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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  Great Luxurious SUV - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Mary Ann - August 27 - 2:20 am

  The car has a smooth ride. I have not seen anyone down here in the Rio Grande Valley with one. So its fun to see people stare at it when I drive. The car is perfect for my son and I. Ive really enjoyed it.

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  2006 SAAB SUV REVIEW - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By william mitchell - June 20 - 12:13 am

  The car handles great. At 70 miles an hour youre doing over 2500rpm. I like the stiff ride but not shocking.

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  People still turn their heads... - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By RP - January 26 - 8:53 pm

  I am enjoying my 9-7x even though the prices at the pump make me question my decision sometimes. People are constantly looking to see what I am driving and honestly I like that. The styling is unique and the V8 is fun too. I havent had any problems to date and the SUV has been a pleasure to drive. I only wish that the 2005 model had the fuel economy of the newer V8s with displacement on demand (or whatever GM calls it).

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  Good Vehicle for Price - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By AK Driver - January 1 - 4:03 am

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife to transport the kids around. It is very comfortable and roomy for a smaller SUV. The engine does very well for an I6, but fuel mileage could be better (I guess you can have one or the other more power less mileage or more mileage less power). Bought it used and a good investment so far. Had a slight alignment issue, once fixed have had no problems. One frustrating thing is it is very hard to get accessories for this vehicle. Overall good vehicle for the price.

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  If You are Looking for A Different SUV - 2008 Saab 9-7X
  By Joseph - March 20 - 4:56 pm

  You will not see many SAAB 9-7X on the road. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. With two weeks I have had my vehicle in the shop twice. Hmm. I have a wait and see attitude. What will be the next thing that have me back at the shop.

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  I see another one about once a month... - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By 3saabmike - February 7 - 4:00 pm

  I love this SUV. I needed an SUV for work as I demonstrate medical equipment and have to carry around equipment that weighs 300 pounds and is about the size of a small dresser, so I looked at the SAAB and was impressed. I had driven a Trailblazer for 100k miles before this and there is no comparison. I like the sophisticated looks and the fact that when it breaks I can take advantage of lower priced GM parts bin stuff. This is the main reason I didnt buy the Cayenne. I am at 40,000 miles right now and nothing has gone wrong. The only thing that wore prematurely were the brake rotors at 22,000 miles, which wasnt bad as it only cost a few hundred bucks to fix.

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  Quiet ride/Great SUV - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By JW - December 14 - 2:03 pm

  I think it is worth paying extra for the Saab version of the GM SUVs. The ride is as quiet as a lux car. No rattles or unwanted sounds. Handling is very good for an SUV. Forget the V8 unless you are heavy towing. The V6 is more than ample for day to day driving.

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  Minor issues but love it! - 2007 Saab 9-7X
  By Carl Sanders - October 6 - 9:06 am

  When I first bought the truck I had to replace all of the brakes and rotors as they had rusted out from being driven in the north with all of the salt they put out for the snow. I also had to replace the factory tires at 30,000 miles but other than those minor maintenance issues it has been a great vehicle. People are always impressed by the way it looks and say they never knew Saab made an SUV. I like that it is a unique model and I never see anyone else driving my truck. I would probably not recommend it to anyone though because of the horrible gas mileage as they can probably find something that looks just as good but with better gas mileage.

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  Happy Driver of this 6000 lber - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By MangoOTK - August 23 - 5:36 pm

  The primary motivation for this end of year purchase was that it met certain tax write-off requirements of 6000lbs. We were considering the RX330 from Lexus pretty seriously, but it wasnt heavy enough. Were more than satisfied with the power and ruggedness of the drivetrain. We havent had it in the mud yet, but hope to see some late-season (calif) skiing. The vehicle turns a lot of heads and generates much interest in a sea of BMW X5s, Lexus and Navigators from people who are amazed that it is a Saab. The cons: Gas mileage is below average at about 14MPG. But hey, we can tow a boat or trailor. Fit and finish were a little rough on the interior, but Im a detail guy.

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  Impressed for Now - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By Phillip - November 30 - 1:53 am

  Very pleased with the purchase so far. You can really notice the change made to the handling by GM. However, a close family memeber has a GMC Envoy and you really see a lot of the same characteristics in the Saab. With GMs history I can only guess that how durable the 9-7 will be. Although, you cant go wrong with the factory offered 4 year bumper to bumper warranty and 3 year service warranty. These were very appealing at purchase. In all, I would recommend the Saab, because I do not beleive you will find anything better for your money.