Consumer Guide's Impressions of the 2010 Saab 9-4X
The first crossover for General Motors' Swedish brand is more relevant than the SUV it replaces, especially in today's rough economy. But the 9-4X could be overshadowed by corporate siblings, and that would be bad news for struggling Saab.
What We Know About the 2010 Saab 9-4X
You know things are bad when even mighty Toyota posts double-digit sales losses, so imagine the woes of weak auto brands like Saab. General Motors' Swedish division has been struggling for years, but now it's on the ropes. U.S. sales were down over 32 percent for the first nine months of 2008 and could be over 50-percent lower by year-end versus 2007. Things are equally grim in Europe and other markets. While scary headlines and the global credit crisis get much of the blame, Saab also suffers from a limited and aging lineup. And that is not likely to change until the economy improves. Indeed, trade weekly Automotive News recently reported that all planned future Saabs have been put on hold--save one.
The exception is the 2010 Saab 9-4X, the brand's first crossover SUV. Expected to start sale by mid-2009, it takes over from the 9-7X, the retrimmed Chevrolet Trailblazer/GMC Envoy that's managed only about 5,200 yearly sales since its 2006-model debut. With market conditions now worsening by the day, the 9-4X will do well to match even that modest volume. Trouble is, it probably needs to sell twice as well for Saab just to break even. That's a huge burden for any new vehicle, especially one that will be sold in other guises. Yup, GM has slipped back into its old "badge engineering" habit, and the 9-4X is closely related to the redesigned 2010 Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox, as well as the Pontiac Torrent-replacing 2010 GMC Terrain.
Like its siblings, the 2010 Saab 9-4X is a new-design unibody wagon, a marked change from the 9-7X and its truck-style body-on-frame construction. All versions use the so-called "TE" structure combining elements of GM's Theta compact-SUV architecture, which hosts the Saturn Vue, and its Epsilon midsize-car platform (think Chevrolet Malibu). Spy photographers say the TE models are larger than Vue but smaller than the current Chevy Equinox and Cadillac SRX. Differences among the four will mainly involve styling, equipment, and, of course, pricing, with the Saab positioned between the GMC and Caddy.
Incidentally, the 9-4X will be the second non-Swedish Saab after the Ohio-built 9-7X, being sourced from GM's Ramos Arizpe, Mexico plant to get around the profit-killing effects of a weak dollar/strong Swedish kroner exchange rate. That facility will also build the redesigned SRX.
Despite sharing a basic 4-door configuration with two-row seating, the TE foursome won't be peas in a pod. The 2010 Saab 9-4X, for example, will stand apart by looking much like the recent 9-4X BioPower Concept. That means slanted versus upright rearmost roof pillars, a signature Saab face with an inverted-trapezoid grille and swept-back headlamps, and relatively big wheels, probably standard 18s. Saab cues will be evident inside, too, including the brand's usual "cheese-grater" dashboard air vents and a floor-mounted ignition switch--or perhaps a button if an optional keyless-start system materializes.
Most sources believe the 2010 Saab 9-4X and its siblings will have GM's now-familiar 3.6-liter twincam V6 with direct fuel injection and around 300 horsepower. However, there's talk of a turbocharged 4-cylinder as a Saab exclusive, depending on how gas prices trend in coming months. This would doubtless be much like the concept's 2.0-liter unit, which rates 241 horsepower when running on pure gasoline and a healthy 294 on E85 ethanol--hence the concept's "BioPower" moniker. (Most ethanol sold in America is derived from corn.) Respective torque outputs are 260 and 295 lb-ft versus 273 for the V6, making the turbo-four a viable choice for an SUV of this size and weight. It would also help confirm the 9-4X as a "real" Saab, given the brand's long experience with force-fed powerplants.
Whatever engines it offers, the 2010 Saab 9-4X should come only with a 6-speed automatic transmission featuring steering-wheel paddles for manual shifting, plus Saab's XWD all-wheel drive. XWD, already available for certain versions of Saab's 9-3 premium compact car, is a bit less sophisticated than Acura's SH-AWD and BMW's XDrive, but works in much the same way, apportioning power both front-to-rear and between the rear wheels as needed via an electronically controlled differential.
