Saab‘s new 9-5 was praised for its bold styling when it was launched in a segment where the likes of the BMW 5-series and Audi A6 are rather more conservative, but criticised for a driving experience that can’t match the German rivals.
Now, with some post-launch chassis tweaks and a new engine addition in the form of the excellent 190hp twin-turbo diesel, it’s transformed. CO2 of 159g/km scrapes under the crucial capital allowance boundary, but is still a long way behind the BMW 520d’s 129g/km, which also means the 9-5’s 47.1mpg is more than 10mpg worse on fuel economy. Also, while they’re priced within £700 of each other, better efficiency and a predicted RV of 41.9% for the BMW against 28.4% mean a 520d SE has a 67.7p per mile costs figure versus 76.4ppm. The 9-5 is appealing thanks to Smart looks, a decent interior and a cracking engine, but the financial equation is the big stumbling block.
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