Verdict
B
Saloon · Sweden · 1997-2012
Saab 9-5
Saab 9-5 — spec data and generation history.
Years
1997-2012
Generations
2
Segment
Saloon
Saab's executive saloon and estate above the 9-3 — Mk1 (1997–2010) was the long-running GM-era 9-5, a Saab 9000 replacement that lasted 13 years; Mk2 (2010–2012) was the GM Epsilon II car launched right before Saab's bankruptcy, only ~10,000 cars built worldwide before production stopped. Mk1 ran the Saab B205/B235 2.0 / 2.3 turbo with the Aero (250 bhp 2.3 turbo), plus 3.0 V6 and 1.9 TiD diesel. Mk2 had the 300 bhp 2.8 V6 turbo XWD as halo. The Mk2 9-5 is one of the rarest GM-era Saabs — and the most coveted by Saab fans because it was so nearly the future of the brand.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
Mk1 1997-2010 → Mk2 2010-2012
BHP +50 bhp (top)
Torque +50 Nm
0-60 mph -0.5 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +5 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1997-2010
Mk1
→
Aero 2.3 turbo — 250 bhp, 0-60 in 6.5s.
Verdict
B
BHP
250
0–60
6.5 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
28.0 mpg
Used
£500-£4,500
- + Aero 2.3 turbo legendary
- + Estate practical
- − B235 sludge
- − DIC failures
2010-2012
Mk2
→
Aero 2.8 V6 turbo XWD — 300 bhp, 0-60 in 6.0s.
Verdict
A
BHP
300
0–60
6.0 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
28.0 mpg
Used
£3,500-£12,000
- + Genuinely the future of Saab — and lost
- + XWD AWD with eLSD
- − Saab bankruptcy 2011
- − ~10,000 cars worldwide
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1997-2010 · Mk1
- B235 sludge build-up
- Direct Ignition Cassette failure
- Heater control valve
- Steering rack leaks
2010-2012 · Mk2
- Saab bankruptcy 2011 — parts thin
- XWD Haldex pump
- Sensus head-unit faults
- Cam carrier oil leak (V6)