Darker materials, new-look instruments and a re-designed dashboard help give the 9-5 a sportier feel inside than the previous model. Care should be taken when deciding which interior trim to choose as some of the metallic finishes seems a little overdone, particularly when on the steering wheel and a grey dashboard finish in one of our test cars looked quite ugly.

The rest is classic Saab with the ignition barrel and electric window switches on the centre console ahead of the armrest/storage compartment. The build quality is good, but it lacks the true upmarket and sophisticated feel of premium makes like Audi and BMW, while the design is fairly anonymous.

Apart from class-leading ride quality, the 9-5 comes with excellent seats that support in all the right areas, allowing driver and passenger to travel long distances with ease. The rear compartment isn’t as generous as in the Audi A6, but headroom and legroom are satisfactory. Automatic climate control is standard across the range, and there is little intrusion from the engine, wind or tyre noise at speed.

High-specification models are offered with optional heated front and rear seats, as well as ventilated front seats – a feature that Saab first introduced many years ago.