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:

• 

  BIG IMPROVEMENT - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By MRF - July 5 - 10:00 am

  For a 4-cylinder car, this thing really moves. Of course Id like more power, but it certainly delivers more then most engines of this size. The interior of this car is awesome. The back seat treats folks just as nice as the front with the rear bun warmers, adjustable head restraints and such. The ride is really nice too, by far the best of any Saab Ive ever owned. Build quality is also much improved. Only one little rattle by the steering wheel. This is a huge improvement for Saab. The only gripe I have is the somewhat mushy ride. At speed, the car tends to feel a bit floaty, unlike some Volvo 850s Ive driven.

• 

  If you can only have one car......... - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By John A, - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Car that finished 2001 UK Auto Club owners survey of two-year old cars in top reliability spot. Hauls e.g. a big wheelbarrow with the trunk closed. Pioneered many safety features and finishes on crash tests. Theyll think you paid more for it than you did. Tops out at about 143mph+ and fun-to-drive. More Saab owners are online than any other car and more own dogs than any other car. More people who test drive Saabs own them than all others. Owner loyalty shows Saab second to Porsche among Euro- car owners and 6th overall.

• 

  Wonderful car - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Keith - July 4 - 5:33 pm

  Beautiful, fun to drive, excellent acceleration, handles very well. Great stereo. Surely the most beautiful of the 4-seater convertibles. Excellent safety ratings. Stands out from the dime-a-dozen convertibles out there.

• 

  SAAB 93 - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Terry - July 4 - 7:33 am

  Excellent car and fun to drive, you really stand out from the crowd in this car.

• 

  2002 9-5 Aero - Amazing car - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By Aerosmith - July 4 - 2:00 am

  The Aero is one of the most underestimated cars on the market. For a couple thousand less than a BMW 330i, I picked up my Aero which blows away the bimmer in terms of performance and fun factor. My cosmic blue also (in my opinion) matches the average Bimmer in looks, too. HP and torque from the Aero engine are equivalent to an Audi S4, but the Aero weighs about 230 lbs less. The result--its tough to find a sedan that can match the Aero from 30 - 75 MPH. Saab has also done a great job tweaking the suspension--the responsiveness and composure of the car is awesome. Not to mention the great seats!

• 

  Initial Opinion - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By Mid30crisis - July 3 - 2:36 pm

  I like auto transmissions, but a car like this needs a stick to fully enjoy the sportiness. It does seem to roll a bit (even with the ReAxs system). Brakes dont appear as tight on response although the pro reviews say the braking is great. The starter seems to take a while to get used to; havent determined if its a defect or just takes a half second longer for the ignition to kick. I like this car; great price point if you can get a good deal; if not, spend a little more on an Audi A4, Infiniti G35, or Acura TL.

• 

  Cant Go Wrong - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By DDW - July 3 - 1:56 pm

  Very happy with this luxury SUV. Bought it used. Added Techron fuel system cleaner and got 2 MPG better than before. To connect my iPod, I had an iSimple installed to the existing Bose system. Works and sounds great! Stock tires dont work well in snow, so I put on Hancook Icebears and now can go thru anything and do not give up much on dry roads. Fuel economy suffers from the 3.73 differentials versus the 3.45 on GM cousins, but low gears do improve the get up and go. With 277 lb-ft of torque, they could have made the down shift from 4th to 3rd later. This thing spends more time in 3rd gear than our Pontiac Vibe.

• 

  Saab 9-3 Great Car - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Drew - June 30 - 3:20 am

  Bought this car to use to commute 100 miles a day to keep miles off my Audi. Have had two Saabs in the past and this one never fails to amaze me!!! I have over 147k on the odometer and it still starts, idles and runs like a workhorse. Original Turbo still pulls like new!!! Very durable interior/exterior, amazed at how well this car has worn. Only expensive maintenance to date has been clutch replacement at $800 US.

• 

  Love It! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Philadelphia Phil - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Test drove the Audi A4, but not available w/manual trans. Beautiful interior, though, much nicer than the Saab. BMW 3 Convert. overpriced. This is my 3rd Saab, the last being a 9000CD (a lemon). I appreciate the somewhat subtle look of the car, it doesnt scream "look at me".

• 

  2003 Arc - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Goren - June 30 - 2:00 am

  smooth ride and impressive accelarion with the 3 and 4 gear.