Saab 9-5 2.0 TID 160 hp test drive (Part I)

>>Second part of the test – Exterior design, interior and boot
>>Third part of the test – Equipment, prices and assessment

While the future of Saab continues to generate plenty of discussion, we could not forget a saloon into which the Trollhättan firm has put all its recovery efforts. This car was designed by General Motors, creating a prestige saloon, loaded with technology and with a characterful design.

We got behind the wheel of the Saab 9-5 TID which is fitted with a two-litre diesel engine producing 160 CV, the same block as the Insignia (a model with which it shares some elements). In the diesel range there is also the powerful 190 CV TTID twin-turbo (developed by FPT), but one of the first diesel units to arrive was this 160 CV TID.

Engine and performance

This two-litre 160 CV engine is the entry-level option in the diesel range, at first glance 160 CV may seem rather modest for moving a saloon over five metres long and weighing almost 2 tonnes, but everything will depend on how the car is used.

The engine responds from 1,500 rpm, but it is not until 2,000 rpm that the car’s strength really comes through. It is sufficient to move the 9-5, but on motorways, when overtaking or when we need to accelerate more quickly and nimbly, we miss a little more power and force.

It also depends on how you drive: for relaxed driving (which is probably what the 9-5 is most geared towards) it is a sufficient engine, but after having tried the TTID in other models, the characteristic punch of that engine is missing. Below 1,500 rpm you will have to work the six-speed gearbox to get the most out of the engine.

The gearbox feels good, we found it precise and it has long gear ratios. For example, on the road at 50 km/h you have to be in 3rd because in 4th below 1,500 rpm it won’t pull; and sixth gear is as long as in the 160 CV Insignia EcoFlex, at 120 km/h it runs at 2,000 rpm, so at the current 110 km/h limit you almost have to stay in fifth.

Handling

The Saab 9-5 is comfortable for travelling and has composed, firm handling, but it is on the open road where we enjoyed it most. We tested the Vector trim, which comes with a standard suspension set-up geared towards comfort, so on bends and when driving more sportily the car does not respond in the best way and its weight takes its toll.

This lack of agility can be offset with the Drive Sense system, which offers three different damping modes, but our test unit did not have that equipment. Setting aside sporty handling, on the road what was previously a drawback becomes a virtue, because it has a smooth, relaxed ride that prioritises interior comfort.

The steering has a soft feel that does not transmit everything happening at the wheels, but at least it is fairly direct. Finally, the braking system is adequate and sufficient to stop this five-metre saloon.

Consumption

To achieve the best consumption figures with the Saab 9-5 and this 160 CV TDI engine, the ideal place is the motorway or open road. On the motorway it achieved an average consumption of 5.3 litres per 100 km, on our usual test route. This figure is on a par with the Insignia EcoFlex with the same engine and power output.

On country roads it averages about 6.5 litres per 100 km, but consumption rises (partly as one would expect) in town, where it hovers around 9 litres per 100 km; constantly accelerating and braking a car over five metres long and weighing almost two tonnes is not positive for consumption in town.

In the second part of the test we will look at the exterior design of the Saab 9-5, a feature in which this Swedish prestige saloon stands out, as well as its interior, where space and quality are its two hallmarks.

Photos | David Taboada