The latest Saab 9-5 is the king pin in Saab's turnabout from near death to new company. The sleekly styled new model arrived just as General Motors sought to unload Saab and it will serve as Saab's most up to date car model until its new owners can develop a range of new products. General Motors developed the 9-5 and it therefore shares a platform and technology with other GM products like the Buick LaCrosse. Saab offers the 9-5 in the U.S. with a choice of two powertrains. Front wheel drive models equip a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, whereas the all-wheel-drive (Saab calls it XWD) models include a more powerful turbocharged six cylinder. The 9-5 includes a healthy list of standard equipment like heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and keyless operation. With prices starting at around $40,000 and ranging to $60,000, the 9-5 is priced to compete with more established models like the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and Lexus GS.

What Changed:

After a short introductory run for th 2010 model year, the 9-5 lineup expands with additional powertrain and equipment options. A 2.0l turbocharged four cylinder becomes the new base engine on front-wheel-drive models.