BMW 5 Series vs Saab 9-5
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The BMW 5 Series wins on money kept: 56% retained after three years vs 49%, worth about R 539 903 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| 5 Series | 9-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 1 286 731 | R 374 020 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 22 490/m | R 6 537/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 77% | 71% |
| Retained after 3 years | 56% | 49% |
| Value after 3 years | R 724 997 | R 185 094 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 561 734 | R 188 926 |
| Value after 5 years | R 515 249 | R 131 381 |
| Our tier | Premium (established) | Orphan & discontinued |
BMW 5 Series →
A long-running executive staple, the 5 Series has been sold new in South Africa across every generation since the mid-1990s. The 520d and 530d diesels were the volume picks for years, and the current range is topped by the plug-in hybrid M5. Used examples are plentiful and prices fall quickly once the motor plan ends.
Known for: executive sedan with strong badge status
Saab 9-5 →
The bigger Saab sold here from the late 1990s until around 2009, mostly in 2.3 turbo Arc and Aero trim with wagons among the sought-after survivors. The all-new 2010 9-5 never officially reached SA because the importer arrangement collapsed. Cheap to buy now, but condition and service history are everything.
Known for: aero turbo comfort, cheap entry
Common questions
Which holds value better, the BMW 5 Series or the Saab 9-5?
The BMW 5 Series. It keeps about 56% of its price after three years against 49% for the Saab 9-5, a gap of 7 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The BMW 5 Series loses about R 561 734 over three years and the Saab 9-5 loses about R 188 926. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the BMW 5 Series runs about R 22 490 per month and the Saab 9-5 about R 6 537, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.