Frank Wulfers

Part 1: Exterior, engine and transmission
Part 2: Interior, Seats and Visibility
Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

Interior

No matter how good the exterior looks, it is inside where we spend most of our time. The interior of the 9-4X is very similar to the current 9-5 in design. While I have sat in the new 9-5 many times, I have never actually driven on. Coming from the first generation 9-5, the 9-4X feels a bit large inside at first. I had to get used to the thicker A-pillars. It seems they are farther away from the driver than in the 9-5 so they don't actually block as much of the view to the outside as you would expect.

After owning the 9-4X for a few months, I am really liking the larger size as it gives the cabin a very open feel. Where the dash is vertical in the 1st gen 9-5 and current 9-3, the 9-4X lower dash slopes away from the driver, enhancing the sense of open feel. I can easily reach all heater, audio and other controls without the need to get my back out of the seat. It was actually a bit of shock how my 2005 9-5 felt quite small and a bit cramped inside when I drove it again after a couple of weeks. The 9-4X has a lot of legroom and it is easy to get very comfortable.

The dash may look a bit too simple and boring at first when compared to the competitors. But that's the strength of the Saab interiors for me. As with exteriors, many interiors are over-styled and are just a visual overload. All materials in the 9-4X have a good quality feel and a great improvement from other Saabs. The door handles, for example, have a rubber-like coating on the inside and just feel solid. The main black dash panels have some kind of metallic coating which gives it some depth, especially on a sunny day. Switches and knobs feel solid with a nice feel and feedback to them.

The metallic accents around the shifter, gauges, steering wheel controls and the door pull give the interior a quality yet subdued look. The faux-stitching on the upper part of the dash is a nice touch, even though you know it is not leather. The artificial wood trim looks much better than the 2011 9-5. While it is still man-made material (I pulled of part of the trim to make sure), it doesn't offend at all.

There are three colors available: Parchment, Shark Grey and Jet Black. I like light interior colors and really wanted Parchment. However, that color is only available on the base model and not on the Premium and Aero. I don't really understand what the reason is for that. I am not a huge fan of grey but it brightens up the interior a little bit more than all black. I think other seating and accent colors like a rich chocolate brown or more red/orangy as you see with some BMW and Audi interiors would look great in the 9-4X as well. Saab could be a little bit more creative with interior colors.

Like others who see the interior in pictures, I didn't like the green information display for the radio and climate controls at first. After getting used to it after a few months, I am really starting to appreciate the way it looks, the information displayed and the easy viewing of information in day/sun light and darkness. It blends in perfectly with the other dash lights and now I am actually glad it is a monochrome display. It displays information about the audio you're listening to like XM satellite radio with artist and song information and iPods and other music players. More about the infotainment system will follow later. It also shows the temperature readout for the interior and exterior.

There is quite a lot of storage. The glove box is pretty large, has the cooling vents like other Saabs and has a separate shelf for smaller items. There are two pockets in the doors. The larger common map pocket on the bottom and a smaller one perfect for cell phones and other small items. The storage area under the arm rest is divided into two separate areas as well. The lower part is very large and has a 12V, 3.5mm Aux-in and USB port. The upper storage is smaller and perfect for car registration/insurance documents, pens, wallet and other small things.

As in other newer Saabs, the dash lighting is perfect with green and white for everything. As a fan of the button dash in the 2003-2006 9-3, I really like all the buttons for audio, climate and other controls. And it all is easy to operate, even in the dark. The Night Panel feature is familiar from other Saabs but it could darken a few more lights for my taste. The gauge faces and needles look very nice and are easy to read. With the 3.0i engine, you obviously don't get a turbo gauge and this is replaced with a MPG (miles per gallon) gauge. Unfortunately, it is pretty useless but I guess designers had to put something there.

The steering wheel could be a little thicker for me. The one in the 9-4X Aero feels just a bit nicer. A cover for the cupholders would be nice when they are not in use. However, these are the best cupholders in a Saab so far. I usually take a large water bottle and coffee mug when going on short and long trips. I was always very scared using the dash cupholders in the 9-3 and 9-5 and the holders in the 9-4X are perfect. It has a horizontal divider to allow for small and larger cups or bottles and should fit anything from a 12 oz coffee cup to a 24 oz water bottle. Or an extra large fast food soft drink or 7-Eleven Slurpee.

