Swedish cars are probably the most unconventional of all. Although they enjoy a reputation for safety and excellent seating, they used to only attract what we’d like to call “eccentric buyers”, and were usually sidelined by more popular European makes. This is a pity, really, for these Scandinavian brands have just as much to offer.
The unique appeal of both Saab and Volvo begins with their designs. Saab, which draws inspiration from its aircraft-building heritage, incorporates features such as wraparound windscreens “from” a fighter plane on its cars. Volvo, which builds vehicles with families and functionality in mind, stuck with a boxy design theme for decades before it evolved into modernity, leading to today’s attractive models.
Achieving take-off in the Saab 9-5’s proudly aircraft-inspired cockpit is both literal and figurative.
Saabs, however, pretty much looked and stayed the same for the longest time, becoming even more obscure and increasingly obsolete – no thanks to a lack of funds from parent company General Motors. Now owned by enthusiastic Dutch supercar firm Spyker, the Swedish marque is ready for action again, starting with its new 9-5. This flagship aims to take Saab beyond its usual remit of “the thinking man’s alternative”.
In terms of styling, the second-generation S80 has thrown its predecessor’s boxiness out the window and replaced it with a trimmer body and tauter lines. The design DNA of the previous model is still evident, however, in the broad shoulders and pronounced nose. The overall look is neat and wears well.
Saab 9-5’s altimeter-style speed readout would have been even cooler if it was projected on the HUD.
Out to make a statement for itself, the 9-5 is a bold display of Saab’s aeronautical background. The entire front end is purposeful, with a pair of headlights shaped like wings. The windscreen and side windows seem to form a single continuous frame, giving the car its “cockpit”. The wing-like tail-lights round out this package, which is Saab’s most visually striking yet.
Cabin-wise, both cars stick very closely to their long-running design philosophies. With neatness as a guide, the S80’s dashboard layout is cleaner than the 9-5’s. The Volvo might look a tad “empty” inside compared to its rival, but it feels more solidly built, with the switchgear kept to a minimum and properly organised for intuitive operation. Imagine a pre-3G Nokia mobile phone – you don’t need to read a manual to figure out how to use it, and the same goes for the S80.
There are fewer things going on in the Volvo S80’s cockpit than in the Saab 9-5’s, but it’s all part of the Volvo cabin’s clean appeal.
This ease of use is further augmented by large buttons with clearly labelled functions. Pressing the “Menu” button on the centre console, for instance, lets you access and tweak vehicle settings such as steering force level and auto volume adjustment. These are nice features, although getting to them can feel awkward at times.
The signature “floating” console is still as classy as when it first appeared in the S40, and the seats are as cushy as ever. If an automaker ever wanted to learn how to make great seats, it should look at the Volvo’s, which are a master class in occupant comfort for long drives, and clearly a notch above those in the 9-5.
Volvo S80’s “floating” centre console is very neat and functional.
In contrast to the S80’s focus on straightforward ergonomics, the 9-5’s busier interior aims to make the driver feel like a fighter pilot. Once nestled behind the wide steering wheel, he will find distinct “aero” cues such as the head-up display (that projects vehicle and engine speed) and the Night Panel function (which blacks out all instruments except the speedometer). As such, the 9-5 is not meant for technophobes, or drivers averse to clutter.
Unlike the S80’s simpler black-and-white LCD, the multi-function display integrated with the 9-5’s speedo gauge is a crisply coloured one. It would have been nice if this colour scheme was repeated in the audio and climate control panels, which still employ a dated green illumination.
Saab 9-5 has noticeably more interior room than the Volvo S80, thanks to superior cabin packaging.
What Saab has fortunately abandoned is the average passenger space that plagued the previous 9-5. Despite having a wheelbase only 2mm longer than the S80’s 2835mm, the 9-5’s cabin is better packaged and offers abundant room for legs and feet.
The S80 manages to claw back some points with more generous headroom for a third rear passenger seated in the centre.
Volvo S80 is less roomy than the Saab 9-5, but the seats are comfier and the cabin feels airier.
Both cars pack 2-litre turbocharged powerplants under their bonnets, but the 9-5 edges out the S80 by mustering 220bhp and 350Nm, which is 17bhp and 50Nm more than what the Volvo produces.
However, the 9-5’s higher weight (an extra 100kg) blunts its performance potential and allows the S80 to easily match the Saab’s 8.5sec dash from zero to 100km/h.
Saab 9-5’s turbocharged 2-litre is significantly torquier than the Volvo S80’s unit.
Aiding the S80’s acceleration is a rapid-shifting 6-speed dual-clutch transmission called Powershift, which minimises the momentary loss of power during gear changes. The only thing missing is a pair of paddle shifters, which would have contributed to a more entertaining drive.
If it’s driver involvement you seek, you’ll find it in the 9-5. Its 6-speeder is a conventional torque convertor automatic, but it comes with paddle shifters and DriveSense, which enables the driver (or pilot, as Saab prefers) to electronically adjust the suspension, steering and transmission characteristics between Comfort, Intelligent and Sport with the twist of a knob.
Volvo S80’s turbocharged 2-litre is less powerful than the Saab 9-5’s engine, but its performance is similar thanks to the S80’s lighter weight.
This ability to vary the 9-5’s handling attributes on the fly adds to its driveability, giving the car a good counterbalance against the additional mass it lugs around over the S80.
So, this clash between Troll and Goth sees the Saab outmanoeuvring its Swedish compatriot in terms of design boldness, equipment level and bang for the buck.
Detractors might dismiss the new 9-5 as a glorified Opel Insignia (since both cars essentially share the same drivetrain), but there’s no doubt that the latest Saab flagship is a laudable effort.
That said, the S80 is an excellent saloon and merely the first round of a renewed battle between the two Swedish marques. With the S60 and V60 successfully continuing Volvo’s assault on the premium segment, Saab must keep up the new product pace set by the rejuvenated 9-5 if it wants to remain a strong contender.
Saab 9-5 Vector 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1998cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 220bhp at 5300rpm
MAX TORQUE 350Nm at 2500rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 8.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 235km/h
CONSUMPTION 10.9km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $211,888 (as of March 2011)
Volvo S80 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1999cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 204bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 300Nm at 1750-4000rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 8.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 230km/h
CONSUMPTION 12km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $218,000 (as of March 2011)
Check out the successor to the Volvo S80, the Volvo S90 saloon and Volvo V90 estate
