This Turbocharged Saab 9-5 Just Went 1200+ km on One Tank—and It’s Not Even a Diesel

The Unlikely Candidate: Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi

Leon and Daniel, creators behind the DashcamDriversGermany project, are better known for documenting dashcam chaos on German roads. But this time, they decided to go full nerd mode and enter a different kind of test: a fuel economy challenge. Their weapon of choice?

A 2000s Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi equipped with a 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 250 horsepower. Hardly the car you’d expect in a hypermiling video.

With a full 70-liter tank and an emergency 5-liter canister sealed and untouched, they set off on a 17-hour drive across northern Germany, the Netherlands, and back—testing not just the car, but themselves.

 

Planning the Impossible: Setup and Strategy

Before hitting the road, they topped off the tank with E10 fuel—not the premium blends usually favored by fuel economy tests. The move was deliberate. As they stated, “everyone avoids E10, but we wanted to show that it can be efficient.”

They also employed a GPS-based tracking system, sealed the fuel cap with tamper-evident tape, and reset all onboard counters. Their route, stretching 1,212 km, was carefully plotted: from Fenne to the North Sea, through Bremen and Oldenburg, then into the Netherlands, finally looping back through Hamburg.

Key Strategy:

• Maintaining steady speeds around 80–90 km/h
• Drafting trucks with a 50-meter gap to reduce wind resistance
• Avoiding aggressive braking or acceleration

This wasn’t a theoretical lab test—it was a real-world, seat-of-the-pants challenge.

Real Conditions, Real Roads, Real Weather

One major difference between this test and traditional ones: they didn’t pick their weather.

Driving in real traffic meant:

• Tailwinds heading north helped reduce fuel use early on
• Urban congestion in the Netherlands caused delays and stop-and-go conditions
• Hot temperatures kept intake air temperatures around 27°C

Despite those variables, they maintained a consistent 5.7 L/100 km average fuel consumption—an outstanding number for a car weighing over 1,800 kg and pushing 250 horses.

Can a 250 HP Saab Really Sip Fuel?

Yes—and here’s how.

The Saab 9-5 Aero’s Trionic engine management system, which intelligently adjusts ignition timing and turbo boost, played a significant role. By maintaining engine load within a narrow efficiency band and taking full advantage of lean-burn cruising conditions, the 2.3L turbo behaved more like a diesel than a thirsty gasoline motor.

Even more surprising, they used E10 fuel—typically avoided for economy due to its lower energy content compared to Super Plus.

Technical Insights:

• ECU-adjusted ignition timing based on intake air temps
• Real-time fuel flow data from the onboard computer matched actual refill measurements
• Low rolling resistance tires at 3.1 bar pressure

This wasn’t luck. It was repeatable engineering backed by obsessive planning.

Busting the Myths: E10, Old Engines, and Performance

The video doubles as a myth-buster:

• Myth 1: Older turbocharged gasoline cars are fuel pigs.
  — Busted. This test proved otherwise.
• Myth 2: E10 is inferior for fuel economy.
  — Busted. The onboard computer showed minimal knock correction and stable combustion.
• Myth 3: You need premium fuel for maximum efficiency.
  — Not necessarily. With proper tuning and mild load, E10 performs just fine.

As Leon explains, “The idea wasn’t to baby the car. It was to see what happens when you drive smart—not slow.”

The Final Numbers: What Did They Actually Achieve?

After 1,212.8 km and 69.05 liters of E10 burned, the final calculated result was:

Real-world fuel consumption: 5.69 L/100 km (41.3 MPG US)

With only 3 km of range remaining when they reached the original gas station 17 hours later, the test ended in full circle—literally and metaphorically.

The board computer’s estimate? Surprisingly accurate.

• Avg. speed: 80 km/h
• Total drive time: nearly 17 hours
• Refueled volume: 69.05 liters

Why It Matters for the Saab Community

This test is more than a curiosity. It’s a reminder of the untapped potential in Saab’s aging fleet. The Trionic 7 and Trionic 8 ECUs weren’t just early adopters of sophisticated engine control—they still hold their own in 2025.

For owners of Saab 9-5 Aero models, it sends a clear message: Your car is still competitive.

If driven with finesse, it can outperform expectations—on the road and at the pump.

Relevant reading:

• How to Reduce the Fuel Consumption of Your Saab
• Saab TTiD Fuel Economy vs Gasoline Engines

Looking Ahead: DDG’s Take on Sustainable Driving

Leon and Daniel have plans to expand the scope of DashcamDriversGermany beyond dashcam antics. They’ve already teased upcoming content around “Realtalks” on road safety, traffic policy commentary, and sustainable driving practices.

This experiment fits perfectly into that future. It’s not just about fuel—it’s about awareness, rethinking how we drive, and proving that enthusiasm and mechanical sympathy still go hand in hand.

What’s Your Best Saab Fuel Economy Story?

There’s something inspiring about seeing a 20-year-old turbo Saab deliver fuel economy numbers that rival hybrids—without any gimmicks, tuning tricks, or lab conditions.

Now we turn it over to you: what’s the lowest fuel consumption you’ve ever achieved in your Saab?

Whether it was a cross-country trip, a mountain descent, or your own attempt at hypermiling—share your numbers and techniques in the comments.

Let’s see how far the Saab community has gone on a single tank, and what tricks you’ve learned behind the wheel.