LA Auto Show: Saab 9-4X

by Alex L. Dykes

Published: November 18th, 2010

The LA Auto Show was our first opportunity to get out hands on the new Saab 9-4x. Since the 9-4x is mostly a re-skinned Cadillac SRX, the Saab should offer similar driving dynamics, especially from the turbo V6 model. The interior is certainly a step in the right direction for this downtrodden Swede, but does seem like long-term exposure might make one weary of the acres of black plastic inside. While all the materials feel fairly premium, I’m not sure I care for the style of the center console where there are a heap of small buttons and a small nav screen in a sea of flat black plastic. Models without the Nav system get a much smaller screen with more plastic and some small buttons. Aside from this quibble the interior and interior are well sorted. Still, it will remain to be seen if the 9-4x can score any success in American markets with the extremely well executed Q5 and XC60 already in play not to mention the redesigned X3 on its way to our shores.

#Design #LAAutoShow #NewCars

Alex L. Dykes

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Contrarian on Nov 19, 2010

Interiors by IKEA.

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Ashy Larry on Nov 19, 2010

Not really feeling the 2-tone paint scheme. Makes it look like a 1st gen Lexus RX300. The interior also looks really dour -- Audi can pull off an all-dark interior with some panache, but Saab appears not to have mastered that. It's almost irrelevant, though. Saab is not going to make it; this car will be orphaned very soon.

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