The Saab 9-5 will turn a decade old come the middle of this year and it's definitely not a celebratory milestone. The car very desperately needs a successor, but instead of building an all-new replacement, Saab has given it a third facelift.

Normally, a car's average life expectancy ranges from six to seven years and a Saab insider told us in the early part of last year that a completely new 9-5 was most likely going to be introduced some time this year. Disappointingly, though, this hasn't happened.

But it's not all gloom, though. Unlike the last 9-5 Aero, the latest version receives some nips and tucks in addition to botox shots. Mainly, the suspension has been revised to cope with the extra power of the newly-developed turbocharged engine. The car's also got stiffer spring and dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, a lower ride height and a wider set of 17-inch alloys.

All the body panels ahead of the A-pillars have been completely redesigned and there's a different rear end, too. Influenced by the 9X concept car, the new front headlamps and grille are ringed in thick chrome, while the bumper sports neat-looking air intakes and foglamps. At the rear, the resculpted bumper is supposed to improve the vehicle's aerodynamics and the new brake lights give the car a more contemporary feel.

You can expect forthcoming Saabs to have similar faces and be sportier to drive, too.

DRIVING IT

The Aero variant we drove has the same turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder as before except that the unit pumps out 10bhp more, which makes for a total of 260bhp. Frankly, that's a lot of power for a front-wheel drive car. So expect plenty of torque-steer when accelerating hard and frequent unaccounted-for front-wheel spin.

What impresses us, however, is that although the Aero uses a large turbocharger, we hardly felt any turbo-lag when launching from standstill and the gutsy mid-range pull seems endless. It seriously makes you think you could overtake a rocket with it.

And as a powerplant, this potent unit is smooth and revvy, and we like the rather hushed sporty engine note also.

The five-speed automatic gearbox shifts flawlessly and it allows manual gearchanges via small paddles on the steering wheel. Too bad the shift response is a little slow in do-it-yourself mode.

Although the suspension has been tweaked for better handling, it's still comfort biased, providing the passengers with a plush ride. Body-roll is inevitable, but the Continental SportContact2 tyres provide a colossal amount of grip.

Braking power is better than before thanks to the larger discs and more powerful callipers, although we think the pedal action could be less mushy.

INSIDE IT

The dashboard is classier looking than before, with new stereo controls, rotary dials for the air-conditioning, a three-spoke steering wheel and silver metallic-look panels. The front leather bucket seats keep you securely in place during hard cornering and they also provide great comfort during long hauls.

Like the old car, though, the plastics are of so-so standard and there's room for improvement in terms of build quality. In the rear, the leg and shoulder room is reasonable, but the boot is both cavernous and usefully shaped.

On the practical side of things, the car has storage pockets in all the doors, air-con vents for the rear passengers, powered front seats, auto dimming mirrors, rain activated wipers, parking sensors, electric folding mirrors and a chilled glove box.

Dollars and Sense

Priced at $180,888 with COE, the 9-5 Aero comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, a full body kit, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), Bi-Xenon headlamps, steering wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, a multi-function computer, electric front seats with driver's side memory and dual-zone climate control.

VERDICT

The suspension and engine tweaks have made the 9-5 Aero a different enough animal from its predecessor. It's significantly gutsier than before and handles more confidently around the bends. The dashboard is more expensive looking also, but the cabin materials and build quality should be better for a car this price.

True, Saab has done a good job in making this final (hopefully) facelift version a better car than the old model. But at the end of the day, what Saab needs, and needs badly, is an all-new replacement if it wants to attract more buyers.

NEED TO KNOW

Model Saab 9-5 Aero
Engine Type 2290cc 16V in-line 4
Max Power 260bhp at 5200rpm
Max Torque 350Nm at 1900rpm
Gearbox 5-speed automatic
Top speed 250km/h
0-100km/h 8.2 seconds
Price $180,888 with COE
Warranty 3 years/ 60,000km
CONTACT Trans Eurokars Pte Ltd, 6363-3003, 6251-6888

SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
Volvo S80 2.5T, $152,000 with COE
The S80 is more spacious and luxurious than the 9-5, but it's not as fun and colourful in character as the Saab. The S80 T6 would have been a closer competitor to the 9-5 Aero, but it's no longer offered in our market.

Lexus GS300, $178,888 with COE
The GS300 feels like a car in a different class next to the Saab 9-5 Aero, excepting their similar pricing. We like the latter's raw performance, but the former offers just about everything you could ask for in a big luxury sedan.