9-2x Aero vs Volvo V50 T5 AWD comparo by Motortrend

[chico_85]

They slammed the 9-2X and the Volvo won by a wide margin. They even stated that the 9-2x was not a better car than the Subaru WRX.

I rarely read Motortrend because I thought it's the worst among US car mags. The review is clearly biased, IMHO.

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/wago...ons/index.html

[Double_0_7]

I don't know if its as biased as we'd like to think. i just read the part about the 92x in the article, and i must say, for the over 31,000 they paid, i don't know if i would buy this vehicle either...maybe a 9-3 with fewer options or something like that.

but they did kinda gloss over the fact that the volvo cost 4000 more than the 92x.

[Double_0_7]

ok, i take it back. it was biased, as shown by how the 9-2x was almost a full second faster 0-60, then the writers tried more "street friendly" driving to slow it down.

[Lodro]

Biased or not, I'd say its pretty accurate. I've never been a big fan of MotorTrend but they finally seem to have hired a copy editor with a notion of basic grammer.

There are a few areas where the Saab excels, but put bluntly, the Volvo is simply a much better car -- I'd say its pretty hard to argue with that. And you can get a well equipped one for much less than the 35k -- I've specced them for around 31, w/ incentive available.

[squishmann]

the 9-2X isn't supposed to be a wagon.

it's purpose was to have a saab hatch available for those who wanted one.

we'll see if the still like the volvo wagon when saab redoes things in about two years or so

[CleveSaab]

Originally Posted by squishmann

we'll see if the still like the volvo wagon when saab redoes things in about two years or so

or when the Sport Hatch not-based-on-someone-else's-car debuts next year. 8)

[joemama]

Originally Posted by chico_85

They slammed the 9-2X and the Volvo won by a wide margin. They even stated that the 9-2x was not a better car than the Subaru WRX.

I rarely read Motortrend because I thought it's the worst among US car mags. The review is clearly biased, IMHO.

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/wago...ons/index.html

You were surprised? I think we all already knew that.

[squishmann]

Originally Posted by CleveSaab

or when the Sport Hatch not-based-on-someone-else's-car debuts next year. 8)

but the sport hatch is more of a 3 series/ audi avant competitor. not some sub compact wagon.

i don't like the current jetta wagon but it's a shame VW isn't going to make a variant for their next generation version. it would crush that little volvo.

the S40 will be dead as soon as audi releases their A3. not sure about the Bimmer b/c of it's price

[squishmann]

Originally Posted by CleveSaab

or when the Sport Hatch not-based-on-someone-else's-car debuts next year. 8)

but the sport hatch is more of a 3 series/ audi avant competitor. not some sub compact wagon.

i don't like the current jetta wagon but it's a shame VW isn't going to make a variant for their next generation version. it would crush that little volvo.

the S40 will be dead as soon as audi releases their A3. not sure about the Bimmer b/c of it's price

[joemama]

If that is goign to happen Audi will really have to lower the price while they improve the performance of the car and keep the same interior quality. It might be hard, but again....those Germans....

any photos of the A3?

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by squishmann

the S40 will be dead as soon as audi releases their A3. not sure about the Bimmer b/c of it's price

The S40 is really more of an A4 class competitor, don't you think? Interior volume is inline w/ the A4, C230 size cars??

[duck_man]

It may be better according to a journalist, but it still looks like a soccer mom mobile. I'd be seen in a Hummer just as soon as a Volvo wagon. And that IS NOT going to happen.

92x has sexy lines. Volvo is an ugly brutish box.

/my $.02

[joemama]

Originally Posted by duck_man

It may be better according to a journalist, but it still looks like a soccer mom mobile. I'd be seen in a Hummer just as soon as a Volvo wagon. And that IS NOT going to happen.

92x has sexy lines. Volvo is an ugly brutish box.

/my $.02

Wow..actually you couldn't be more wrong. The 9-2x looks exactly like my 96' outback impreza because.......it is! Styling has barely changed.

