Never mind Spot, there was once a time when the family wagon, not the family dog, was considered man's best friend. Station wagons regularly moved loads of giggling girls to dance classes, sporting teams to championship games, and even delivered those nutty Bradys safely to the Grand Canyon.
Enter the sport-utility era. Big and burly — the gas-swilling vehicles that were once regarded disdainfully as "trucks" rapidly became status symbols for the upwardly mobile family unit and Singleton alike. As sport-ute sales continued to skyrocket, it seemed the once trusty family wagon might have lost its place in the garage.
Although wagons may have found new competition in the people-and-stuff moving business, their inherent benefits are still recognized by more than just the likes of Mike and Carol Brady. While full-size SUVs raised the bar for girth, wagons were forced to find a new edge. So some became sporty — and fast.
The Saab 9-5 Aero wagon is a member of a select group of station wagons that simply aren't your mother's wagon. Sure, they can still deliver the kids to swimming lessons, but as sport wagons, they're designed to allow the driver to do more than just accomplish his mission, they provide real driving enjoyment along the way.
The 9-5 Aero travels in a highly competitive circle. Luxury marques like Audi, BMW, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz offer wagon versions of their sport sedans and, like the sedans, these vehicles are designed to be driver's cars.
We have previously road tested a 2002 9-5 Aero sedan. Our staff wasn't overly enthusiastic about it, and we summed up that it was "adequate in most areas and deficient in a few." We also wrote, "Unless you're a devoted Saab fan, we think you'll find the 9-5 Aero average as luxury cars go."
The 9-5 Aero wagon proved more apt at deflecting our criticisms. Much of this was due to its turbocharged 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 250 horsepower with the press of the pedal. Comparatively, BMW's 525i wagon puts forth 184 horses, while the Volvo V70 T5 wagon delivers 247 horsepower.
Instead of the peaky, high-rpm power typical of most turbocharged engines, the Saab's power plant is smooth and powerful throughout the rev range. Off-the-line starts are a bit soft, but the turbos kick in quickly thereafter, delivering a rush of power that makes anxiety about merging and passing vanish as quickly as the trucks in your rearview mirror.
Some of the credit for the engine's satisfying performance can be attributed to the quick shifting transmission. Our Aero test wagon came equipped with the optional electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission that features three shift programs: Normal, Sport and Winter. Our choice for nearly every driving situation is the Sport option. Simply push the "S" button on the top of the shifter, and the driver's foot pressure dictates the gear ratios, allowing the gearbox's efforts to focus on the engine's midrange power. Unlike the five-speed manual that often leaves you reaching for gears at every turn, the rapid responses of the automatic keep the turbos on their toes and plenty of power at your feet. As happy as we are to see that Saab offers a manual, we would recommend the automatic for all but the most dedicated performance drivers.
With the revamp of the 2002 9-5 lineup, all 9-5s received numerous suspension enhancements. As the sportiest member of the 9-5 family, our Aero model featured stiffer springs, a larger roll bar and retuned shocks. The results are impressive, as the Aero corners with surprising tenacity for a wagon. Body roll is kept to a minimum, while the ride is comfortably taut.
Also new for 2002 is the inclusion of Saab's new Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that comes standard on the Aero wagon. Working with the 9-5's traction control and antilock braking system, the ESP maintains vehicle control in emergency situations or very aggressive driving maneuvers. We weren't able to put the Aero through our normal round of performance tests, but previous experience with other 9-5 wagons has shown that the ESP system works well and unobtrusively.
Following the 9-5 Aero's impressive power plant, the exterior is one of its greatest attributes. Living up to its Aero name, the curved lines and sleek styling are not as boxy and utilitarian feeling as the Volvo V70 — we find the Saab's elegant lines much more appealing. It's an unusual thing to describe a wagon as chic, but our black test car with tan leather interior certainly deserved that label.
Interior driver and passenger convenience is on par with the luxury set. Sitting in the driver's seat is like easing into your favorite easy chair. The 9-5's new leather "sport" seats are comfortable and amply bolstered, and we didn't find ourselves feeling restless or fatigued after hours on the road — whether making time down the freeway, or just sitting in traffic. For all passengers, front and rear, heated seats are standard on the Aero model, and Saab tells us that ventilated seats, not yet available with the sport seat design, will arrive for 2003. Also, an important safety item to note, since most wagons, sport model or not, are still transporting a family's most precious cargo, all 2002 9-5 models received ISOFIX rear-seat mountings, to ensure the consistent installation of child safety seats.
