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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  back again - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By spot - September 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my second 9/5. Had a 2001 and loved it. The 2002 is a little softer visually and doesnt have the same edge as the 01 did. Many improvements between the two years though. Ive enjoyed now having an auto vs. stick. The sport mode really makes a difference.

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  Great Car at Any Price - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Demetri - August 29 - 10:36 am

  I feel sorry for those Saab owners whove had a bad experience with their 9-3. Ive owned the car almost two years and have been completely happy with it. The Linears motor puts out 175hp, but with a low curb weight (for this segment) and the great-shifting 5sp, I can get off the line quick enough for most situations. Great gas mileage (27 mpg mixed), plenty of back seat room for our 3 kids, massive trunk, and Saabs unbeatable safety rating. The important stuff is all standard - traction control, dynamic stability control, brake assist, 8 air bags, etc etc. My wife likes it so much, were getting her the 9-3 Sport- Combi and ditching our minivan.

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  Too cool - first Saab - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Marc Lobell - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Former Honda / Taurus person. Have new Linear with stick, wont go back to others. We compared with Acura TL, Passat GLS, Honda Accord EXV6 and chose this as most roomy and fun to drive.

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  Glad to go from Volvo to Saab - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By Rob - August 13 - 8:00 am

  Much like one of the previous ratings, I too have had 5 Volvos and have watched their quality and reliability degrade over the years. Recently traded a 2006 S60 wrought with problems for a slick, black 2009 93 and I couldnt be happier. Same perks as other ratings - a blast to drive! great acceleration, comfortable, sporty, handles great, better MPG than advertised. I think Im now a Saab guy and will probably buy another if this keeps up. Very happy with this car.

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  Dealerships Best Friend - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By High Maint. - August 12 - 12:56 pm

  I bought my Saab 9-3 Vector brand new 17 months ago. It is a fully loaded, 6 speed (210 hp), which currently has approximately 22K miles on it. Performance wise the car has met/exceeded all expectation, but I continue to have numerous problems with several different features on the car(I have been to the dealership approx. 15-20x). The tires (Pirelli Rosso Asimmetrico) that come standard on this model generally need to be replaced after 10-12 months. I have had the lug nuts replaced twice now because of rust and Saab knowingly continues to replace them with the same defective lug nuts. Before buying this car, I would highly recommend inquiring about these issues in particular. Best of luck!

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  Fun and Safe Car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By driver-pilot - August 12 - 5:56 am

  I got a Saab 9-3 Arc used and this car is definitely something different. You have to notice the sloped hood and clean exterior styling, a testament to Saabs new-age design. The interior is pretty roomy, but the paint can scratch off and some parts feel like cheap plastic was used. The CD changer works well as does the radio. This car drives excellently, and using the sport shifter allows you to get some pretty solid acceleration times, with the turbochargers help though! Highway performance is EXCELLENT, and the car handles exceptionally especially when the ESP control is on. We even took it up to the mountains and it handles excellently even with front wheel drive.

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  Saabaru - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By rkymtnhgh - August 4 - 7:00 pm

  You get everything you expect from a Subaru with some extra creature comforts and Saab style. The AWD is fantastic in inclement weather and handling and highway ride is impressive. My chief complaint is the performance of the automatic transmission. It tends to be sluggish around town and slow to kick down, especially from third gear. Family requirements necessitated an automatic, but Id recommend the 5spd manual. Overall build quality is good, but the exterior paint chips easily and some of the interior materials could stand improvement. Two tone fabric looks slick, but stains show readily. Rear seat leg room is limited, so adult passengers may be uncomfortable on longer trips.

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  Guess Ive been lucky - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By kjsouth725 - August 4 - 2:30 pm

  Ive owned this car for 5 years and its the most comfortable car Ive ever driven. And everyone loves how it looks. The biggest negative is the cost of repair. I havent had many (knock on wood) but those that Ive had are expensive. Then again, its less expensive to than an Audi or BMW. Second big complain is that the wheels are held on my bolts, not lugs. All five need to be at proper torque for the wheel to balance. Also, the wheel hub and bolt are softer metal, so Ive already had to re-tap one wheel twice due to electric wrench happy mechanics.

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  Great on Highway, Hard on your Wallet - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By ifthecar - August 1 - 3:53 pm

  I purchased the my 9-3 Convertible with 18K miles and now has 107K. When running, it is great on the highway, and so much fun with the top down. The great things are the stereo, very comfortable seats (could easily drive cross country). The bad things: I had it break down 3 times (would not start), and each time it would cost around $1000 to fix. The build quality is not good, and my top had to be replaced even though it is suppose to last a lifetime. Buy this car for a great ride, but expect to pay for maintenance.

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  Saab Story - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By TurboJim - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I liked the car when I bought it but my 45k miles of ownership has been painfull. First just some 1st model year build quality problems fit, AC drain leaking on my foot, musty smell from the AC. I almost got past this, then it died on the highway, dealer replaced the electronic module. Next it started leaking oil dealer replaced almost every gasket in the engine, then the rear suspension went. All was covered under warranty, but who wants this much pain from a new car ... not me