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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  We love this one - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Jim G. - June 1 - 9:20 am

  This is our second new car in as many years and we cant be happier.

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  Saturn with a price tag of BMW - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By GK - May 27 - 8:20 pm

  What a disappointment, this is what GM does with any company they buy/own, they Saturnize it! What this car is really worth shows it depreication, 2 years and your Sat.. sorry.. Saab is worth half what youve paid for it. In one word we lost a lot of money on this junk.

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  Great Car For Your Money - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By AsianJoe - May 27 - 11:13 am

  Decent real life gas mileage (23-27mpg). Seats are two tone... black and tan (white?) looks great, but can get dirty fast. You can go to any store and get some scotch guard ($5 a can) to protect your investment. Saab did a good job on noise reduction on the car, compared to the evil twin impreza.

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  Fun to drive, economical, good value. - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By powder_chowder - May 23 - 3:33 am

  Exhilarating and luxurious for the price with good gas mileage. 07 sportcombi wagon 2.0T 6 spd manual (only way to go for me) 17" wheels, Nocturne Blue; all options except heated seats, which would be nice. At 25K miles the car has been trouble free except the seat memory doesnt work; SAAB promises to replace. The mileage stated by Edmunds is severely under-rated; Im averaging between 30- 35mpg combined on hilly highway/city travel, good for car with 210hp. The roof rack bolts on, making it easy to install/remove. I shopped the Audi A-3 (nice car too) and found it very similar in performance/handling, but the interior and trunk space was much smaller and Audi couldnt touch the price.

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  Saab Story - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By RIX - May 20 - 10:00 am

  In 2 years, the car had to be towed twice. First time was because of a corroded cable and the second time because the ignition cassette kept shorting out the fuses.

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  I love my Saab - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By skday1 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. The quality and comfort of the interior make it a joy to drive on any length trip. The automatic transmission has some lag, but overall I have found it to be smooth and responsive. If you are considering a Saab, you must test-drive one - the turbo makes it a blast to drive, with plenty of power for city and highway, at any speed. I wish the 2002 had side-curtain air- bags, but other than that I have no regrets, and only wish that I had moved to Saabs earlier. Prior cars have included a 94 Camry wagon and a 00 Volkwagen Passat wagon. I liked the Passat, but I like the Saab better. This is a definite 10 year car.

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  Love It All - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By binbunny - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This my first Saab car although I looked at them back in the 80s. I needed a car that could easily handle the number of cats I have and not be a SUV. I liked the idea that not everyone was driving a Saab which makes it unique to me. I knew what I wanted when I walked in the dealership a Aero Sportwagon with Automatic and the Sports Package. The car they had wasnt the color I wanted but that didnt bother me at all. It was love a first sight and the color ( silver ) hides the dirt so well I have no regrets about the color choice.I plan on getting another Saab in 2005.

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  Could not be happier !!! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By optimistck - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is a dream come true. The performance, the handling, the breaking, the comfort is just as it looks when you look at the prospectus in the dealership. There is no turbo leg, acceleration is great, really roomy, I love the dashboard and the night time feature. Most notably this car is sexy - oh yes it is. It is slick, classy, and sporty. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking performance, comfort, and most importantly safety. The side airbags and a whole lot of room around me makes it a very safe car.

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  Like the Saab but must have snow tires - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By snow tires - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe no one has mentioned how poorly this car handles when there is snow on the roads. I put on some Bridgestone tires, allseason and it still handles bad. Im told you must have snow tires, $1000 dollars. I have never had a car that needs snow tires. Not safe to drive without them.

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  2004 9-3 Arc - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By orion7144 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Great car! Fun to drive and comparable to the 3 series BMW. The ride is extremly smooth.