2005 Saab 9-2X Linear Road Test

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The Swedes have taken a page from Japan's book on auto manufacturing - literally. The new Saab 9-2X is a reworked

GM saved massive R&D expenses by arranging with Subaru to use the Impreza body, all-wheel drive system and engine for Saab's new 9-2X. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza.

Saab, whose parent company is General Motors, saved themselves massive R&D expenses by arranging with Subaru, another company in the GM "family," to use the Impreza body shell with its proven all-wheel drive running gear and gutsy flat-four engine.

In doing so, Saab acquired a strong product on which to perform a Swedish makeover of sorts, converting the Impreza's exterior styling character to resemble the rest of the Saab family, while upgrading its interior treatment to Swedish standards. The strategy of adopting the Impreza foundation makes sense to me,

The most obvious exterior design element setting the 9-2X apart from its Impreza roots is its nose, which screams "I'm a Saab". (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

as it surely will to purchasers seeking all-wheel drive capability in a compact, fuel stingy, somewhat prestigious four-door wagon.

The most obvious exterior design element setting the 9-2X apart from its Impreza roots is its nose, which screams "I'm a Saab." However, from the front doors rearward, Subaru genes dominate the look. What Saab stylists did up front is akin to a reality-TV makeover show. Too bad the creativity was all front-end loaded, so to speak, as I find the rear half of the 9-2X disappointingly similar to the Impreza.