As far as the s40 and being a "soccer mom" car, you might be thinking of the v50. The s40 is a directo competitor to the Saab 9-3 and a4. And the looks are more inline of the A4, I'll give you that...but ulgy?...British....? definitely not.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by chico_85

They even stated that the 9-2x was not a better car than the Subaru WRX.

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/wago...ons/index.html

anything wrong with that??

I'd drive a WRX any day, over a volotov anyhow..........
I find the volotov's agricultural heritage is still showing, and
will not be persuaded by a bunch of lameass "journalists" to think otherwise.

btw....If the 92x's are still around when I need a new car, I'll get one.

CN

[squishmann]

i don't think you can say the S40 is a 9-3/A4 competitor.


from a size stnadpoint i would say no. and from a price view i would say no.

9-3/A4/S60/3series/C320/TL/G35/IS300/ES330/XType/Passat('06)


S40/C230 Coupe/A3/9-2X/125i/TSX-RSX/Jetta('06)

[benji9k]

I think with comparos like this, it's always going to be biased. With the numbers, the cars are close, hence the basis behind the story. But ultimately any of these close comparisons boils down to personal preference. Sure, there may be some things that are universally bad about one car or the other. But some of the things graded are ride-feel, comfort level, ergonomics, and other factors that are mainly subjective, instead of objective like performance numbers. And although these may be truely the reasons most people buy a certain car, it's hardly sound advice to listen to a car magazine for which car to buy. The best service such a story can do is line up the competition for you, and you do the test drive to decide which fits you the best.

Never seen it happen, but it's always nice if an article can lean toward the Saab. :wink:

[valbowski1980]

Take a look inside a 9-2X and then the V50. They aren't even in the same league. The Volvo is a much better car.

[benji9k]

Originally Posted by valbowski1980

Take a look inside a 9-2X and then the V50. They aren't even in the same league. The Volvo is a much better car.

You prove my point. :wink:

[srivendel]

I have driven both NA and turbo versions of both the S40 and 9-2X back-to-back, hard, on an autocross course, and chose the 9-2X indepdendent of price (at the time I drove the cars, nobody knew that you would be able to get a 9-2X for so little $$). I therefore do not understand the reasons for Motor Trend's conclusions. The S40 is not a driver's car. Its electronic nannies are seriously aggressive. They cut the throttle, jerk the steering (poor response from the drive-by-wire system), and pulse the brakes constantly under hard driving. You can drive an S40 hard, but neither it nor you will enjoy the experience. Contrast this to the 9-2X, which has a sweet, supple, connected feel on the road. The 9-2X may be old school, but it is a driver's car.

Oh, and on the safety front, MT is full of it. The S40 recently earned an "acceptable" side impact rating -- hardly super-safe. The Forester (which shares the Saab's side air bag system) earned the highest rating of "good".

S.

[NineThreer]

I've driven both versions of the 9-2X, and the S40 T5. I myself own two 9-3's and a Volvo V70. If I had to lay down $30+ k for either a 9-2X or a V50, the Volvo would be the obvious choice, mainly for one reason. It's much more of a Volvo than the 9-2X is a Saab. Driving the 9-2X was a very, very disappointing experience - I was going to get one as a third car but then I just got my second SS simply because I realized it was a much better car. The V50/S40 may not be as sporty as the 9-2X, but in terms of quality and bang for the buck, it wins hands down. To anyone who's into cars, at first glance the 9-2X looks very strange in that the Subaru lines just scream at you - the door handles are painful to look at when coupled with a Saab badge, the same can be said about the interior. And the hood scoop? A Saab with a hood scoop? Sorry, but that's just wrong. The Volvo on other hand looks very much like Volvo's other cars and is in sync with its styling trend. The upcoming 9-3X will be the ultimate Saab wagon - hopefully the 9-2X will make some money and then disappear or get re-incarnated as a true Saab.