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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  Efficient - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Geremy - June 16 - 8:43 am

  I have had the car 6 months now and I am very pleased. I came out of a BMW so I have high standards. This car is perfect execution of efficent Swedish design. There is nothing fake about this car, it is pure form and function. The minimalist interior is actually a breath of fresh air for me, especially when every other car is clamoring to confort you like your living room. Buyers need to keep in mind that the Swedes are not trying to sell image, luxury, or top performance. This car is constantly compared to BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes, but I think the car is more comparable to a Camry or an Accord. I bought mine for the same price as a Camry. No problems to date.

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  Didnt settle for less - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By BILL .P - June 15 - 7:13 am

  Having gotten my fill of Mercedes (c and e class) I decided to try something different. Looked at the BMW and Audi and then test drove the Aero. Boy am I glad I did. I got the six speed, wow this car can move! And not only in a straight line either. It corners great, steering is very responsive, great visibility, great brakes and the lower front end makes you feel like your part of the road. The reputation this car has for safety was the deciding factor for me. A car that can make me grin like this and have such a great safety record is just what the doctor ordered. By all means if your looking for a sports sedan that’s fun to drive test drive the Aero, you wont regret it.

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  Great Car - Poor Build Quality - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By Mark T - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The car came off the assembly line with a squeek over the right rear door. Glassman Saab has been great, working to fix the problem several times. They tell me there is a missing weld on the over the door handle. They fix it but it always comes back. Other than that, I love the car. But to drive a car with a squeek for 3 years is really irritating. Dispite this I will give the new 9-3 a look.

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  First time Saab man - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By apb - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Good, solid road car. Good handling and stability in all road conditions. 5 speed is fun to drive, but the turbo makes the whole car, it gets you to 80 in no time at all. Best interior feature is the cargo space. You would not believe how much stuff you can put into this hatchback!

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  Depriciation, Depreciation, Depreciation - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Snaaber - June 10 - 10:00 am

  Its a very nice car, however, be ready to be hit with a ton of depreciation once you try and get out of it. Ive had a number of Saabs over the years. Your new car will be worth about 33% of MSRP for trade-in value after four years. Even if you get a significant discount of $5,000 or so, the car will still depreciate by $17,000 in four years! When you think about Saab, just say depreciation...plus you can think of Saab as GMs replacement for Oldsmobile. Im sure that will help too.

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  Sold on SAAB! - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Bill - June 8 - 10:03 pm

  I have had the SAAB 93 Linear with manual transmission for about six months and I love it. The pick-up is great! The ride is so smooth that crusing at 85-95 is like driving 55. I have to remember to check the speedometer or it would easily break 100. Considered buying a comparable Volvo, but the handling on the SAAB to the Volvo was so dramatic that Volvo was eliminated on the first test drive.

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By wfoote - June 6 - 2:00 am

  The 2002 model has a much better tuned suspension and is a pleasure to drive in all conditions. The gear shift is much improved over previous years. The HK stereo is also outstanding. We got the wood steering wheel and gear shift added and they look great.

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  Problematic but a kick to drive - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By Saab Story - June 5 - 6:23 pm

  This is my 3rd Saab, which I recently purchased with 79,000 km on it. I love the drive of Saabs but had a 900 lemon in the past and figured it was just bad luck. I wanted to buy a 2001 because I love the cavernous trunk area, which has been replaced by sedan models. Shortly after buying the car I noticed thick grey smoke belching out of the exhaust when I started it. I took it to the dealer and was advised that my turbo was on the way out...price of repair $1,600. I also soon noticed that: my stereo lights dont come on at night, drivers side fog light assembly is broken, antenna works when it wants to and my sunroof frame is prematurely rusting and bubbling. Explains why resale is low

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  Best car I ever owned - 1996 Saab 900
  By danb - June 3 - 3:10 am

  I bought my car new it was a demo model with 3490miles on it. As of 4/17/08 I have 148,000 on this car. The car has been garage kept and only driven from April to Early October. I get approx 24mpg city and as high of 31mpg highway. The best advice i can give people to maintian this car is oil changes every 3000miles, trans fluid chages every 7500.( The trans was not one of their best) I change plugs every year. Recently I have had to change the transmission module. ( Sent it out for rebuild $120 and reinstalled.

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  The non-conformist - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By CEN19 - June 1 - 7:23 pm

  Such a neat car. Despite being replaced in 2003 by a newer model, this generation of the 9-3 still turns heads (especially after a wash and wax). Build quality is very good, and the cabin materials are all high quality. Interior controls are a model of Swedish design efficiency. Friends with an Audi and a BMW say the Saabs leather is much better than what they have in their vehicles. Torque steer is obvious under hard acceleration from a stop, but on the highway, this car can fly. Midrange passing power is awesome. Braking is equally good. Reliability has been good - only a few problems which were covered under warranty. This car has never left me stranded.