2005 Saab 9-2X Road Test

To say the roads around Mont Tremblant, Quebec are horrible is doing them justice, but nonetheless the 9-2X Aero I was testing didn't put a wheel out of line no matter

Despite my best attempts, even with the assistance of Quebec's deplorable roads the 9-2X was unshakeable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

what physics defying maneuver I attempted. It must have been the mixture of Shiatsu and Swedish massages performed on the suspension system that did the trick, either way the car put a grin of satisfaction on my face. Its fully independent MacPherson strut front and dual link strut rear undercarriage was set up slightly on the softer side compared to that in the WRX, which is a good thing as on these roads a more rigid setup would have actually slowed us down.

A rigid body structure is a good thing, however, another reason why the 9-2X performed so well. I can't say it was without the odd squeak and rattle mind you, which seems par for the course with wagons. I'm not sure what it is about such configurations, but probably it's the added room inside that tends to respond to bumps and shakes like a mallet on a bass drum - SUVs are worse of course. As well, I think the car would feel tighter if the doors were fully framed in, but in Subaru fashion they rely only on the windows to keep their top halves in place - Saab would never engineer doors like this if it had its way designing the car from start to finish. Compared

No doubt due to the increased interior dimensions of the wagon format, the 9-2X tends to amplify the noise from bumps and shakes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

to the Subaru wagon, however, the 9-2X is thoroughly refined, with reduced interior noise the most apparent breakthrough experienced on my short drive. I expected to hear more of the raucous VW-like flat-4 that I've grown accustomed to in Subarus, but Saab has effectively exorcized any such harshness out of earshot.

It took less time to bring the car down from highway speed than to get up to it, thanks to power assisted 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes (ventilated up front) with 4-channel ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD). I hammered the brake pedal over and over as I approached corner after corner with never a complaint of hardship. Free from fade they brought me down to safe speeds with a religious fervor, or maybe that was the sound of new marketing man and copilot Lars Hygrell chanting a Swedish protection incantation or something, can't really say.