Few believed they’d ever see a brand-new Saab in 2025. Yet, that’s exactly what surfaced in Sweden this October: chassis number 001, the very first Saab 9-4X ever built – untouched since 2011, showing just 469 kilometers (291 miles) on its odometer.
Estimated between 450,000 and 500,000 SEK (≈ $40,000–45,000 USD), this time capsule stunned collectors when bidding skyrocketed to 800,000 SEK, or about $70,000 USD (€65,000). The result nearly doubled expectations, signaling not just collector enthusiasm, but the enduring heartbeat of the Saab legacy.
As Bilweb Auctions noted: “No one ever imagined buying a factory-new Saab in 2025 — but here it is.”
When new, the Saab 9-4X cost about the same
Back in 2011, when Saab was still fighting for its future, the 9-4X represented its bold entry into the premium crossover segment – aimed directly at the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Volvo XC60.
Pricing then depended heavily on the market. In the United States, the 9-4X Aero XWD started at $48,835 USD, according to Saab’s official data. Most buyers left the showroom around $49,000–$50,000 USD, fully equipped.
In Europe, things looked different: once import duties and VAT were factored in, the same model reached prices between €70,000 and €90,000 (roughly $98,000–$125,000 USD in 2011). Saab had always been a niche brand in Europe, and its pricing reflected exclusivity more than volume strategy.
So the 2025 auction price of $70,000 USD effectively brings the first 9-4X full circle – worth today what a new one cost fourteen years ago.
Steven Wade: The insider who documented Saab’s final SUV
In July 2011, Steven Wade, known globally to Saab fans as Swade, wrote one of the most insightful analyses of the 9-4X’s value proposition. Wade had been writing about Saab since 2005, running the legendary blogs Trollhattan Saab and Saabs United, before being hired by Saab itself as its official company blogger under the Inside Saab project.
When he reviewed the 9-4X, he noticed something that surprised even him:
“Just about everything on the car was standard,” Wade wrote. “Power tailgate, XWD system, navigation, HDD music system with iPod connectivity, DriveSense — you name it, it’s included.”
To put Saab’s offering in context, he compared it with competitors on the U.S. market:
| Model | Base Price (USD) | Equipped Price (USD) |
| Saab 9-4X Aero XWD | $48,010 | $49,460 |
| BMW X3 xDrive35i | $41,050 | $54,075 |
| Audi Q5 3.2 Prestige | $50,100 | $57,050 |
| Volvo XC60 T6 AWD | $38,950 | $50,095 |
Even with generous standard equipment, the Saab 9-4X remained thousands cheaper than its German rivals. Wade concluded that Saab had created a true luxury SUV “without holding anything back.”
The American press agreed: a true Saab beneath the GM shell
That same year, Car and Driver tested the 2011 Saab 9-4X Aero XWD, praising its refinement and dynamics. Despite being built on GM’s Theta Premium platform (shared with the Cadillac SRX), the publication found the 9-4X “noticeably more European in feel.”
“The 9-4X drives like a Saab should — stable, confident, and comfortable at high speeds,” the magazine wrote. “It’s more of a grand tourer than an off-roader, but that suits Saab’s identity perfectly.”
They also noted Saab’s attention to detail – from the iconic “Night Panel” dashboard and aircraft-inspired instruments to its balanced chassis tuning.
Base pricing in the U.S. ranged from $34,205 for the 3.0 Premium to $48,835 for the Aero XWD, with options like a panoramic moonroof and rear entertainment package being the only extras.
A collector’s price that speaks louder than nostalgia
Fast forward to 2025, and the auction of chassis number 001 has proven what enthusiasts always claimed: Saabs may leave production lines, but they never leave hearts.
The $70,000 USD sale price doesn’t merely represent collector interest – it’s a symbolic return of value. It shows that Saab’s craftsmanship, restraint, and authenticity continue to command respect in an age of generic design and software-defined vehicles.
Even after 14 years, a car that once competed with BMWs and Audis still stirs emotions — and outperforms expectations.
From Trollhättan to timeless relevance
The first Saab 9-4X was built in GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, but its soul was unmistakably Swedish. Designed in Trollhättan by Saab’s own team under the guidance of Simon Padian, it carried the Aero X design DNA – the wraparound windshield, ice-block headlights, and driver-focused cockpit.
Today, that spirit has been rewarded. As the Bilweb Auctions representative remarked after the hammer fell: “This was not just a sale. It was a celebration of Saab’s enduring spirit.”
For collectors and fans alike, the sale of Saab 9-4X Chassis No. 001 serves as proof that Saab’s final chapter still has pages left to turn.
How i dislike GM for screwing SAAB up they did everything to destroy the company, and what sucks the most is that they had new cars on the way too