Alex Robbins is contributing editor at Telegraph Cars where, as well as responding to readers’ queries, he also contributes reviews of new and used cars, together with articles on buying and selling. 

His knowledge of the used car market informs his many buying guides relating to the best buys in particular sectors, with an emphasis on value for money.  Every week he will answer your questions on buying and selling, as well as solving your car problems, whether consumer or mechanical.

Do you have a motoring dilemma you’d like our expert to solve?  For consumer and used car advice, or car faults, email CarsAdvice@telegraph.co.uk and include your subscriber number. This week’s question…

Dear Alex…

My beloved Saab 9-5 Aero HOT is to be retired and I’m in a quandary about its replacement. I’ve driven Saabs for 46 years so this is a huge step for me. I’m 73, 6’2” and get a sore back now in too low a seat. I know I can’t get the same performance as the Saab in a less thirsty, less CO2-spewing petrol motor but would like front- or four-wheel drive and an engaging driving style. I also need good ground clearance and a comparable boot. I’m attracted to Japanese cars because of their reliability but that’s all. I’m not going full electric as the infrastructure where I live is poor. How about a self-charging hybrid?

– CS

Dear CS…

As a fellow (former) Saab owner and someone with a serious soft-spot for the things, I feel your pain. Sadly, nothing has come along that quite offers the same blend of quirks and qualities that Saab used to offer in its prime, so replacing your 9-5 won’t be easy.

I have a slightly tongue-in-cheek theory that, these days, Skoda gets about as close to offering what Saab used to. No, hear me out: big front-wheel-drive hatchbacks with turbocharged petrol engines and an emphasis on comfort. You can even get them in brown. Perfect.

A Skoda Superb might therefore do the trick; in top-spec Laurin & Klement form, you also get the excellent adaptive suspension system that makes the Superb exceedingly comfy. You could opt for the 187bhp 2.0-litre turbo, which manages a reasonable 40mpg-ish on average and should do even better than that on a long run, and emits 152g/km. Or there’s the most potent 276bhp 2.0-litre turbo which gets four-wheel drive as standard, though don’t expect better than 32mpg and around 185g/km, though these figures still better your Saab’s. If you can countenance plugging in at home to charge up, there’s also the plug-in hybrid iV version, which gets you that adaptive suspension as standard.

If it’s a self-charging hybrid you want, your options are more limited, but I reckon a Lexus ES300h might fit the bill. This big saloon is often overlooked by British buyers, but it’s really quite a nice thing – effortlessly quiet and endowed with a rather lovely interior. Go for an F-Sport model and you get adaptive suspension that delivers a comfortable, well-controlled ride, too. Downsides? Well, the track-pad infotainment system is unnecessarily fiddly and, if you push it hard, the ES feels a bit soft and wallowy. It won’t be quite as fast as your Saab, either, but it is reasonably gutsy, with 175bhp, and it’ll achieve around 50mpg whether you’re on a run or bumbling around town, kicking out around 125g/km as it does so.

I reckon the most obvious choice to replace your Saab, however, also comes from Sweden. Saab may no longer exist, but Volvo’s cars still fly the flag in the automotive industry, and the latest S60 should therefore be right up your street. You can have the S60 either as a plug-in hybrid, if such a thing would work for you, or as a mild hybrid. Granted, this isn’t quite as hefty a hybrid system as the one in the Lexus, but it still helps a little with fuel economy. As a result, despite its not-inconsiderable 247bhp power output, it should still achieve 40mpg, or close to it, on average.

You’ll also get a classy interior, in common with all Volvos, and as an added bonus Volvo’s seats are some of the most comfortable in the business, so they should do your back a power of good. The question is: can you bear to switch your allegiance to Saab’s fiercest rival?

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