BAIC's Senova sedan is basically a reincarnation of the 9-5.

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It may not wear a Saab badge, but BAIC's Senova sedan is basically a reincarnation of the 9-5. Just don't call it the undead ...

Back in 2009, a cash-strapped General Motors sold the intellectual property for the old Saab 9-5 and 9-3, along with the 2.0- and 2.3-litre turbo petrol engines, to BAIC.

BAIC is a Chinese-state owned behemoth and joint venture partner to Hyundai and Daimler Benz (Mercedes' parent company). BAIC is looking to expand outside of China, though, and the company has advised it has already set up a group for sales in Australia. Watch this space for more on that.

The Senova sedan we're testing is the ghost of the old 9-5 - but apart from some echoes around the rear window pillar, it is largely unrecognisable in terms of styling.
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What it is, however, is a sleek, slightly sporty looking sedan which is well put together.

Equipment levels can't be faulted, with the model we tested boasting many of the features you would expect from premium brands.

The leather seats have both heating and ventilation - not that the latter seems very effective - and there is an electric rear blind, plus blind spot warning indicators on the mirrors. The touchscreen infotainment system with reversing camera is coupled to a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Materials, however, are not up to standard. The soft plastics on the upper dash are acceptable but by the time you reach the centre console the surfaces are on the cheap side. The door pockets are flimsy, too.

Saab fans will be pleased to find the Start/Stop button located on the central console along with the Night Panel switch for dimming the instruments - two of the Swedish brand's trademark touches. Also carried over are the active head restraints. Safety - for once on a Chinese car - seems to have been considered, with full-length curtain airbags fitted.

Despite the company spending up big with a Fast and Furious-style promotional campaign featuring Hollywood action star Nicolas Cage, the Senova simply fails to deliver on the road. The sporty looks which are accentuated by red-stitched upholstery are not matched by the engine’s performance. It is perhaps not surprising as both the engine and platform are more than 15 years old.

Our 2.0-litre turbo version fails to excite, even when using the paddle shifts or Sports mode. It's further hampered by the five-speed automatic gearbox.

On the positive side, the steering is well weighted and inspires confidence. Despite the age of the car's underpinnings, the Senova's handling is reasonable but hardly class leading. It is sure-footed and there is limited body roll. The suspension is not overly soft but does cushion most of the bumps of Chinese road surfaces.

The Senova packs a lot of equipment in an attractive package but it rests too much on the old Saab technology for it to currently compete on anything but price. In its home country, it starts at RMB 149,800 and go up to 215,800 ($26,500 to $38,000).
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