Design Up front, the 2006 9-7X is all Saab. Viewed from the sides or rear, it’s easier to discern its GM origins. Inside, Saab has added a traditional cockpit-style dashboard, complete with Inspector Gadget dash-mounted cupholder and an ignition slot between the seats.

Oncoming traffic will recognize the 2006 9-7X as a Saab product, thanks to its attractive exterior and the familiar three-port grille and upswept headlights. Saab has eliminated any sag in its new SUV’s face by using prominent bumper creases, high-mounted headlights, and a lower air dam that, while clearly defining the underbody of the vehicle, also rises to merge aggressively with the front bumper. The trapezoidal shape of that lower air dam ties visually to the inverted trapezoidal shape of the grille, unifying the front end from top to bottom. It is a handsome vehicle.

Step to the side of the 9-7X, however, and the Saab styling cues become less obvious. Forward slanting C-pillars and black D-pillars that blend in with the rear glass are also seen on the 9-2X and 9-5 Wagon, but the smaller size of those vehicles allows such design elements to resonate with more emphasis. Side arches flare to tastefully enunciate the wheels. At the rear, clear acrylic taillight lenses integrate nicely into the bodywork. Though a boxy resemblance to Buick’s Rainier, Chevy’s TrailBlazer, GMC’s Envoy, and the now-defunct Oldsmobile Bravada is apparent in the 9-7X’s flanks and tail, we would describe the Saab as the most attractive of all.

The cockpit is where the 9-7X’s clean Scandinavian demeanor shines through. More traditionally Saab than the exterior, the smell of the 9-7X’s premium leather and the look of its fine wood and detailed overstitching are a delight to the senses, as is the green backlighting of the aircraft-inspired gauges. A driver-centric center control panel anchors dashboard contours that clearly define the front seating areas, while a four-spoke steering wheel with a trapezoidal airbag cover stands out as purely Saab – despite its basis on the tillers found in every other GM SUV. Saab even included its quirky cupholder design – like those on the 9-3 and 9-5 – to ensure the 9-7X’s credentials as a true Saab. A simple push brings it outbound, where it twists and swivels to add a third holder for beverages, along with the two cupholders incorporated into the center console. Uniquely and purely Saab is the center-mounted ignition, located on the center console between the seats.

Seat surfaces and bolstering are comfortable and the power adjustable pedals (V8 model) and front seats allow the driver to tailor a proper fit at the tilt wheel. While a third-row seat is unavailable in the Saab 9-7X, cargo space is plentiful, with over 80 cubic feet available with the rear seat folded. Land Rover, Volvo, and Mercedes all offer comparable space, while VW delivers nine fewer cubic feet and BMW trails by over 25 cubic feet.