The LA Auto Show was our first opportunity to get out hands on the new Saab 9-4x. Since the 9-4x is mostly a re-skinned Cadillac SRX, the Saab should offer similar driving dynamics, especially from the turbo V6 model. The interior is certainly a step in the right direction for this downtrodden Swede, but does seem like long-term exposure might make one weary of the acres of black plastic inside. While all the materials feel fairly premium, I’m not sure I care for the style of the center console where there are a heap of small buttons and a small nav screen in a sea of flat black plastic. Models without the Nav system get a much smaller screen with more plastic and some small buttons. Aside from this quibble the interior and interior are well sorted. Still, it will remain to be seen if the 9-4x can score any success in American markets with the extremely well executed Q5 and XC60 already in play not to mention the redesigned X3 on its way to our shores.
I like the way this thing looks. I really wish they had something closer to the old 5-door 900, but in lieu of that I could see this being a pretty nice vehicle.
First off, I love Saab’s design and their overall character, but I have two questions. First, why all the cheap-looking plastic for a sub-$40,000 vehicle and second, what the heck is that rail thing in the trunk?
I’m assuming the bar in back can be adjusted along the track in order to keep cargo organized in some fashion.
I suppose that’s what it is, seems over-engineered and useless.
As far as prices and quality are concerned, wouldn’t it be better now that Saab is an independent company to lower their prices on all their cars to their rightful price points? Build up buyer confidence then when the new models come out without GM influence raise the prices back to where they believe they belong. Kia is doing it with the new Optima (raising $3,000 from previous generation), why not Saab?
Its much better looking than the Caddy…. but that interior is quite dark. Volvo at least adds some dead trees to lighten things up.
So where’s the ignition switch?
It’s missing the clutch pedal too.
6-lug wheels point to these things weighing far too much for being compact wagons.
Except that its a Crossover…. Saab will kindly point you to the 9-3 Combi across the lot.
if it is a saab ,it is on the floor, no doubt about it right where the saab faithful expect it to be.
I have yet to go to the show this year, but I’m wondering about the attendance on the Saab floor. Last year when I went, it was ghost town.
Ugh. Looks like a Honda Crosstour from the front and Chevrolet Malibu MAXX from the a pillar back to the hatch.
Isn’t that the same GM standard issue steering wheel as in a Chevy Cruze? I understand the need to share parts, but perhaps it’s not the best idea to share the parts the driver must touch ALL THE TIME.
Is this meant to take on the Range Rover Evoque? If so thanks but no thanks.
Sigh…
Saab should have been the first brand to get a compact crossover, but GM was literally the last manufacturer to get hit with this clue-stick, and even then their “compact” was actually quite large.
I’m not loving it. It looks like Malibu-grade materials (which are very nice in the Malibu segment) at the $40k level.
Maybe GM should make a nicely equipped AWD Malibu wagon for about 30k. It would put this 9-4x to shame in a value comparison.
Wait a year or two and it will be half that price.
This can’t hurt Saab, that’s for sure. This is their first competitive foray into light trucks, and should do better than the aged-when-new TrollBlazer. It’s a clean and handsome design that wasn’t over-styled, something becoming rarer these days. It is kind of silly how Volvo and Saab interior designers insist on equating drably monochromatic interiors with quintessential Scandinavian design.
Interiors by IKEA.
Not really feeling the 2-tone paint scheme. Makes it look like a 1st gen Lexus RX300. The interior also looks really dour — Audi can pull off an all-dark interior with some panache, but Saab appears not to have mastered that.
It’s almost irrelevant, though. Saab is not going to make it; this car will be orphaned very soon.