Saab 9-5 range expands

The Saab 9-5 might never have gone on sale, had GM’s disposal of the company to Spyker Cars fallen through. But luckily the transaction was completed because, like the Jaguar XF, the 9-5 offers a refreshing alternative to the usual German suspects in the mid-size luxury saloon segment.

Now, two months after its launch, Saab is expanding the range with a couple of new engines for the 9-5.

The first of these, and probably the one that’ll be of most interest to European buyers, is the 2.0TTiD diesel. Using sequential twin turbochargers, it produces 187 bhp (139 kW / 190 PS), and joins the existing 157 bhp (117 kW / 160 PS) single turbo version in the line-up.

Typically for a diesel, the key to the new engine’s performance is torque. And the 2.0TTiD doesn’t disappoint, with 400 Nm on offer from just 1,750 rpm. A 0-62 mph (100 km/h) of ‘under nine seconds’ suggests it’s no rocket ship, but the real benefit of that 187 bhp is probably going to be felt in the mid-range where, in normal driving, it’s most needed.

Unfortunately, Saab hasn’t published any figures to verify that, but it is saying the 2.0TTiD will do 47.1 mpg (5.9 l/100km) while emitting 159 g/km of CO2. Respectable enough, but not class leading.

The BMW 520d Saloon, for example, gets similar performance from its 181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS), yet it manages 57.6 mpg (4.9 l/100km) and pumps out an astonishingly low 129 g/km of carbon dioxide.

Things look a bit better for the Saab when it’s compared against an Audi A6 Saloon equipped with the 2.7 TDI engine, which also generates 187 bhp. Fuel consumption and emissions are slightly worse in the Audi, however a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 7.9 seconds hints that it’s a quicker car.

The arrival of the 2.0TTiD, which is available in Vector SE and Aero trim levels, also means Saab’s XWD all-wheel drive system can be specified with diesel power for the first time. UK on the road prices start at £28,495 for the 9-5 Vector SE 2.0TTiD, rising to £33,700 for the 9-5 Aero 2.0TTiD XWD.

The second new engine, the 1.6T, plugs a gap at the bottom of the 9-5 petrol range. Part of Saab’s ’rightsizing’ strategy, this unit only has a 1.6 litre capacity, which is unusual for this class.

Nevertheless, it produces a healthy 177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS) thanks to a turbocharger with an overboost function. This allows it to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 9.5 seconds, but with fuel consumption of 36.2 mpg (7.8 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 179 g/km, it’d be hard to justify over one of the diesels.

Available only in Vector SE spec with two-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox, it’s priced at £26,695.