Overview & Reviews

Originally known as Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Svenska Aircraft Company), Saab is a Swedish company that began manufacturing automobiles in 1949. The company's early designs placed an emphasis on aerodynamics that is reflective of its history as an aircraft manufacturer.

The first production Saab, the 92, boasted a lower coefficient of drag than many modern cars. The 93, unveiled in 1955, was powered by a three-cylinder, 33-horsepower engine, and featured the distinctive fastback profile that made early Saabs among the most recognizable cars on the road. By the time the '50s drew to a close, Saab's lineup had grown to include the 95 wagon (capable of seating up to seven) and the 93 750 Gran Turismo, the automaker's first series-built sports car.

The marque started the '60s with the introduction of its successful Saab 96. With a production run of 20 years, this was the car that made Saab a recognized presence in the international market. The decade also saw the launch of the Saab Sport coupe. Scoring numerous wins on the rally circuit, the coupe marked Saab as a force to be reckoned with. The Sport's success on the track inspired a name change; it later came to be known as the Saab Monte Carlo 850. The Saab Sonett II sports car, with its body of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, also made its debut during the '60s, as did the Saab 99, which was the first Saab to feature the manufacturer's trademark wraparound windshield.

In 1973, Saab gave birth to the 99 Combi Coupe. The car came to define the Saab brand; with its hatchback and fold-down rear seat it offered remarkable utility. By the end of the decade, Saab had rolled out the 99 Turbo, which was a forerunner in harnessing turbo technology for use in production cars. The company also introduced the Saab 900, which held the distinction of being the first car to offer a cabin air filter.

During the 1980s, Saab cars (especially the Turbo models) gained American popularity as young urban professionals (yuppies) sought them out. The decade saw the launch of the 900 Turbo, the 900 Turbo Aero (the world's first car to offer a 16-valve turbo engine), the 900 convertible and the Saab 9000, a larger four-door car available in hatchback, and later on, sedan body styles.

In 1990, General Motors bought half of Saab's automotive division. The decade saw the launch of a revamped 900; the car offered a bevy of cutting-edge safety features, including three rear three-point seatbelts and rear side-impact protection. By the time the '90s drew to a close, Saab had also unveiled the 9-5, a larger, premium four-door sedan that essentially replaced the 9000. The 9-5 offered a host of new technologies such as ventilated seats. It was also the first to offer Saab's active head restraints, a system designed to prevent whiplash injuries.

By the 2000s, General Motors had bought the other half of Saab Automobile. Despite the brand's position on the leading edge of safety technology, Saab's popularity in the U.S. and around the world waned as its product portfolio grew increasingly stale and reliant on GM for parts, platforms and design. New models like the 9-2X and the 9-7X were based on platforms borrowed from other brands -- Subaru and Chevrolet, respectively. Meanwhile, the 9-5 soldiered on and the second-generation 9-3 ditched its quirky hatchback body style in favor of a mainstream sedan design. The hope was to make the 9-3 more appealing to American car buyers, but ultimately it only served to remove the car's unique personality.

In the midst of General Motors' financial difficulties and eventual bankruptcy, Saab was viewed as a disposable, troubled asset and essentially cast away. With the financial assistance of a European bank and the Swedish government, Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg intended to purchase Saab with the promise of restructuring the brand and keeping production within Sweden. That deal fell through when Koenigsegg changed its mind about becoming involved with such a troubled company. Another niche-market supercar company, Spyker Cars, pursued the purchase of Saab. But that venture eventually failed as well and ultimately, at the end of 2011, Saab went into "wind-down" mode, filing for bankruptcy. In other words, Saab's future is still very much in limbo.

User Reviews:

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  Another Saab why ?? - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By ken wilson - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Outside of the turbo performance and the cargo area of the wagon this car is a joke. Cheap plastic interior, no place to put anything, rode noise, etc.Wish I had never sold 528i. I had a 91 9000 turbo and after ten years you think they could get it right.Not so. $40k this is what you get.

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  OK - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Scott - November 2 - 12:43 pm

  Alot of turbo lag unless you are going 60+. For the price does not come close to the audi or bmw. Spend the extra 5- 7k and stick with an audi or bmw. Terrible winter vehicle. Salespitch noted "this car is made in sweden". Must have made it in the summer.

