Christian Wardlaw’s Advice about the 2006 Saab 9-5:
This car is old. It has significant flaws. It is not refined. It cannot hope to compete with even B-list entry-luxury sedans. Selling luxury cars with four-cylinder engines ain’t easy, and keeping a model on the market long past its expiration date doesn’t help. The main selling points for the Saab 9-5 are comfort, fuel economy, safety, and, I can only assume, heavily discounted price tags or subsidized leases. Sure, the few Saab faithful that continue to exist will love this upgrade to the 9-5, if for no other reason than the ignition is still between the seats, taking up valuable space that could be used for storage slots or proper cupholders. But that pool of buyers isn’t large enough to sustain the brand. Clearly, if you review the company’s recent concept cars, Saab has tremendous potential. But right now, given what is sitting on showroom floors, that potential is not being realized.

Mandy Ison’s Advice about the 2006 Saab 9-5:
The 2006 Saab 9-5 takes understated design to the level of invisibility and sacrifices ease of use for quirkiness. Though the Saab provided a solid ride, overall, its “rebellious” control layout was off-putting. I’d recommend the Saab to those car shoppers looking to buy into the cachet of an unusual car. Though I found features like the trunk release button in the driver’s side door panel and the plastic clip on the inside of the windshield for parking stubs “neat,” overall, I had very mixed feelings about a car so hard to figure out and ungainly to drive in stop-and-go traffic. My primary goal when purchasing a car is to find a solid commuter vehicle that will provide great handling, comfort, and no-brainer controls. Certain design features of the Saab 9-5 seem to exist not for the comfort of the driver but a commitment to making a statement, if an annoying one. Despite this, I might forgive the eccentric layout if not for the difficulty I had managing crowded city streets. If I had $34,000 to spend on a luxury sedan, I’d save my money for a car that will get me from A to B without hassle or mystery.

Ron Perry’s Advice about the 2006 Saab 9-5:
You have to love the quirkiness of Saab cars to appreciate them. I found the 2006 Saab 9-5 to be a bit underpowered but very comfortable, so depending on your priorities the Saab may or may not be a car for you. If you like the look of the Saab 9-5 and want something that will set you apart from the masses, definitely give this some consideration before your next automotive purchase.

Thom Blackett’s Advice about the 2006 Saab 9-5:
Over the past couple of years, our staff has had countless conversations about the woes of Saab's parent company, GM. I don’t want to speak for the entire staff, but the general consensus seems to be that there’s no point in pouring cash into Saab, and a drive in the 9-5 sedan serves to solidify that view. It’s a fine car – comfortable, efficient, and depending on the road traveled and what mode the transmission is in, a decent driver. But it’s a $37,000 ride (as tested) that lacks the finesse, value, style, superior ergonomic design, and cachet of its numerous competitors.