Other premium creature comforts that make the $41,825 price tag of our test car a reasonable purchase include dual-zone automatic climate control, door instep illumination and a 240-watt Harman Kardon-tuned audio system. The 9-5 is also one of the few cars on the road to feature bi-xenon headlamps (as an option) for optimum nighttime visibility. Interior amenities like faux metal dash accents, an air conditioned glovebox and storage pockets on the front of the driver and passenger seat bottoms further add to the wagon's luxurious feel.
Even though this wagon boasts the luxury "sport" label, its primary purpose is still that of a convenient hauler, so cargo space is still an important aspect of the car's personality. There's 37 cubic feet behind the rear bench, and a 73 cubic feet with rear seats folded down, slightly more than the Volvo V70 (37.5 and 71.5 cubic feet), and considerably more than in the 525i wagon, which has just 32.7 and 65 cubic feet.
During our test week, we successfully loaded an entire set of kitchen appliances — albeit the plastic Little Tikes variety — into the cargo hold without a problem. It was times like these when we wondered why so many people buy SUVs when really all they need is a little extra cargo space once in a while. Granted, if we had wanted to take a set of real Kenmores home, they would have never fit, but who wants to deal with stuff that big anyway?
The cargo bay also features dual metal tracks that allow cargo nets, as well as other Saab accessories such as pet restraints, to attach themselves with little effort. Also, a rear accessory outlet will allow the kids to play hours of GameBoy, while you enjoy that family road trip. Instead of an average shade-pull cargo cover, the 9-5 Aero has a durable cover that folds up and out of the way when not in use, and is sturdy enough to place items on top of it when it is extended to cover the cargo area. If you need to access the spare tire or tool kit below the wagon bed floor, a handy ceiling hook holds the floor shelf up and out of the way while you're digging around below.
With speed, function and good looks on its side, the Saab 9-5 Aero has all the right stuff. If you're considering a family vehicle purchase, but want more than a traditional family car driving experience, the Saab 9-5 Aero could be the car for you. It'll cost you a few bucks more than the Volvo V70 T5 and the Volkswagen Passat W8, but we find the driving experience, as well as the aesthetics, worth the premium. Especially if you don't mind hearing the low, appreciative whistles you're bound to garner during your everyday commute.
Enter the sport-utility era. Big and burly — the gas-swilling vehicles that were once regarded disdainfully as "trucks" rapidly became status symbols for the upwardly mobile family unit and Singleton alike. As sport-ute sales continued to skyrocket, it seemed the once trusty family wagon might have lost its place in the garage.
Although wagons may have found new competition in the people-and-stuff moving business, their inherent benefits are still recognized by more than just the likes of Mike and Carol Brady. While full-size SUVs raised the bar for girth, wagons were forced to find a new edge. So some became sporty — and fast.
The Saab 9-5 Aero wagon is a member of a select group of station wagons that simply aren't your mother's wagon. Sure, they can still deliver the kids to swimming lessons, but as sport wagons, they're designed to allow the driver to do more than just accomplish his mission, they provide real driving enjoyment along the way.
The 9-5 Aero travels in a highly competitive circle. Luxury marques like Audi, BMW, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz offer wagon versions of their sport sedans and, like the sedans, these vehicles are designed to be driver's cars.
We have previously road tested a 2002 9-5 Aero sedan. Our staff wasn't overly enthusiastic about it, and we summed up that it was "adequate in most areas and deficient in a few." We also wrote, "Unless you're a devoted Saab fan, we think you'll find the 9-5 Aero average as luxury cars go."
The 9-5 Aero wagon proved more apt at deflecting our criticisms. Much of this was due to its turbocharged 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 250 horsepower with the press of the pedal. Comparatively, BMW's 525i wagon puts forth 184 horses, while the Volvo V70 T5 wagon delivers 247 horsepower.
Instead of the peaky, high-rpm power typical of most turbocharged engines, the Saab's power plant is smooth and powerful throughout the rev range. Off-the-line starts are a bit soft, but the turbos kick in quickly thereafter, delivering a rush of power that makes anxiety about merging and passing vanish as quickly as the trucks in your rearview mirror.
