Saab 9-5

Our verdict

About 12 years after it was launched, the Saab 9-5 lumbers on unnoticed. OK it’s safe, huge and cheap-ish, but there are many many better choices these days.

Comfort

Great seats, lots of room (especially in the back) and decent ergonomics lead the 9-5's tick-sheet on comfort. But if you get big wheels the ride is turbulent.

Performance

Thanks to their turbos, all versions are under 10 seconds for 0-60mph. There's plenty of mid-range overtaking pull too. But all power units are four-cylinders, so don't expect class-leading refinement.

Cool

Pipe. Slippers. Tartan rug.You getting this?

Quality

It's been around so long those Swedes have had lots of time to practice spannering the 9-5 together. It's a tough old boot. But it completely lacks the satisfying quality interior jewellery buyers of this class of car have come to look for these days.

Handling

It's stable on a motorway but through the curves it's imprecise and wobbly. Understeer-heavy, afflicted with torque-steer and generally uninterested in playing games. Get the high-power turbo and the front tyres are really strained.

Practicality

 It's huge and has an equally huge boot. A bioethanol version might seem impractical if you're going to drive a long way from E85 stations but don't worry, it'll run on regular petrol too.

Running costs

 Pretty well-contained for servicing (at 18,000-mile intervals) and insurance, but secondhand buyers have lost interest so it depreciates fairly fast.