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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  Saab? - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By dickie j. - July 21 - 10:00 am

  I had never thought about a Saab. Im glad I did. The interior is excellent. The ride is outstanding. Get a 5 speed. It makes it much more fun to drive. I drove a Passat, and it is no match. Try to buy one soon. The incentive program was a big reason I have one in the garage. The Harmon Kardon stereo is great. I usually replace the stereo in all the new cars I buy, but not this one. Get the upgrade package. Its worth the dough. Its a sweet ride.

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  Its a Steal! - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By Moldavian - July 1 - 8:33 pm

  Without the GM discount, this SUV is still a great bargain; in fact, at $39K it beats most other luxury SUVs in price. With the GM discount this vehicle is an absolute steal at $33,800 (Linear V6). What a gorgeous interior! Saab did a wonderful job with this GMC/Chevy hybrid. It has a definite Saab feel inside and out. This SUV comes with all of the bells and whistles that you can imagine - standard!

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  Disappointed - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Unfortunate - June 28 - 4:26 am

  I hate to have to write a negative review. I have 4200 miles on my 06 SAAB 9-3 Aero and had to have the engine replaced in the car. Engine coolant light to leaky head gasket to engine replacement. Unbelievable!! I love the car other than that. The V-6 has a problem that they wanted the engine back to the factory to investigate. Beware folks!!

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  Love this car - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By M Hoffman - June 26 - 12:00 pm

  In 2001, my wife wanted a new car and we purchased this 9-5 wagon. Other than replacement of the direct ignition cassette and one wheel bearing, it has been relatively problem free for more than 90,000 miles. The DIC was replaced under a recall at no cost. Just drove car through western Canada, averaged 28 mpg. Love this car.

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  You have to own a Saab to understand - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By chdavis - June 23 - 12:00 am

  We absolutely love this car. Saabs dont necessarily impress immediately, but live with the car for a good amount of time and youll see what gems they are. The highway passing power is laugh inducing, the comfort is unsurpassed by even cars costing 9x as much. The seats are to die for. Ours has only had small issues, which can be taken care of for very little at our local independent Saab specialist. This has been one of the most reliable cars we have owned, its just extremely important to perform preventative maintenance and not to "let things go". But that really goes for any car, especially European. The build quality is very high and materials extremely good quality.

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  My First Saab and First Wagon - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By drewtoo88 - June 14 - 1:10 am

  Really like the looks of the 60th anniversary edition with the 17” rims. Black on black with the rear wing and front fog light. I get 23-24 at best. Highway you will get 27-28. Driving impressions: Stiff in the corners can be tedious on rough roads, lots of tire noise. Given this, it handles very well and passes like my VW GTI did. Corning is a blast with the manual mode. Inside impressions: Seats are really well done. The cargo area of the wagon is astonishingly roomy. Controls are nicely done and easy to operate. Back seat fit IS tight. The fit and finish are good, but a little cheap with some of the plastics. Over all though, it feels nice to sit in and look out of.

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  Expected more... - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By e.j. - June 11 - 10:00 am

  i was sorely surprised at the poor quality of my 02 Saab 93, which i leased new. i expected much more of a $30,000 "luxury car". Ive had this car back to the dealer an average of once every couple months for constant nagging quality problems. Door handle snapped off, sunroof frame cracked when opening, spoiler popped off, etc. etc, etc. Not to mention the annoying rattles, creaks, & vibrations. My daughters 99 Cavalier rides more quietly. Really disappointed... Ill never own another one.

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  Engine Failure - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Matt - June 10 - 5:53 pm

  The engine on my 2005 Saab 9-3 has failed two times within the first 4900 miles on the odometer. The first failure occurred in June of 2005 and the problem was diagnosed as a throttle body failure. The failure results in the car accelerating extremely slow without any prior notice. The second failure occurred on July 18, 2005 when I was nearly hit making a left hand turn. The same symptoms presented without any indication that there was a failure about to occur. So be careful!

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  Honest Review - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By leviphx - June 9 - 11:34 am

  I bought this car used with 63k miles on it and havent regretted it a day since. Knowing the history of these cars however, I made sure I had an independent mechanic familiar with the brand take a look at it before I made an offer (easily worth the $150 dollars). I dont want to put anyone down, but I believe that at least half of the poor reviews this car gets are due to A) Poor maintenance by/no knowledge of previous ownership, or B) Poor maintenance by current owner. Love this car and it will love you back, simple as that. And dont buy a performance (or any other) car without a thorough inspection. Tho people I suppose have been burned by a bad car regardless of their caution I guess

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  Pauls Review - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By pdozier - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Own a 99 black 9-5 Wagon. Great car. Rides like a sedan. Handles better than my BMW 5 series. Needs more storage, which could be accomplished by moving the ignition to the dash (Goes against Saab purists). Great handling, mediocre gas mileage..did not see 20+ until the car had 30,000 miles? Intermittent problem with the on-board computerized A/C (Goes blank, quits working, but eventually works) Dealer is poor (no licensed Saab mechanic) which lowers my rating. Love the turbo power when merging, passing. Would consider buying a new one, but Saab needs to drop pricing. Its not a BMW. Glad to see Saab addressing this on 03 9-3.