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THE SAAB PEOPLE have abandoned reverse snobbery. They no longerbelieve that ugly is cute, that awkward is exotic, that common sense andsensuality are mutually exclusive.

Witness the 1987 Saab 9000 S. The gruesome sheetmetal covering onearlier Saabs is absent here. The new car’s skin is clean andunblemished, draped around a body of appealing lines flowing front torear.

But not everything about the old Saabs’ design has been jettisoned.The telltale grille, for example, remains. And the new car certainlyretains enough stiff-upper-lip aura to signal its descent from a familyof substance.

Saabs have always been practical cars. This 9000 S, a member of the$20,000-to-$30,000 luxury class, lives up to that heritage.

Look at the car’s cabin — huge, deep velour-covered seatsproviding super-comfort for a party of five, but on a compact wheelbaseof 105.1 inches.

The car’s relatively small centerline distance between front and rearwheels becomes even more significant in the matter of cargo space.

With its rear seats up, the 9000 S can carry a respectable 15.9-cubicfeet of luggage. That space grows to a stunning 56.5 cubic feet with therear seats folded down.

Elegance, competence and beauty — not bad for the offspring ofugly ducklings, not bad at all.

Complaints: The “reverse” gear in this five-speed manual car needs abit of work. It is more troublesome than necessary — requiring thelifting of a “lockout collar” (to prevent accidental movement into”reverse”) and several other maneuvers before the gear can be setproperly.

Other competitive five-speed models have achieved the same level of”reverse” lockout protection without nearly the bother involved in thisone.

Praise: Overall quality, versatility and value-for-dollar.

This solid front-wheel-drive car doesn’t stop, slip, slide, grumbleor mumble in those occasional Washington snowstorms. It is the perfectarrival piece for Saturday night theater engagements and cocktailparties. And with its ample cargo space, it is also excellent forSaturday-afternoon hauling.

Ride, acceleration, handling: Ride and handling are nice and tight,competent without being cushy.

Acceleration should soothe most normal souls. The 2-liter,4-cylinder, 16-valve, double-overhead cam, inline, fuel-injected 9000 Sengine kicks out 125 horsepower at 5,500 rpms. It moves into highwaytraffic well enough.

Thoughtful touches: Red indicator lights on the female portion ofseatbelts, heated front seats, and a widescreen windshield offering apanoramic view of the road.

Sound system: AM/FM stereo radio and cassette with graphic equalizerand eight speakers, by Clarion. It offers excellent sound for those whocan decipher the system’s confusing arrangement of buttons andpinpoint-light indicators.

Mileage: A rather disappointing 21 to the gallon (17.9-gallon tank),combined city-highway, running with mixed loads (one-to-five occupantsand some light ca rgo). Heating system was in operation most of the time.

Price as tested: $22,562, including a huge amount of standardequipment (such as sunroof) and a $317 destination charge. Automatictransmission can add an estimated $550 to the cost. Base price on thismodel is $21,805.