This generation of the 9-5 was a breath of fresh air. The previous model was starting to look dated and was in danger of falling behind its rivals. Saab gave the large four-door a complete overhaul. The front end was completely changed while the tail was altered too. The interior got a lot of attention too. It’s a huge improvement over its predecessor in terms of quality, comfort and standard equipment. The dashboard is much better laid out with each button and dial easy to operate. The materials feel up-market. There’s acres of space in the cabin. It has the ability to comfortably seat five with lots of leg/head room, and there’s a pretty big boot for luggage. On the road, the 9-5 is a smooth performer with subtle handling and an agile chassis. There are a nice few engines to choose from – including some excellent diesels.

•  The oil needs to be changed every 8-9000km

•  A comfortable long distance cruiser

•  Good value for money when compared to premium makes

•  Safe car, it scored highly in the NCAP safety test

•  The ride quality is smooth on the move; also handles really well

•  There’s quite a bit of body-roll due to the Vectra chassis