2006 Saab 9-5

Although 2006 will mark the eighth year Saab has been building its flagship 9-5 sedan and SportCombi wagon on the same platform, Saab says it sees no reason to fix what isn't broken. So, rather than bringing us a more competitive, all-new 9-5 platform to combat the latest and greatest from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz, the quirky Swedish carmaker has opted to give the 9-5 a notable rework and a significant price slashing.

The 9-5's new front-end styling features projector-style headlamps set in a unique matte-black housing. Thicker anti-roll bars, better shock damping, a wider rear track, and a recalibrated steering box contribute to better on-road driving dynamics and a more compliant ride. Furthermore, handling prowess can be stepped up another notch or two by opting for the Sport Package, which provides stiffer springs and more aggressive shock tuning.

Gone are the three different states of tune on the 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder from last year's model. A 260-horsepower version is all that's remaining in the lineup, giving the car plenty of power to frolic easily alongside most of its V-6 competitors. Saab has also simplified the line by merging popular items from the Linear, Arc, and Aero models of previous years into a single offering for 2006.

The most noteworthy aspect of this 9-5 upgrade--and the one that may well lure a good number of buyers--is the considerable amount of cost Saab has trimmed off the bottom line. New 9-5 models sell for over $3000 less than last year's comparably equipped models. Even though the 9-5's new nose and tail fail to hide its long-in-the tooth styling and the doors and tumblehome remain unchanged (and are showing their wrinkles), value pricing such as this makes the 9-5 a viable (albeit dated) European sedan/wagon option. Of course, if a slightly modified, old-looking Saab isn't what you had in mind, the company promises an all-new 9-5 before the decade is out.