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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  My 4th Saab, 2nd 9.3 - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By Pete - June 28 - 10:23 pm

  Bought this vehicle with 32K on it last July. Put about 30K on it in 1 year. Have had no issue issues with the car besides normal maintenance. Great gas milage for the size and performance. Nice highway driving and comfortable. I very pleased with vehicle to this point.

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  Great Car and Value - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By msimpson - June 27 - 3:56 am

  I went from a large SUV to the 2007 9-5 Aero Sport Wagon roughly four weeks ago. Great decision on my part. I thoroughly checked out all the so-called competition and I felt the Saab wagon 9-5 won hands down. The lower cost vehicles just didnt compare and the higher cost vehicles didnt have anywhere near enough added value in order to justify the substantial extra cost. One might say that all wheel drive is a must, but I find the front wheel drive is just fine and you benefit from added gas mileage as well. Im extremely pleased with the car overall. I dont live at the gas station anymore. Comfort is great and it handles like a sports car. The cargo area is bigger than anything in its class.

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  first time saab owner - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By new2saab - June 27 - 2:00 am

  WOW-I drove every competitor and was amazed at the SAAB.

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  Tough to beat at the price - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By redk - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought the 2003 9-3 for almost $5000 below MSRP because the dealer was in a hurry to get rid off the 2003 models to make room for the 2004s. Four weeks into the ownership, I love this car - It is fun to drive, gets excellent gas mileage, and looks cool. The brakes are phenomenal and features galore. If you are considering a car in the 25 - 30K range, this car should be at the top of your shopping list.

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  BEST ALL AROUND CONVERTIBLE - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By JOHNG.. - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I LOOKED AT EVERY CONVERTIBLE ON THE MARKET. THIS WAS FAR AND AWAY THE MOST WELL-ROUNDED CAR OUT THERE. PERFORMANCE BACK SEAT ROOM, TRUNK ROOM, LOOKS, PRICE.... IT HAS IT ALL...

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  Wish wed bought Japanese! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By UVAGirl - June 24 - 7:26 am

  We choose the Saab 9-3 Aero over the Audi(we previously had a new A4 with reliability issues), Mercedes, Volvo, and Acura (big mistake). In the past year, weve had to trek to the dealership monthly, weekly, even daily with issues like: radio, emblem falling off, multiple fog light replacements, tires, brake pads, repeated coolant issues, and today the engine started smoking (while driving home from the Saab service dept. after they fixed the engine yet again!) We didnt pay this much for a car to be driving a cheap Ford Focus loaner all the time. To those lucky souls who havent had reliability issues yet, I say wait until your mileage gets a little higher and check back, were at 50k mi

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  Saab 9.3 - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By wgstatenj - June 21 - 4:30 pm

  Leased Vehicle after top scores regarding safety scores. Handling and comfort will not dissappoint any driver. Turbo lag although is evident and needs to be addressed. This is a common complaint. Interior design of arm rest, use of power door locks are annoying. Cell phone options on steering wheel are not functional as Saab offers no phone accessaries.? Driven for 12k, glad to have stability control and safety features. Turbo lag is major issue and if not addressed in future model I would not lease/purchase another.

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  Flying ace... - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By 9 3 owner - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I have a lot of mixed emotion about this car. It can be a pleasure to drive. Acceleration, comfort and feel are all good. It is expensive to maintain and has had its share of minor problems. No major flaws however. The change over to a hydrolic clutch is a vast improvement over the previous model but it still feels like the clutch plate may be small for the weight of the vehicle. i.e. It commonly lugs starting the car on an incline and wants you to feather the clutch out.

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  Outstanding Car!!! - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By SaabGuy - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is a dream to drive. Ive driven the I35, G35, 330, and the A4, and the 9-5 Aero blows them all away. The ride is smooth, yet the power is there when you need it! Id recommend everyone test drive one if youre considering a sport/luxury car.

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  Broke after buying a 9-5 - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By janie87 - June 17 - 9:07 am

  Just like many of these reviewers, I have owned a 9-5 and had to deal with a myriad of problems. I purchased the car in January 2013 and it ran well for about 6 months. Then the fuel pump exploded twice and the carborater needed replacing. And this was just the beginning.... $4000 later (over a period of 8 months), the car ran well for about 4 months, before the engine gave up and the mechanics couldnt determine the underlying issue.