Sweden used to be a country that produced strikingly beautiful blondes (male and female), pretty good vodka, some really depressing movies, and ultra-safe, ultra-funky cars. Now, Sweden's a country that produces garage-rock bands by the truckload, really great vodka, and, thankfully, the same sky-high percentage of gorgeous blondes. The biggest change, though, has been in the automotive front. Volvo and Saab are still cranking out ultra-safe cars, but those cars are less wildly idiosyncratic. With the introduction of Saab's first-ever SUV, the 9-7X, those cars continue the Swedish tradition of standing out in the crowd.

The introduction of the 9-7X is a radical move for Saab. Not only is it the company's first truck, but it's a truck based on GM architecture, sharing DNA with the Chevy TrailBlazer and the GMC Envoy. Now, if you're going to share truck DNA, those are a couple of high-quality donors, but purists feared it was a signal that GM would be playing too large a role in Saab's design and direction.

GM's ultimate role in Saab's design and direction remains to be seen, but if the 9-7X is an indication of what that design and direction might be, the purists should be reassured.

Be honest, the 9-7X definitely looks like a GM SUV, but that's not a bad thing at all. The exterior lines are smooth and refined, and there's a hint or two of funk in there (the grille, for example). And on the inside, the 9-7X definitely stands apart from its American-bred kin. First and foremost, there's Saab's signature ignition placement - between the front seats, just to the right of the floor-mounted gear shifter, exactly where it's supposed to be. Non-Saab-ophiles may find this a little eccentric, but it's a nice bit of personality.

The ride is anything but eccentric. The 9-7X suspension rides nice and stiff, maybe not stiff to the point of truckiness, but stiff enough to let you know this is a vehicle than can handle a payload. An added bonus of the stiff suspension is a relative lack of body roll when cornering. A flatter turn is a safer, more controlled turn, so the 9-7X suspension gets a solid thumbs-up.

You have a choice of engines on the 9-7X, a 4.2L Vortec inline 6-cylinder, or a 5.3L Vortec V8 with displacement on demand (DOD) technology that shuts down one bank of cylinders while you're cruising for improved fuel economy. It's a tough call, but the 5.3L V8 is recommended for use as a tow vehicle. It's more expensive, and the 6-cylinder has almost as much horsepower (291 hp for the 4.2L vs. 300 hp for the 5.3L), but the DOD technology is cool, and, more importantly, the V8 provides significantly more torque and 1,000 pounds more towing capacity.

Both engines are matched with a smooth, four-speed automatic transmission. Better yet, both engines are matched with standard automatic all-wheel drive (AWD) and standard electronic stability control (ESC). The AWD even provides solid traction on slick launch ramps, something that's always appreciated. The ESC adds a level of safety above and beyond the solid ride and handling.

More to the point, the ESC - as well as the rollover sensing system and head-curtain side air bags - shows that even though Saab may be going in a new direction with the 9-7X, the company isn't leaving its lifelong commitment to safety. And even if you're not a beautiful blonde, that's something you'll appreciate.

Saab 9-7X

Engine: 4.2L inline 6-cylinder Vortec 4200
Horsepower: 291
Torque: 277 lb. ft.
Passengers: 5
Ground Clearance (min.): 7.7 inches
Cargo Capacity (max.): 80.1 cubic feet
Payload Capacity (max.): 1,230 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 5,500 lbs.
Price As Tested: $40,040 (w/4.2L Vortec)