Saab appears to have emerged if not stronger then only mildly traumatised from the collapse of General Motors and its subsequent sale to Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker. The Swedish car maker would prefer us to think of it as an emboldened independent upstart rather than a doomed cast-off like Rover.
Things are looking fairly optimistic - freed of the GM bean counters the firm can return to its idiosyncratic best, and there certainly doesn't seem to be a lack of cash with the European Central Bank offering a loan and the Swedish government eager to lend a hand where it can.
The 9-5 is a desperately-needed new car for the brand, the previous 9-5 having been around for a whopping 13 years, but it is not yet the new dawn that Saab fans will be looking for. It was wholly developed under GM, using the Vauxhall Insignia's platform as a basis. If that car is anything to go by then the 9-5 will be capable but slightly dull. At least the supply of parts of the car is guaranteed and Saab can get back on with the grubby business of selling automobiles.
The 9-5 is a mildly attractive, if fairly massive, take on traditional Saab design cues. It is distinctive enough to stick out from the German premium crowd, which is a bonus, but with Saab's upmarket ideas the interior is something of a disappointment. It is comfortable and incredibly spacious inside with room for five and a large boot, but the plastics aren't up to the luxurious standard of anything you'll find from Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Even fellow Swede Volvo manages to outpoint Saab here.
The Saab's handling is reasonable considering its huge bulk, and the engineers have managed to give it a character separate to the Insignia. However neither handling nor ride approach the standards of its German rivals.
We enjoyed the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol units the best out of the 9-5's respectable range of engines - Saab is most at home sticking turbos on petrol engines and none of that expertise has been lost under GM. The jury is out on whether residual values will plummet like General Motors shares, but for the moment the 9-5 is a first step towards rehabilitation for the Swedish stalwart.