Drove this car for almost 10 years and never had a problem. This is one car I would buy anytime... AWD... a feature which cannot be found on many cars, and when you buy a car with AWD, you'll pay much more for that. Highly recommend.

Recently had to trade mine in for a larger vehicle (2 kids and a dog will do that), but I have to say, the little Saabaru (because it's a Subaru engine and frame) has been a reliable workhorse, and fun to drive. I'll never drive anything but AWD again. The boxer engine will last forever, and the only things that will start to wear down are the exterior and a few computer glitches. Other than that, the car has been amazing, could easily see driving it up to 300,000 kms.

The Saab 9-2x isn't really a Saab, being mechanically a Subaru Impreza, but it's not really a Subaru Impreza either (it's much better looking, and it has a host of upgrades that make it a better car).

PROS: The car has an excellent engine which has been proven to be very reliable in both the Saab 9-2x and the Imprezas. It's a powerful car on the highway, particularly with the 5-speed (which I have) - I can't comment on the automatic.
The 5-speed manual is excellent, as is the clutch. Also, the suspension, which is an upgrade from the regular Impreza, is top notch. Because the boxer engine gives it a lower centre of gravity, the car handles really well. It is a very sporty car to drive.
As a hatchback, it has a lot of interior space for hauling stuff, although not as much as a station wagon or SUV.
Fuel economy is not great, but good. It's actually better than most Saabs, but more thirsty than some other comparable cars because of the 4 wheel drive.
The 4 wheel drive is excellent for wet weather and winter handling - I haven't even needed to get snow tires - it's that good.

CONS: Crummy paint - very easy to get stone chips which can quickly rust if not taken care of, and the thickness of the paint is not great (Subaru's paint, not Saab's).
The rear hatch has a well-known issue where it can stick (as mine has) and needs to have the latch or locking mechanism replaced or cleaned and lubricated.
Also, there is tremendous wind noise from the "frameless" windows at highway speed. Otherwise, the car is actually quite quiet. Saab did a great job on reducing noise in this car.

OVERALL:
An excellent value and a good-looking sporty car for a lot less than you would pay for most others in the same class. Just realize that it is a Subaru underneath, not a Saab.

I have owned my 2006 Saab 9-2X for close to two years. I've enjoyed the vehicle overall but I think that anyone looking at one should note it is a better-looking, well-equipped Subaru Impreza and not a true 'nordic' Saab. I had a 1993 Saab 900 and much of that vehicle's character and quirkiness is missing with this car.
That being so, the 9-2X is also more reliable, better in snow (yay AWD) and better finished than my old 900. I recommend this ride but I think that you should know that you are getting a Subaru, or, at most a Saabaru :). Ride and handling are fine (ride is a touch firm), power is good, fuel economy is a little greater than you might expect. Gets plenty of looks and compliments, if you like that (I do!).
My only other beef is that for a wagon the cargo area is very small - not much more than a regular sized trunk, even with one of the seats folded down.
A big plus is that, with Saab going bankrupt, these are available at a big discount compared even to their Impreza twins - yet all mechanical (though not body) parts are interchangable. This could be a negative at resale time however.

Love it :) Luxury car for far less $ than you pay for comparable i.e. Mercedes, BMW...fast, fuel efficient and luxurious! I would reccomend to anyone! Looking forward to the new lineup coming out in 2013...