Now in its seventh year of production, the Saab 9-5 saloon shares its platform with the Vauxhall Vectra, but thanks to a longer wheelbase, wider track and more sophisticated multilink rear suspension, the car is endowed with true executive car levels of comfort and refinement.

The ignition key mounted next to the handbrake is a Saab idiosyncrasy that can irritate but the rest of the controls are logically arranged and easily accessible. All the switches have a pleasant tactile quality.

However, the 9-5 saloon’s greatest achievement is its seats. No seat this side of a Maybach offers greater comfort — some models even come with tiny electric fans within the seats that cool the driver on a hot day. But beware, the durability of the interior means the car can disguise high miles with ease: I’ve seen 250,000-mile cars that look factory fresh inside, so check the service history to validate the mileage.

Saab has pioneered the development of turbocharged engines and all models in the 9-5 saloon range benefit from their addition. Entry model cars come with 2 litre light pressure turbo (LPT) producing 150bhp, but in such a large car it makes for unspectacular performance. A better bet is to spend around £500 more for a used 2.3t LPT; its extra 20bhp knocks a full 1.5sec off the 0-60mph time and its additional torque gives a more relaxed drive.

More powerful engines are available, including a 3 litre V6 and a highly tuned 2.3 HOT (high output turbo). In the somewhat confusing Saab naming scheme, the HOT is designated on the bootlid with a T (as in 2.3T), while the low output has a lower-case t. But lots of power put down through the front wheels creates its own problems and these cars have an unpleasant tendency to spin tyres both from takeoff and when exiting corners under power.

In 2001 Saab made more than 1,200 changes to the 9-5. A stiffer subframe and revised suspension enhanced the car’s handling and further refined the ride quality, reducing the tendency to understeer.

Following the 2001 revisions Saab also introduced a pair of diesel engines to the range, a 2.2 TiD and 3.0 V6 TiD. Pick of the pair is the V6, producing 176bhp. On a new car the larger engine would have set you back an extra £4,000 but used examples fetch just £750 more, making it something of a bargain.

If you are buying a 9-5 saloon privately it’s worth having it checked over by a Saab main dealer before the three-year/ 60,000-mile warranty expires. Some owners report the premature failure of the exhaust gas recirculation valves on the 3.0 V6 and poor starting on the 2.2TiD caused by air leaks in injector seals.

Most 9-5 models come with a choice of five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission. Despite the lack of ratios the auto works well with the LPT engines and would be my recommended buy.

The specification on all models tends to be high with antilock braking, air-conditioning, CD player and electric windows all standard. Cars with leather upholstery, alloy wheels and electrically adjustable seats are the most sought after but don’t pay a huge premium for them. With used examples of this well-built car now changing hands for as little as £4,500, the Saab 9-5 is one of the best value used buys about.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Saab 9-5 2.3t SE auto saloon
Engine type: Four-cylinder, 2290cc turbo
Power: 170bhp
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 27.4mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-60mph: 9sec
Top speed: 141mph
Upholstery: Leather became standard on SE models after September 1999

Glove box: Air-conditioned glove box is a nice touch

Steering: Assisted on all models but is light and can lack feel

Air-conditioning: Standard on all models, with sophisticated climate control on top-spec cars

Timing chain: Listen for rattling on four-cylinder models

Diesel engines: V6 176bhp unit is punchy, but smaller 2.2 litre diesel with 120bhp is unrefined

Dealers: 105 franchised dealers have a good reputation for service

Servicing: Every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is sooner

Insurance: Relatively high group (13), even on base 2 litre LPT — get quotes before you buy

Warranty: New cars have three-year/60,000-mile warranty

Mileage: Durable interiors and strong seats hide signs of high mileage — check service history and invoices to authenticate

Suspension: Later cars have revised front suspension to reduce understeer

Turbo: Smoke from exhaust can signal worn turbo

Tyres: Low-profile tyres on high-performance models wear quickly and are expensive to replace

Safety: Early models scored highly respectable four stars in Euro NCAP test, later models achieved maximum five stars

THE ONE TO BUY

Saab 9-5 2.3t SE saloon with leather upholstery and auto gearbox, 1999 T-reg with 40,000 miles. Pay £7,475 at a dealer with 12-month warranty, or £6,500 privately.


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Manual cars worth £300 less than autos. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer