Saabs were built from the very early on to include crush zones, engines that move down and away, and strengthened roll cages integrated into the design.

Most cars have these features going back decades as well, but Saabs, Volvos and Mercedes in particular have stronger structures, designed to crush in a controlled progressive fashion.

Saabs have featured carefully shaped and padded interiors since at least the C900 days, and the 9000 got seatbelt pretensioners even before the airbag days.

In essence, it's a matter of execution and priorities. Saab wasn't about to compromise on safety for the sake of fuel efficiency, low cost, or size constraints. Their customers were happy to pay for these features; Subaru's customers, not so much. In the intervening years, with the advent of computer aided design, other makers have made up ground on the structural elements, and of course airbags have become commonplace, all these advancements becoming less expensive to deliver.

Very little can be said to separate modern Saabs from modern Subarus, Toyotas, whatever, these days -- though the Saabs would still get the nod in strength and crashworthiness. But in the 9000s you would be a good deal better off in an accident than competing products of the equivalent model years.

With or without airbags, Saabs have high-strength structures and better than average safety cage integrity. Little besides the number of airbags differentiates the 9000s over the years. And of course, all these features and more exist in the new cars, with a good many enhancements as well.

posted by 155.212.49...

• Question of judgment, Chris L, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 10:47:17
  • Thanks, everybody, Chris L, Tue, 15 Feb 2005 06:27:11
  • Re: Question of judgment, No Snaab, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 16:42:52
    • Re: Question of judgment, DickT , Tue, 15 Feb 2005 04:48:00
      • I agree, No Snaab, Tue, 15 Feb 2005 11:10:58
  • of judgment, Andrew , Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:17:50
    • Who's being misled and about what?, Bob, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 13:13:22
    • Categorically untrue...., David Ingram, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:49:53
      • OK...OK...lost it there for a minute...., David Ingram, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:11:21
        • the 9000 is a very safe car, but....., andrew , Mon, 14 Feb 2005 19:58:12
          • Re: the 9000 is a very safe car, but....., Deanna, Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:58:38
          • Um. OK., David Ingram, Tue, 15 Feb 2005 06:55:45
            • Re: Um. OK., andrew , Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:10:14
          • Heh, that story is actually a testament to the safety, AdamB , Tue, 15 Feb 2005 02:54:55
        • Re: OK...OK...lost it there for a minute...., Mark Sinclair, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:29:16
          • Safety features not really the issue, Erik, Tue, 15 Feb 2005 07:42:42
          • Structure....., David Ingram, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:43:57 <-- Viewing This Message
  • A few questions..., Noel, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 11:08:46
    • 80+, Wingerr, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:53:47
      • Real good points. Some 80+ people are fine, Noel, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:52:43
  • Good safety...., David Ingram, Mon, 14 Feb 2005 10:58:54

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