Safety is another Saab tradition, so the 2010 Saab 9-4X should include 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, an antiskid system and traction control, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, and active head restraints designed to minimize whiplash injury. Other no-cost items should also be appropriate for a brand that regards itself as premium. That implies full power assists, leather upholstery, upscale trim--probably wood, aluminum, or some combination--and things like heated front seats, rear-obstacle detection, steering-linked xenon headlamps, and dual-zone automatic climate control. GM OnStar assistance should be standard, too, and perhaps satellite radio. Likely options include a navigation system with rearview camera, a power liftgate, front-seat cooling, and a Sport Package with firmer suspension, larger wheels, and performance tires.
In all, the 2010 Saab 9-4X shapes up as a more modern and relevant proposition than the 9-7X it replaces. But though Saab fans are a loyal and enthusiastic bunch, there aren't enough of them to insure sales success in the crowded crossover segment. Lower name recognition and relatively few dealers don't help. Which means the 9-4X will have to be a strong "conquest" seller, convincing people to take the plunge instead of buying a competitive model, and that's something no Saab has done before. Still, if any product could get this beleaguered brand back on track, the 9-4X is it. We'll know soon enough how well it plays.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 Saab 9-4X
A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, if it materializes, would make the 2010 Saab 9-4X unique among premium midsize SUVs and would be a major selling point if gas prices start going up again. We've also heard talk of a gas/electric option being added sometime later on. One prospect there is a "mild hybrid" system that only assists the engine, as in the Saturn Vue Hybrid, but GM could just as easily use its more-sophisticated Two-Mode system that allows driving on electricity alone, especially as a Two-Mode Vue is due by 2009. Diesel power is another possibility, as the European-market 9-4X will be available with a new 2.9-liter turbodiesel V6 developed by GM and Italy's VM Motori. With a reported 250 horsepower and a stout 406 lb-ft of torque, the "oil burner" would make the 9-4X one of the more-capable class towing vehicles. It would also lend a "green" aura appropriate for Saab, given that diesels get up to 30 percent better fuel economy with lower carbon emissions than comparable gasoline engines. No word yet on whether the diesel will come Stateside, but a number of sources seem to think it will. Stay tuned.
Buying Advice for the 2010 Saab 9-4X
Demand for crossover SUVs has soared in recent years, and it remains reasonably strong despite today's turbulent economy. That's one reason GM is issuing so many TE models and positioning two of them--the 2010 Saab 9-4X and redesigned Cadillac SRX--as higher-profit premium midsize SUVs. As other manufacturers weigh in with new and/or redesigned contenders, the 9-4X will face even more competition than the old 9-7X did. Heading the list of must-see alternatives are the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, and perennial favorite Lexus RX, all Consumer Guide Best Buy picks for 2009. The Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class get our Recommended nod. Buyers should also be aware of upcoming newbies, such as the 2010 Lincoln MKT, Volvo's XC60, and a possible second Lexus crossover based on parent Toyota's new Venza "SUV sedan."
With so many models vying for attention, we think the 9-4X will start sale with a deal-sweetener or two, most likely an extended warranty, free maintenance, and/or cash rebates. The credit squeeze on "captive" finance companies like GMAC suggests low-rate financing will be less available than in the past. The same goes for lease offers, though some Saab retailers will doubtless find ways to accommodate their lease customers.
2010 Saab 9-4X Release Date: There's nothing official yet, but the 9-4X should start sale by the summer or early fall of 2009, assuming no last-minute delays from new major financial setbacks at GM. Look for a public debut as early as the November 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show and no later than the April 2009 New York Auto Show.
2010 Saab 9-4X First Test Drive: Assuming the above timing proves out, media previews would be held in late spring or early summer of 2009.
2010 Saab 9-4X Prices: Automakers are suffering mightily to survive the current economic hurricane; so all bets are off when it comes to vehicle pricing and even availability. That said, we'd guess the 2010 Saab 9-4X will cost roughly the same as the departing 9-7X, which was less sophisticated but undoubtedly cheaper to make. That implies sticker prices ranging from just under $40,000 to around $47,000, though they could be a thousand or two less, owing to the lower-wage Mexico sourcing.
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