Seats

Seats are one of the most important features in a vehicle for me. The seats in the 9-4X feel quite hard if you are used to seats in other Saabs like the 9-3 and 9-5. I am not sure if they have gotten a little bit softer in the first few months but they are very comfortable after you get used to them. I still had my 2005 9-5 Aero for more than a month after I bought the 9-4X. After driving the 9-4X for a month and getting back in the 9-5, those seats felt a bit too soft and mushy and I actually preferred the harder 9-4X seats.

Many agree the Saab 9-5 sport seats are pretty much perfect and very comfortable while still offering good side support. However, the 9-4X seats are even better for me. I am about 6'2' tall and weigh about 210 lbs. While the 9-5 sport seats were the best I have had in any car, the seat bottom was a bit too short for me. I experience this in most cars, especially from Japanese manufacturers. I looked at the new Subaru Outback once and the very short seat was an immediate deal breaker for me.

The leather is quite a nice quality. It feels soft to the touch but still appears durable. I say it is on par with the 1998-2005 9-5 and better than grainy and pleather feel of the 2006 9-5 and 2006 9-3. Seats are wider than the 1st gen 9-5 and are a bit more comfortable for cruising long distances. However, they don't offer as much side support when cornering so you may slide around a bit during spirited driving. This is a crossover and not a car build for handling like a 9-3 Aero so it isn't an issue for me.

One of the best features of the 9-4X seats is the seat bottom extender. The seat bottom is about the same length as the first generation 9-5 sport seats when not extended. The extension can be set in a few different positions and extends the seat with 2“ / 5 cms when all the way out. I really like the feel of the bottom almost touching my inner knee and is very comfortable on long rides. This extension is standard equipment in every 9-4X. The Base, Premium and Aero all have they the same seats.

Seating position and Visibility

With many cars and crossovers these days, function (and visibility) follows form. Windows seem to be getting smaller, blind spots bigger and the view outside is getting worse. I was very happy to find out the outward visibility to the front and sides is excellent. Windows are large and the view towards the front is very open as mentioned before. Just perfect.

As with most Saabs, the 9-4X interior seems to be perfectly molded around the driver. You really feel you're sitting in it (not on it) and everything is within reach. Besides a few minor issues, it really is the best interior I have had in a Saab. I usually get annoyed by small things pretty quickly but there isn't anything like that in the 9-4X interior for me. It just feels right.

The dark tinted rear side and back windows give a nice sense of security and privacy while not obstructing the view outside, even in the dark. The view towards the back is not so good. The C-pillars are quite large and it is difficult to see what is behind the vehicle when backing up. I have come to rely on the rear-view camera and side mirrors because looking over your shoulder when backing up is challenging. While the view towards the back could be much better, it hasn't been a problem for me so far. It is something you live with and get used to.

When I checked out the current 9-5, I was not impressed with the outward visibility at all. The side windows seemed small and the window sill was near shoulder level. In the 9-4X, the sill is about halfway between my shoulder and elbow. The large door and center armrest are positioned perfectly. The 2006 9-3 just didn't fit me very well as my head was next to the B-pillar with the seat all the way back and the door armrest was useless.

The rear seats seem comfortable with sufficient leg room for most people. In this picture, the driver seat is all the way back. I never sit in the back seat so I can't comment on the comfort on longer trips. There are two different positions for the rear seat backs. There is a pass-through for large items like skies when the center arm rest is folded down.

The optional panorama sunroof lets in a lot of light so the cabin feels very open, even on an overcast or dreary winter day. The only problem with the roof is the poorly designed wind deflector that comes up when the roof slides open. It is vertical and made of some kind of cloth material. When the roof is all the way open and going faster than say 50 mph, there is a wind blast right on the top of your head. The wind blast goes away when the roof is only half open or you push the deflector down a little bit. And the deflector looks pretty ugly as well. Saab can do better with this design.

Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment