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Thanks to Nate for passing this one on….
I’ve written a fair bit in the past about frustrating road tests, and this road test of the Saab Turbo X SportCombi is a classic example. The test comes from Edmunds in the US and you’d think with a “pros” list like this, that they’d really love the car:
Excellent handling, precise steering, all-wheel-drive security, comfortable seats, easy-to-use interior controls, loads of cargo space, funky Saab character.
Well, you’d think so, but Edmunds find themselves only able to recommend it to die-hard Saab nuts who want the latest, or as they put it:
we could only recommend it to a guy named Sven who has two kids and lives at the top of Latigo Canyon Road.
They point out that the Turbo X is a limited edition and therefore, that their review has a very limited shelf life. They should be aware, however, that the 2009 Saab 9-3 XWD Aero is going to be a very similar package, so Saab can have stupidity like this to look forward to for the next few years from Edmunds.
Their “Cons” list is as follows:
Hilariously overpriced, disappointing gas mileage, droning exhaust note, inadequate cupholders, some chintzy interior bits, tight backseat.
They’ve gone overboard with the superlatives when it comes to pricing (if they were in Australia, I’d agree), are subjective when it comes to the exhaust note (I’ve heard from many actual owners who love it) and no car should ever be measured by its cupholders.
The point here: That “pros” list vastly outweighs the “cons” list and it’s just blatantly unfair that they’d give it an unfavourable opinion when there’s so much going for the car. If they were objective about it, they’d see that.
The do have some valid points, however.
Criticisms about cupholders are OK as addendums that don’t form opinions, but Edmunds are right to critique the interior materials as they have.
Although its materials aren’t bad, the 9-3’s cabin quality is far from worthy of its inflated sticker. Perhaps at $36,000 we wouldn’t be complaining, given the Turbo X’s performance capabilities and utility.
There’s actually a lot of great high points in this review. When it comes to what cars are actually made for – driving – the Turbo X excels and provides the exact impression that Saab were looking for.
It does fall short in some areas, but not to the extent that Edmunds claims. It’s OK to find some shortcomings in a car, but they should have been more objective about writing them up.
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24 responses so far ↓
1 Tom
// Sep 6, 2008 at 3:23 am
With regards to the interior, cup holders and fuel consumption….i have to say they’re right. But no, it’s surely not enough to counter all the good things they mention.
But all this talk of interiors is quite timely… I nearly stuffed my MY05 9-3 into a field the other evening trying to find the nightpanel button which, in a stroke of ergonomic genius, is hidden from sight behind the steering wheel. My passenger wasn’t able to do it for me because at the time she was trying to adjust the dual zone climate control, but struggling to do so as you can’t see the temperature guage behind the bottom of the cup holder when it’s in use. And oh yes…cup holders. You mean the ones that sag & bend under the weight of any kind of vessel carrying more than a thimbleful of liquid? Ah yes, those.
Now then, i’m sure the Turbo X interior is nice relatively speaking compared to the rest of the 9-3 line up. Let’s be honest though – neither the current 9-5 nor 9-3 interiors are anything like as well designed as the original saab layout. Surely the MY02 9-5 was the finest thus far?
Don’t get me wrong, i love saab individuality, am insanely looking forward to a 9-3 Aero XWD TTid, but unless saab sort the “upmarketness” of their interiors out there will always be part of me that thinks i’m missing out by not going german. There, i said it. An interior should feel solid and well put together. and with the price of aero spec vehicles, it should feel rather special indeed. Problem is, compared to the competition out there – saab interiors don’t.
Has that set you up nicely for the interior forum post then Swade?!!!?
2 J
// Sep 6, 2008 at 3:50 am
Sports/sporty cars should have an exhaust note.
Might as well drive an electric car if you don’t want to hear
the car.
3 James
// Sep 6, 2008 at 4:20 am
I think one of the problems with the cupholders is that they are too damn clever. I’ve seen passengers get in my 9-5 and play endlessly with its cupholder, fascinated by how it works.
They are brillaint designs.
The problem is that all the attention on their design means a lot of attention on their weaknesses as well…the perception of fragility, their size and the fact that there’s only one in the front. It becomes too easy for someone to walk away from the car thinking about its cup holders. (I might add that I have seen reviews talk about the console ignition similarly.)
4 Kroum
// Sep 6, 2008 at 5:03 am
To be honest, I am sick of reading reviews and road test, be it of Saabs or other brands. You could rarely find a good, unbiased account of the car reviewed. It always, always comes down to the writer’s personal taste and opinion.
Journalism as a profession has never been known for its objectivism, but (Swade, please do not be offended!) the blogification of the industry has completely ruined it. Blogs were always meant to express a personal viewpoint. Blogs /= objectivism.
Meanwhile, the magazines proper of yore have gone to shit, too. They now serve as brochures to their biggest advertisers, and their “articles” are little more than comparison ads. It is all entertaining, but at the end of the day I cannot take it seriously.
5 bryan
// Sep 6, 2008 at 6:34 am
Speaking of Turbo X, does anyone know how to program the custom SID message??
