan for heat stopped blowing @ $340 (I live in Iowa); to the most recent problem--the fuel connector quoted at $700+ (fuel shows on "empty"). And now, I have concerns with performance. All this at 68,000 miles! I change the oil every 3,000 miles, align wheels regularly and do the regular checks on all fluids. Sound system gets hot when on for too long. Im fearful of whats next
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Couldnt ask for more for your $$$ - 2007 Saab 9-7X
By dimaf999 - September 18 - 4:10 amVery good vehicle, much better fit and finish then the siblings. Engine is plenty powerful. Good handling. Very smooth ride.
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Good SUV, but short-lived - 2006 Saab 9-7X
By Saab Guy 2500 - January 5 - 3:00 pmI bought my 2006 9-7X 5.3i a little over a year ago with 56,000 miles. It has been a good vehicle, but I recently have had several complications with it. When it turned about 65,000 miles, I noticed that there was a lot of wind noise on the highway. It sounded like the windows were not shut. I had the doors bent and seals replaced, and that fixed that. Then while gassing it up one day, I started it to find that the gas gauge read that it was empty and I had just filled it full. This was quite a spendy procedure to fix, as the gas tank had to be dropped from underneath. Also, the ride tends to be rough and bouncy. My biggest complaint is the poor MPG (I average 13 in town, 17 on highway).
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Its a Steal! - 2005 Saab 9-7X
By Moldavian - July 1 - 8:33 pmWithout the GM discount, this SUV is still a great bargain; in fact, at $39K it beats most other luxury SUVs in price. With the GM discount this vehicle is an absolute steal at $33,800 (Linear V6). What a gorgeous interior! Saab did a wonderful job with this GMC/Chevy hybrid. It has a definite Saab feel inside and out. This SUV comes with all of the bells and whistles that you can imagine - standard!
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What a ride! - 2006 Saab 9-7X
By T & C - March 31 - 3:00 amThis vehicle is amazing to drive, smooth, good feel of the road, with a feeling of complete control thanks to the AWD feature. The interior is just plush enough without being fru-fru, nice clean look, but lacks storage for the little things you need close at hand. This is true quality.
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Good for $? Yes it could be. - 2006 Saab 9-7X
By T - September 30 - 2:36 amJust got a 2-year old certified one. Cant beat the value for what they go for nowadays. (with the heavy incentives, the 08 new models would be an attractive option too.) Understand that one of the biggest complaints on this vehicle is the fuel efficiency, but when you do the side-by-side comparisons AND THEN calculate it into additional costs for the duration of your planned ownership, well it made the financial sense for us and we were happy to get into this semi-luxury SUV in a heavy snow prone area that we live in.
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FUN TO DRIVE - 2005 Saab 9-7X
By Trish - September 22 - 12:30 amI love my Saab SUV Arc . Its safe, fun to drive and FAST! The V8 engine and horsepower are faster then most sport sedans which leaves the other drivers on the road with a surprised look on their faces. The only improvement I can see is the cup holders need to be improved. They are weak and they wobble. Also a navigation system would be nice! I plan on purchasing another in 2008.
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new owner - 2006 Saab 9-7X
By nj driver - September 21 - 9:00 pmI was not happy with the whistle coming from my tires but came to find out it is a defect which will be fixed this week. A left axle problem I miss space for items around the front seat but love the easy access to everything. Back seat passengers complain about stiff back seat backs. Drove my daughter out to college with 4 x 8 uhaul trailer and it averaged 16 miles per gallon and handled well. I enjoy my suv but would like better mpg. Enjoy yours!
