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2006 Saab 9 7X Reviews Specs

The Saab 9-7X is a new midsize SUV that Saab describes as bringing unique Saab characteristics to the SUV segment, including sophisticated exterior and interior styling, premium design features, sporty performance, and the ignition cylinder in the center console.




The 9-7X is based on the same architecture as other General Motors SUVs including the TrailBlazer and the Envoy but adds signature Saab elements such as Saab’s signature three-port grille, rear quarter windows that visually appear to wrap around the D-pillars and brand-distinctive wheels.

Pros:

Very nice styling for a GM product, gets a lot of looks. Interior is very comfortable. Handles very well compared to other SUVs.

Cons:

Fuel economy could be better, but with a V8 you should expect to pay for the extra HP. DVD should be a standard option.

News

Demand for General Motors midsize SUVs is weak these days, and the 9-7X is no exception. The current U.S.-sourced design returns for 2007, but its unclear what happens then, if anything. Though GM recently killed a planned Subaru-based 9-6X, Saab is slated to get a large U.S.-built crossover wagon on the new GM Lambda platform premiering with the 07 Saturn Outlook. We think that vehicle will replace the 9-7X for model-year 2008, but thats just a guess right now.

Meantime, reports indicate Saab will add a smaller crossover, likely to be called 9-4X, sharing GMs Theta architecture with the Saturn Vue. Engines are said to comprise 2.8- and 3.5-liter V6s, again taken from GMs broad shelf. Like the larger Lambda model, Saabs Theta wagon would be produced in the U.S., but would seat five, not seven passengers.

New For 2006 Saab 9-7X

Saabs first SUV is a truck-type wagon with standard all-wheel drive and available 6- and 8-cyl engines. General Motors owns Saab, and the 9-7X gets its basic architecture from the GM midsize-SUV family that includes the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. It has Saab styling cues, a Saab-style dashboard, and the Swedish brands traditional center-console-mounted ignition switch. Other differences include Saab-specific steering, suspension, and brake systems. It comes in a single body length with seating for five.

Powertrains are from GM: a 290-hp inline 6-cyl or 300-hp V8. The V8 features GMs Active Fuel Management, which deactivates four cylinders while cruising to save fuel. A 4-speed automatic is the sole transmission. The AWD lacks low-range gearing. ABS, antiskid system, and load-leveling suspension are standard. So are curtain side airbags with rollover deployment. Power-adjustable pedals and xenon headlights are standard on the V8, available on the 6-cyl. A navigation system is optional.

Interior Design and Special Features

Saab drivers will feel right at home in the 9-7Xs interior. Traditional brand distinctive design elements such as the instrument panels cockpit-inspired center stack and center-mounted ignition will be instantly recognizable by aficionados. Wood grain trim on the dash and contrasting seat upholstery and door inserts do their part to give the 9-7X the progressive Scandinavian feel of other Saab models. Those who look closer will see the cabins GM roots, a resemblance that cheapens the Saab 9-7X next to stylish rivals like the Touareg and XC90. Cargo capacity measures 41 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 80 cubes when theyre folded.

Safety

The Saab 9-7X comes standard with stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. The 9-7X received a mediocre three out of a possible five stars for driver protection in NHTSAs frontal crash test. Front passengers fare a bit better in the same test with a four-star rating.

Powertrains and Performance

Unlike all other Saabs, the 9-7X cannot be equipped with a turbocharged engine. The Linear trim comes with a 4.2-liter, inline six-cylinder engine capable of 290 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The Arc packs a 5.3-liter V8 good for 300 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come standard with a four-speed automatic transmission that directs power to a standard all-wheel-drive system. Towing capacity is 5,500 pounds for the six-cylinder Linear and 6,500 for the V8-powered Arc.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The Saab 9-7X is a midsize four-door SUV that seats five and comes in two trims: Linear and Arc. Standard equipment on both trims includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a self-leveling rear air suspension, leather upholstery, wood interior trim (some of it faux, some of it real), 8-way power-adjustable and heated front seats (with driver-seat memory), dual-zone automatic climate control, an MP3-compatible Bose stereo with an in-dash CD changer and the OnStar communications system. In addition to more power, the Arc features HID headlights and power-adjustable pedals. Optional equipment highlights for the 9-7X include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a DVD-based navigation system.

Driving Impressions

We really like the silent-servant way in which this Saab drives. It would be even more silent with a fifth gear, but Saab makes do with lots of engine torque, the right-size tire, and the right gear ratios to present a very pleasant four-speed automatic overdrive in a highway cruiser that can hold, haul and tow like the big boys, because underneath, this is a Chevy truck. Body on frame, gutty engines, isolated cabin and all.

But the Saab tuning guys have done a remarkable job in improving the chassis. They lowered it one inch. The front end of the frame has been stiffened, as has every spring, shock, bushing and stabilizer bar in the entire vehicle, up to 15 percent stiffer, keeping the body roll, nose pitch, and a big portion of the usual harshness out of the Saab version. It steers much more tightly than most trucks in this class, with a nice hefty feel at the wheel rim, it rides quietly, handles the big bumps and holes quietly, and doesnt feel like a racing yacht in the corners. It just hunkers down and all four wheels work together whenever the electronic system is triggered by conditions and velocities.

The Saab guys also tweaked the entire steering system, its mounts, and components for more stiffness and greater isolation. They stiffened the shock absorbers as much as 70 percent compared to the stateside brands.

The six-cylinder version feels lighter in front than the V8 model and in that respect we like it better. The 4.2-liter inline-6 is rated at 290 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque at 3600 rpm. The six-cylinder gets an EPA-rated 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway. The inline-6 features double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and continuously variable valve timing.

The 5.3-liter V8 is rated at 300 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 330 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. Its greater torque helps the V8 version achieve a tow rating of 6500 pounds. All models come with a hitch receiver and receiver cover as standard equipment. The 5.3-liter V8 engine, the latest in GMs 50-year development program of the smallblock, overhead-valve V8, features displacement on demand, which automatically and imperceptibly deactivates four of the engines cylinders at light loads, and puts them right back to work instantly when called upon to do so. GM says DOD is worth up to 8 percent in increased highway mileage. Its a prime reason for the V8s good highway mileage, even at a curb weight approaching 4800 pounds. The V8 is EPA-rated rated 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway.

The Saab development team enlarged the brakes to 12.9-inch front and 12.8-inch rear ventilated discs, and they were extremely powerful, smooth, and linear in getting the 4800-pound 9-7X down from interstellar cruising speeds to small-town puttering speeds on Route 138. The automatic self-leveling rear air suspension made a huge difference in the Saabs braking behavior and quiet ride.

Favorite Features

DVD-Navigation integrated with XM radio/CD/FM/AM. Bose speakers, Saab styling, 18" wheels and excellent build quality of interior an exterior.

Overall Review

An excellent effort on GMs part to build an upscale alternative to the Envoy. My previous vehicle was an Envoy and the Saab is a better SUV in every way. The 9-7X handles more like a sedan the ride is firm but smooth. The 4.3L engine provides good acceleration but fuel economy suffers. The interior is quiet and well appointed with noticable Saab enchancements. The seats are very comfortable and suitable for long trips. The exterior has strong Saab styling influences which give give it an upscale look. The 9-7X competes admirably against its BMW X5, Volvo XC90 and Acura MDX counterparts. Overall the 97-X is great value for the money and I would highly recommend this vehicle.

MSRP Price Range $38,520 - $40,520
Invoice Price Range $35,438 - $37,278