Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Saab 9-5’s Design:
From the front wheels rearward, I like the way the 2006 Saab 9-5 2.3T looks – even if the design is a decade old. This blue paint color on our test car is terrific, I like the design of the wheels, and the new rear end is much better than the original 9-5. Forward of the front wheels, the 9-5 looks like it just went 10 rounds with Lennox Lewis. On concept cars, this emerging Saab face looks great. On the 9-5, it looks contrived. Plus, there’s way too much front overhang for the nose to look proportionally balanced.

Inside, I like the cockpit theme, the tri-tone décor, the lack of wood trim in favor of high-tech metallic accents. The Saab 9-5’s cabin definitely looks upscale, but the control layout is a mess. Many buttons and controls are obscured by the steering wheel, the speedometer is hopelessly optimistic at the expense of larger markings, and there’s a distinct lack of storage space. The cupholders are terrible – if you love a latte in the morning, better make sure that trick flip-out holder in the dash is going to work for you. One significant upgrade that I immediately noticed is the addition of a GM parts bin stereo and steering wheel controls. This arrangement is so much easier and intuitive than the old Saab-style stereo and trip computer. Climate controls, too, are simplistic and clearly marked. And I really like the swiveling overhead map light, the design of the air vents, and the parabolic right outside mirror.

Mandy Ison’s Opinion of the 2006 Saab 9-5’s Design:
The 2006 Saab 9-5 is a study in understatement and subtlety. The exterior is elegant, though unexciting. The interior is plush with muted details. Dials are often unlabeled and openings merely recessed on one edge to provide a simple finger hold. Finding what you want is a treasure hunt of poking and twisting until the right effect is attained. When I turned on the car for the first time, the radio blasted me for a good minute before I figured out that the unlabeled silver dial in the center stack was the volume control. I twisted, pushed, and tugged on several likely dials and buttons before I hit the jackpot. It was only later that I noticed the clearly labeled volume controls on the steering wheel. D’oh!

The automatic window controls are situated immediately above the ignition in the center console. A woman with anything dangling from her keychain, like pepper spray, a family photo, or other trinket, will find herself blocking these controls. I’m no fan of the center console design for the window controls on any car. I’m right-handed with small hands, and having to switch to my left hand for the steering wheel, then use my right hand to manipulate the window controls is a hassle. The steering wheel also has uncomfortable bumps just at the level I like to grip when I use both hands to drive. My fingers could not comfortably wrap around them and I was forced to position my hands above or below the bumps to obtain a firm grip. Of course, that could have been the point, but an uncomfortable one nevertheless.

Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2006 Saab 9-5’s Design:
Kudos to Saab for continuing to create cars that carry the distinguished design for which the company has been noted throughout its history. Saabs are instantly recognizable and in today’s auto environment, individuality is a real plus. The Saab 9-5 doesn’t bowl me over as being beautiful, but it is a design that is pleasing to the eye and carries a lot of tradition. The designers did a great job on the interior as well. The use of contrasting leather on the seats and door panels really make the interior feel spacious. The attention paid to the small details is nice also, like the gray stitching on the seats, the rotating map light, and the shape of the steering wheel with its built-in thumb supports and perforated leather. Buyers that need cupholders to secure their morning java will be disappointed with the two provided in the Saab 9-5. One is located inside the center console compartment and the other is a flimsy flip-out located near the radio.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Saab 9-5’s Design:
A center-mounted ignition switch does not a Saab make. Nice try, but other than a few Saabophiles clinging to the unrealistic notion that this is the Real McCoy, most buyers can see past the trickery and may prefer some added storage and cupholders mounted between the front seats. Forward of where those items should be is a traditional Saab dash – tall with swivel air vent controls – sitting below a short, close windshield. Silver and faux alloy accents are used on the gauges, control knobs, door handles and panels, and dashboard, while attractive two-tone leather upholstery covers the seats. The 9-5’s exterior styling carries a few cues that fans of the brand will recognize, like the low-slung hood that sits atop the fenders rather than inside them, and the tall side glass.