Saab 9-5 And Its Drivers Top US Safety Study

Saab 9-5

The 9-5 Saloon topped the luxury midsize category for relative frequency of injury insurance claims. HLDI’s study, covering model years 2001-2003, compares cars by looking at the relative frequencies of injury compensation claims, plus the cost of injuries sustained following on-road crashes, based on insurance claims per insured vehicle year.

Both the 9-5 Saloon and Estate achieved a rating of "substantially better than average" for injury claims in their category. The 9-5 Saloon emerged top, at 53 per cent better than average, and the Estate ranked 39 per cent above average.

Saab’s real-life safety philosophy puts priority on systems and structures that help protect occupants in a real-world collision. Although Saab conducts numerous laboratory crash tests and other tests on the 9-5 - including simulated animal collisions and truck-to-car side impacts - it is real-life collisions and their infinite variables that drive Saab safety engineers and their work.

One feature that distinguishes the Saab 9-5 from its competitors is the Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR) system in the front seats. Other standard safety features include:

• Front and rear crash deformation zones that absorb energy in a controlled way
• Head thorax side airbags and dual-stage front airbags
• Three-point seatbelts on all seating positions
• Front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiter
• Side-impact door beams
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Welded steel construction/Safety cage design
• Energy-absorbing steering column
• Pedal release system