6 joemama
// Sep 6, 2008 at 7:26 am
No offense to people here, but it’s not fair to complain about a review that is not 100% positive. Why? Because there aren’t many cars that are perfect. And just because you like a car doesn’t mean others have to.
While I agree with Swade regarding the cupholder judgements, the car is overpriced, gas mileage isn’t the greatest, and the interior quality doesn’t meet the car’s price tag.
I think we have to take the good with the bad. After al, that’s how we make things better!
7 Adam
// Sep 6, 2008 at 7:44 am
I don’t find it puzzling. I think the overpriced con pretty much wipes out the pros. That is, the author is saying between the lines is that versus cars generally it has nice features, but relative to cars at that price (which of course is what really matters) in his opinion it’s unremarkable.
To me this is more proof that Saabs need lower list prices rather than eye-catching rebates.
8 Kroum
// Sep 6, 2008 at 8:21 am
I had an entertaining thought: Swade reviewing a Cadillac BLS.
9 SaabLance
// Sep 6, 2008 at 8:40 am
First off anyone who reviews a car like the Turbo-X and even makes mention of the number of cupholders or complains about the exhaust note immediately loses any and all credibility….PERIOD!
10 Ken B
// Sep 6, 2008 at 9:05 am
Fine, if someone has to be the public face of TurboX Exhaust-Note Haters United for Tranquility (TEN-HUT), let it be me. I have a Turbo X sedan and I hate the exhaust note. It’s too loud when starting the car. It’s too loud when operating the car between 2000-2500 RPM. It’s too loud period.
Why can’t I have a performance exhaust note as understated as Saab’s recent sales performance? Indeed, maybe the Turbo X exhaust note is the sole cause of Saab’s declining sales for the past 10 years! (I’m sure that Farago will back me up on this claim.)
I will pay real money (well, it’s not real to those in the Euro zone — it’s U.S. dollars) to quiet my Turbo X. I’ve asked the dealer and been told that the car is working as it was designed. I say that the design was wrong. Whatever happened to the customer is always right???
Please, for the sake of TEN-HUT members everywhere, Saab, give us — or sell us — a way to bring quiet back to the Saab driving experience. Our members don’t want the Ultimate Decibel Machine, they want a Saab.
Sincerely,
Ken B,
Founding President,
TEN-HUT
P.S. But in all seriousness, the car is too loud. Is there a way to muffle it further?
11 BrianL
// Sep 6, 2008 at 9:51 am
Ken B,
As soon as the 09 Aero XWDs with 280hp hit the market, there is sure to be a happy new SAAB owner would would be more than happy to trade exhausts with you. All you’ll have to pay for is the labor for swapping it out and re-welding on your trapezoidal exhaust tips back on.
12 Beren Erchamion
// Sep 6, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I’m with Kroum – professional reviewers are of only limited value. Ed,unds is pretty good, but their best features are the pricing and specs stuff plus reader opinions.
13 Beren Erchamion
// Sep 6, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Hey Ken,
Why did you buy the car then? You’ve got no excuse since its all people could talk about…there was even audio clips online so you could hear it.
Any decent mod shop could replace your exhaust with something…you could probably fit an 08 Acura TLS exhaust on the X.
I think the cupholders are ok – the part that is cheap is the sunroof control. What a piece of junk. I drive with it open every day I can so I’m worried that one day it will just fall off.
14 zippy
// Sep 6, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Ken B, I have a lovely 2004 9-3 Arc with a great exhaust note that you can have if you dont want your Turbo X?
Kroum makes a valid point. These road tests are done by professional drivers who ‘mistreat’ a car on a single afternoon testdrive in the knowledge that if something goes wrong they arent gonna have to foot the bill to pay for their reckless behavior. Your average driver s going to treat their ‘toy’ will a little more respect and really dont care that the car can do 0-60mph in 7 seconds or hit 150mph. I love my car – its the turbo thing – but I never take the revs over 4000rpm as I realise the more I pamper my car the longer it will last.
15 Joel
// Sep 6, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I hate Edmunds so much. I disregard any of their brain-dead reviews
16 Joe Lobo
// Sep 6, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Well guys I can now submit comments with a degree of assertion as I am driving one. Still scared to push but amazed by the engineering end result of this car. I would refute the fuel consumption as being poor unless you are clearly pushing it hard. The car has so much torque that in city conditions they may as well remove 1st gear and make 2nd gear the one to take off. The car is simply to stable and with so much traction that you don’t need to push more than 3 mm or so on the accelerator to feel the punch otherwise your petrol costs are going to be miniscule compared to the fines you’ll be clocking.
17 Francoism
// Sep 6, 2008 at 11:24 pm
My Volvo S4o T5 had worst cup holders than my new Turbo X. I’m actually glad that my car can’t accommodate giant “Big Slurpees” and other oversized drinks. If you want a 2L coffee mug: get a Ford Expedition.
18 Ken B
// Sep 7, 2008 at 12:55 am
BrianL, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Aero XWD to see how it sounds. If it’s quiet, I may approach the dealer again about a fix.