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  Buy something else - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Jim - October 3 - 8:23 am

  I was looking so forward to having a new car and not having to bring it to the shop every other month. The engine light kept coming on they told me I wasnt putting the gas cap on correctly. Being a nurse I can start IVs and change caps on invasive lines, but cant put on a gas cap,OK? The power steering pump leaked was replaced. Finally had new front brakes replaced it would just squeal. The dash rattles, the shocks thud and pop. When its cold the stereo freezes up. The tires suck in the snow, I constantly feel like the back end slipping out. It doesnt go thru snow. You would think this car would be great in cold & snow far from it. Even got a GM discount under dealer invoice.

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  Approaching to 80,000 miles - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Reiley - September 29 - 8:06 pm

  Mechanically to date, I dumped close to $1,800 to replace the coil pack(s) that went out. And thats it. No other mechanical problems. And with Saab labor at $110/hour, thank God. Have maintained the car in accordance with the manual and it runs great and still smells new. Steering is a bit stiff in the morning on cold days, but once it warms up, is fine. Car is depreciating in value a little quicker than I thought. Every Saab mechanic swears about the cars long-term reliability, so Im hoping to get at least 200,000 miles on my 99 9-3SE although I hope GM doesnt mess with the company to the point that Saab doesnt maintain its independent identity.

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  Dont Do it - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Dont do it - August 11 - 7:23 am

  Dont Do it! Fun to drive when not driving to the shop. Water pump (twice) alternator, ignition, alarm, struts and Ive lost count of what else in two years. This is my wifes 5th and last SAAB. I was sold on asian vehicles a number of years ago, even my Hyundai was more reliable. Im glad we have AAA towing with SAABs. Since I met my wife, I am familar to the SAAB Store due to our what seems like quarterly visits. Its not a matter of if something breaks, but when. Whats that SAAB stands for Something Always Again Broken? With a new baby we had better things to do, so I bought a Toyota, and am forcing a SAAB sale. Any buyers? Please take this clunker off our backs!

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  Dont buy one Because.... - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By ATX Teacher - July 23 - 10:00 am

  There are many problems with the 9-3 that are unfixable, especially if you live in a hot climate like Texas. The Fuel injextions system has many problems that the manufacturer is choosing to ignore, causing many of these cars to be irrepairable, but these problems are not showing up in statistics b/c the manufacturer is repurchasing the cars from the owners without having "Lemon Law" suits filed. The car looks great and is fun to drive, but dont be fooled. Many problems need to be fixed with this car.

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  I wish I never bought it - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Topgun - June 14 - 3:50 am

  One of the first problems is poor support from the dealership. Within the first few months the leather seat split. Not in a seam but across the leather itself. Dealer couldnt tell the cause so they wouldnt stand by it. Front spoiler is so low you cant turn into a graded driveway without it scraping. I broke mine going through snow. So far the sunroof, Stability Control (ESC)have required repair. The windshield wipers have gone bad twice. To add insult to injury the colored plastic part of the front and rear medallions have come off. Top this off with a paltry 19 MPG and youll find that IKEA couch you bought was the best thing to come out of Sweden.

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  2000 Saab 9-3 Hatchback Auto - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By myhooptie - May 25 - 5:13 pm

  Over all the car was great for what I needed it for. Had a lot of problems with the front wheel hub and bearing assembly. I had to replace the same wheel hub twice in less than 10,000 miles. I am pretty sure that all of them were going bad and i only had 160000 miles on it and the fuel pump went out on me. I also had to change out the radiator before 150000 mile. There was a problem with the driver seatbelt which made me want to get rid of it. I thought that because it was not american built that i would get at least 200000 miles out of it. Not even close. This car was not built for car seats at all. My kid tried to put his car seat up front

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  Fun - shoddy build for the price - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By YazMan - April 17 - 6:00 pm

  I love the engine - thats about it. Bad tires, soft suspension. Horrible fit and finish. I have had to go to the dealership 20+ in the first 2 years - all covered but who needs the hassle in a 30-40K car. If you are buying you must get extended warranty or get rid of it before the warranty expires.

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  Looks are not everything - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Hobbs - April 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Saab 2 years ago becuase it had good reviews but ever since it hit 50K miles everything and anything has started to go wrong with it. Performance wise the car is great but as far as interior creature comforts there really are none. Major complaint is with the engine components mainly ignition, Ive had to replace the chip that controls the ignition twice in 2 years and Saab wont do anything about it. In fanla car looks great but its cheap under the hood and inside.