The first generation 9-5 was introduced in 1997 for the 1998 model year, as the replacement of the Saab 9000. Saab badged the model as the Saab 95, but consistently advertised it as the Saab 9-5, pronounced "nine five" rather than "ninety-five".

The vehicle had a facelift in May 2002 in which the audio plug changed ever so slightly in the ISO connection.