Beren, I heard those audio clips, but I swear that it’s louder on the inside than the outside.
Zippy, no trades — I may hate the noise and the gas mileage, but I love the ride. I’m pretty sure that some of my mileage deficiency is due to how much fun I had at the TurboX Driving Academy and my daily attempts to replicate it on the way to work and back.
19 SaabLance
// Sep 7, 2008 at 6:48 am
Second and third points on this and most other Turbo-X reviews:Why are almost all of these reviews being done on Auto.Trans.equipped models.I’ve driven both AT and Man. equipped and the manual trans.smokes the automatic (0-60 in 7.4…are you kidding me?!?!?).And then to make matters worse they feel compelled apparently to use the steering wheel mounted shift paddles.Believe me when I say that the shift lag they always comment on is NOT there when you become adept at “flicking” the shifter when in the sentronic gate.I base that on 3 years in a 2.0T Vector and the last 4 months driving a 2.8 Aero.
20 Beren Erchamion
// Sep 7, 2008 at 11:29 am
Good luck on the change Ken – to each his own. I love the sound, but I would be shocked if a decent shop couldn’t set you up with something silent and silky.
I’ll never forget when I first heard the car…I almost cried
Grrrr…
21 Barry
// Sep 7, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Well having owned my Turbo X std sedan now for 3+ months, I can truly talk about a few things I don’t like about it. Or I could write 20 pages of what I love …
Exhaust note: don’t LOVE it in the infamous zone, especially when the windows are all closed, or all open. When just the fronts are open, it seems to be cancelled out enough. I don’t mind loud, it’s just the frequencies in this case are boomy. I wish it were a little more raspy. Would I change it ? I’ld rather spend the money on some Advil and save the change for the BSR stage 1 (coming soon because I like torque below 2000 RPM ).
Cup holders … I’m too busy having fun driving the car to be drinking anything .. no seriously, I actually liked the cup holder from my 9-5 better but this one is OK not great. The console cup holder actually works better for me.
Rattles: Only one Im looking into; it seems the plastic trip on the inside lip of the sunroof surround crackles a bit when driving on hot days (and maybe cold ones too). Are there any other rattles ? Not yet.
Gas mileage: If I PLAY, I PAY, 22 MPG here in the USA. If I’m careful, 26. If I’m frugal, 29. Yep it’s possible. I don’t live in the city. Wouldn’t want a car like this living or commuting in the city. Mostly back roads and highways.
Ergonomics: Only two that bug me. 1) I seem to brush my butt against the seat memory buttons when I get out so I wind up pressing my wife’s program. OUCH. I replicated my program to all buttons
. 2) The driver window switches are too far back and my elboe bangs in the side bolsters … I suppose if I was 50 lbs lighter it wouldnt be an issue but so is life.
Price: I knew it would be a little high. I accepted it to some degree after accepting theover elevated price of the V6 compared to the 4cyl in general. Compared to the competition ? Well maybe they can’t touch Japan, but the BMW 335xi with ALL the options the SAAB has, costs at least 6K more in the USA. And I did manage to get a June extra rebate from GM that took an additional $3500 off. Is it right to over price and rebate ? NO.
Barry
22 Kroum
// Sep 7, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Ken, it’s beyond me how you don’t like the exhaust note.
I dread the oncoming winter just because I won’t be able to drive with my windows down. Looney Tunes!
23 Dippen
// Sep 7, 2008 at 7:48 pm
2008 Saab Turbo X XWD: Still A Jet At Heart
http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/kyleskars/2008_Saab_Turbo_X_XWD_Still_a_Jet_at_Heart.php
24 uncle fester
// Sep 13, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I’ve had my TurboX for two months now and I agree with Barry:
– My butt would hit the seat memory buttons on the way in/out of the car, so I just programmed all of them to be the same
– I have the annoying sunroof rattle on hotter days. It is actually very annoying. Now that fall is coming and days are cooler, my car is nice and quiet. There were significant improvements to ride noise/interior quality from my MY2006 9-3. This car rides very quietly and solidly.
– I like the exhaust note. I agree that it could be less boomy, but I particularly like the exhaust note at start-up.
– I agree with the Edmunds reviewer – the stereo sounds great when listening to a CD (or iPod), but is mediocre when listening to XM or the radio.
– Cup Holders? For me, the center console cup holder is adequate. No complaints.
– I really enjoy driving the car in Sport mode (I have an automatic). Makes the car much more zippy. To get the most out of this engine (particularly the way they tuned it), you need to be in the 3000+ RPM range – if you stay here, the car pulls and pulls.
I don’t like Saab/GM’s practice of high sticker/high discount pricing, but at the end of the day, I too received a nice chunk off the sticker price. At the end of the day, one needs to be happy with the car that they bought for the price they bought it at. I am happy with the car for the price I paid. A similarly equipped 328xi would have been 20% more expensive (similarly equipped is almost $49k), less powerful (no turbo butt-torque) and much blander in styling. No doubt the BMW is a nice car with a great ride, but I will take my unique Turbo X any day over the BMW for $40k.