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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  Best Entry-Level Car for the Money - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By Seattle Saabster - May 24 - 8:03 am

  I was looking for a car that was sporty, reliable, and had good gas mileage for my 40 mile r/t commute. I considered several cars at the <$30K price range, but was attracted to Saabs rebate incentive and my having owned Saabs for the past 20+ years. For the price, you cant get a better entry-level luxury car that equals the 9-3 SportCombi in performance, fuel econonmy, safety, standard features (leather, etc.) and practicality (cargo room, etc.). The SportCombi does not disappoint. The 6-spd manual (hard to find) is fun to drive, and Ive been impressed with the 33 mpg Im receiving on the highway.

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  9-5 Fun to drive - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By 95leaser - May 22 - 10:00 am

  This is the second 9-5 for me, having bought another (V-6 SE) just 2 years ago. Fun to drive, excellent value (at year-end closeout) including scheduled maintenance, gap insurance and first year of OnStar free. What more could you ask for in a well-engineered car!

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  Great car - 1996 Saab 900
  By cj - May 19 - 10:56 pm

  It being my first car I am very new to the whole car scene but for an entry level Saab it is nothing less than what I hoped for. The pickup and speed on the vehicle are tremendous. The sound system has been great. I just added subs to it and it made it even better. Overall it is a great vehicle. I was lucky that when I bought it had only 22,000 miles on it and it is a great car.

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  great car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By tboccell - May 19 - 3:53 am

  So far, a great car. Had one recall with with the hand brake, but the dealership brought out a tow truck and fixed the problem for free. The turbo is great... love the turbo meter. Comfortable car for its small size. We sometimes use the car to fit the entire family of five... but beyond local commutes, stick with a large sedan or SUV, if you can afford the gas. The butterfly cup holder is pretty cool and 100x more useful then the one in my 2001 540i. The car is sporty, fun, and has never spent more then the alloted time at the dealership. Great car!

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  Personality - 2009 Saab 9-5
  By reflex - May 17 - 12:13 pm

  Great fuel mileage, smooth ride, lots of power, great stereo, comfortable seats, nice hvac system, superb in the snow, sunroof, handles great, looks great, excellent warranty, low insurance rates, 5 star crash rating, and very affordable.

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  Least ownership costs ever - 2007 Saab 9-7X
  By gmt360 - May 16 - 8:14 pm

  Ive had this car for 85,000 miles and drive it every day. I have not had a single issue or problem of any kind in all of these years. To date the exhaustive list of repairs includes rear brake pads and rotors and new tires. Thats it. Not a single penny out of pocket. I am astounded as Ive never in all of my years experienced anything like this. I live in the harshest climate and still no issues. I have every single option offered except the 6.0liter v8. At the same time I purchased the 9-7, I purchased the identical Rainier. The Rainier has had a dozen expensive issues while the 9-7 is some sort of anomaly at this point.

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  Best Car on the Road - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By heystupid - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Nothing comes close. Anyone who complains about this car has neither driven it nor seen it.

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  93 converitble - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By riderwood - May 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. Fun to drive and has enough pickup in the sport mode.

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  2002 Saab 9-5 Linear - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By Drew2931 - May 7 - 10:03 pm

  I bought this car off eBay at a great deal. I love driving it, very comfortable, GREAT gas mileage (approx 32 mpg on highway, 20 mpg in town). I love the styling - it doesnt look like everyone elses car. I have had no maintenance issues at all. The dashboard cup holder works great - just need two of them. Performance while not outstanding is good enough to keep it fun.

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  2003 saab 9-3 turbo convertible - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By william palmer - May 6 - 2:16 pm

  This is one of the finest autos Ive owned. Ive owned mercedes as well as other expensive autos. The fit, and finish is excellent. The performance is superb especially when you realize its coming from a 2 liter engine.