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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  GREAT used car - would have never bought it new - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By rurahrah - May 14 - 12:53 pm

  I bought this car sight unseen in Sep 2010 from a dealer (found it on Autotrader). The car had 86k miles on it and the Carfax showed it had been properly maintained. I paid $5,900, which included shipping, taxes, etc. Cheap! Prior car was a 1999 Saab 9-3 SE hatchback so I already was familiar with its quirks. I have only put about 2k miles on it so far but must say that so far it is the BEST car I have ever owned. FUN!

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  It wont let you down! - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By demetri - May 9 - 9:20 pm

  Ok, so its a GM deep down ... once you get over that youll see how fun it is to drive. The suspension is tight (I used to drive a G35 - hard - and I honestly dont miss it). The AWD is a treat. It has every bell and whistle you can ask for. I used to own an 01 Aurora and I must say this is not far from it. The fuel (in)efficiency is a total drag but it wouldnt be a problem if it wasnt for the ridiculously high cost of gas. Acceleration is great but with a 4-speed transmission you cant wait till the last minute (the computer does predictive shifting for the overdrive). Only a couple of fit/finish issues.

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  Having Fun - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By Jason - May 7 - 6:56 am

  The car is great. Handles the road very well, love the turbo power. Very few blind spots. Not many of us on the road so you get a lot of looks.

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  My 1999 Saab SE 4 DR GREAT CAR......... - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Helae - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car really reliable, fun to drive, really fast looks classy design, and original Saab interior confront, middle location ignition, and window gizmos are great . Really original and rare, I am a Saab enthuses for now on !

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  The most fun you will have driving. - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Luckyluciano - May 4 - 2:00 am

  The 205 hp on this baby makes it a fun drive. I also like the fact that it does not look like every other boxy sedan that you see on the road (you know which sedans Im talking about.

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  Best Kept Secret - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By JaeNoh - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Its great that I get to buy a car like the 9-5 for $35,000 while suckers will pay $50,000 for a BMW 530 and get so much less of everthing else.

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  Great car - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By jay0725 - April 30 - 4:33 pm

  Ive had my Saab 9-3 about 2 1/2 years now. In that time Ive put over 60k miles on it. Maintenance is very important with these cars to keep them from giving you problems. I religiously change my oil every 7500 miles with ONLY mobile 1 full synthetic. Also keeping up with the other maintenance has proved worth while. The dealers charge a lot but its better than having a broken down car. I average 33mpg between all driving. It has the original clutch at 80k, still shifts and drives like new. Brake dust is out of control but brakes have lasted about 45k miles and still over half left. I had one major issue with engine block at 45k. It was under warranty and I got a free loaner.

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  Taking flight - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Bruce - April 29 - 4:36 pm

  The car has completely lived up to my expectations and the few small bugs I dealt with in my 2000 base model 9-5 were completely absent in this model. The engine is very strong and the handling is very good and often suprisingly so. The bonus set of skills gained at the Aero Academy really pointed out the remarkable breaking and handling capabilities of this car. Kudos all around for the remarkable comfort. The ventilated seats are an additional treat here in Southern California summers.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Tim Erskine - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my Saab 9-5 SE 2.3 for five years, and Im still waiting for it to show some signs of wear. It still drives like the day I bought it. This is the best used car value on the market by far. This is a large, roomy sedan, and I get 30mpg on the highway cruising at 90mph. The car pulls strongly through 100mph (top speed is over 140) and is rock solid at that speed. It has incredibly comfortable seats and the best stereo in any car in this class.

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  Terrific car, terrific bargain - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Chris2807 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Saab 9-3 Linear is a powerful, fun to drive, practical sports car. Its also a pretty good deal when you factor in the rebates available. This car handles great and has every safety device standard (ABS, front/side/head airbags, traction control, electronic stability program, electronic brake assist, and active head restraints).