Some of the credit for the engine's satisfying performance can be attributed to the quick shifting transmission. Our Aero test wagon came equipped with the optional electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission that features three shift programs: Normal, Sport and Winter. Our choice for nearly every driving situation is the Sport option. Simply push the "S" button on the top of the shifter, and the driver's foot pressure dictates the gear ratios, allowing the gearbox's efforts to focus on the engine's midrange power. Unlike the five-speed manual that often leaves you reaching for gears at every turn, the rapid responses of the automatic keep the turbos on their toes and plenty of power at your feet. As happy as we are to see that Saab offers a manual, we would recommend the automatic for all but the most dedicated performance drivers.
With the revamp of the 2002 9-5 lineup, all 9-5s received numerous suspension enhancements. As the sportiest member of the 9-5 family, our Aero model featured stiffer springs, a larger roll bar and retuned shocks. The results are impressive, as the Aero corners with surprising tenacity for a wagon. Body roll is kept to a minimum, while the ride is comfortably taut.
Also new for 2002 is the inclusion of Saab's new Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that comes standard on the Aero wagon. Working with the 9-5's traction control and antilock braking system, the ESP maintains vehicle control in emergency situations or very aggressive driving maneuvers. We weren't able to put the Aero through our normal round of performance tests, but previous experience with other 9-5 wagons has shown that the ESP system works well and unobtrusively.
Following the 9-5 Aero's impressive power plant, the exterior is one of its greatest attributes. Living up to its Aero name, the curved lines and sleek styling are not as boxy and utilitarian feeling as the Volvo V70 — we find the Saab's elegant lines much more appealing. It's an unusual thing to describe a wagon as chic, but our black test car with tan leather interior certainly deserved that label.
Interior driver and passenger convenience is on par with the luxury set. Sitting in the driver's seat is like easing into your favorite easy chair. The 9-5's new leather "sport" seats are comfortable and amply bolstered, and we didn't find ourselves feeling restless or fatigued after hours on the road — whether making time down the freeway, or just sitting in traffic. For all passengers, front and rear, heated seats are standard on the Aero model, and Saab tells us that ventilated seats, not yet available with the sport seat design, will arrive for 2003. Also, an important safety item to note, since most wagons, sport model or not, are still transporting a family's most precious cargo, all 2002 9-5 models received ISOFIX rear-seat mountings, to ensure the consistent installation of child safety seats.
Other premium creature comforts that make the $41,825 price tag of our test car a reasonable purchase include dual-zone automatic climate control, door instep illumination and a 240-watt Harman Kardon-tuned audio system. The 9-5 is also one of the few cars on the road to feature bi-xenon headlamps (as an option) for optimum nighttime visibility. Interior amenities like faux metal dash accents, an air conditioned glovebox and storage pockets on the front of the driver and passenger seat bottoms further add to the wagon's luxurious feel.
Even though this wagon boasts the luxury "sport" label, its primary purpose is still that of a convenient hauler, so cargo space is still an important aspect of the car's personality. There's 37 cubic feet behind the rear bench, and a 73 cubic feet with rear seats folded down, slightly more than the Volvo V70 (37.5 and 71.5 cubic feet), and considerably more than in the 525i wagon, which has just 32.7 and 65 cubic feet.
During our test week, we successfully loaded an entire set of kitchen appliances — albeit the plastic Little Tikes variety — into the cargo hold without a problem. It was times like these when we wondered why so many people buy SUVs when really all they need is a little extra cargo space once in a while. Granted, if we had wanted to take a set of real Kenmores home, they would have never fit, but who wants to deal with stuff that big anyway?
The cargo bay also features dual metal tracks that allow cargo nets, as well as other Saab accessories such as pet restraints, to attach themselves with little effort. Also, a rear accessory outlet will allow the kids to play hours of GameBoy, while you enjoy that family road trip. Instead of an average shade-pull cargo cover, the 9-5 Aero has a durable cover that folds up and out of the way when not in use, and is sturdy enough to place items on top of it when it is extended to cover the cargo area. If you need to access the spare tire or tool kit below the wagon bed floor, a handy ceiling hook holds the floor shelf up and out of the way while you're digging around below.
With speed, function and good looks on its side, the Saab 9-5 Aero has all the right stuff. If you're considering a family vehicle purchase, but want more than a traditional family car driving experience, the Saab 9-5 Aero could be the car for you. It'll cost you a few bucks more than the Volvo V70 T5 and the Volkswagen Passat W8, but we find the driving experience, as well as the aesthetics, worth the premium. Especially if you don't mind hearing the low, appreciative whistles you're bound to garner during your everyday commute.
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