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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  Great car to drive and own - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By Love Saab - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Car has almost 52,000 miles. Bought it when it had 15,000 miles. Rental company had used it first. No major problems. Good lumbar support, heated seats. I can leave everyone else at the light. Got 35 mph on cruise control. Handles well. Fun to drive.

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  Saab AERO price point is tops - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By jimmy22 - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven this car for the summer ow and am still in "like". I couldnt affortd the BMW 5 wagon and the 3 series was too small and cost the same. I truly have to agree that this car much like the Audi A6 is more a high way car rather than a stop light to stop light stormer, but thats where I drive most. If I was living in a major urban center Id take a taxi .

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  I Love My Saaburu - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Oolon Coluphid - February 22 - 2:36 am

  This car is so much fun to drive that my wife and I regularly fight over the keys.

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  Saab makes great cars - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By baco99 - February 19 - 11:23 am

  Our 2003 Saab 9-5 Arc wagon is a superb car to own and drive. Yes, there are a few Saab quirks to get over, but the pleasure of driving it far outweighs any minor nuisances. Ours is equipped with the Sentronic automatic transmission and performs very well. In "Sport" mode the transmission responds very quickly, especially out of 1st gear and is like IRLs "push to pass" button. The interior is quiet and comfortable. The wagon has great cargo room and our 2 dogs love it back there. With a baby on the way, its a very sensible and responsible purchase, with much better gas mileage than our neighbors SUVs. This is our 4th Saab, and well be back to the well again in a few years.

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  First Time Saab Owner - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By BTG - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Saab....which Ive only had for 3 weeks, but have put over 3000 miles on it already. It performs better than any other sedan that Ive driven and is as much fun to drive as my exotic sports car. Im amazed at the fun factor. The standard tires are inadequate for the winter climate....so Ive already had to change out tires. And even with winter-appropriate tires, the car doesnt handle as well as I expected in snowy conditions. (afterall, Vail and Aspen both use Saabs for their police vehicles.)

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  the perfect AWD sport wagon - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By jvo - February 16 - 5:20 pm

  After driving this car for about 4000 miles I absolutely love it. The AWD is excellent in South Florida rain and Ive found the usable cargo space to be near that of my previous 96 4runner. After about a 1200 mile breakin period Ive notice a significant improvement in gas mileage to around 27 mpg (combined city/highway). The seats were supportive and comfortable on the numerous 3-4 hour trips Ive taken. Perhaps the best attributes of this car are the combination of Japanese reliability, European luxury service, and GM employee pricing. I repeatedly get inquiries and compliments on my unique car.

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  Disappointed with vehicle - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By 2006 Saab 9-3 - February 16 - 4:33 am

  From our purchase date we have been very disappointed with this car. You would think for the price of the vehicle it would hold up better. The car constantly has problems. Problems with the windshield wipers, windshield sprayers, headlights, gas tank cap, doors locking, ingition switch, sunroof, and it rattles. And the problems re-occur. We take it to the Saab dealership service department and two weeks later it is back in the shop for the exact same problem. The front leather seats are very uncomfortable. There is no support in the seat. When you are riding in the front you have a tendency to slip forward almost coming off of the seat. Cheap leather also. Very disappointed w/car.

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  Great buy - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Gina - February 12 - 7:36 pm

  Great car. Love the free oil changes and maintenance. Have not had one problem except using the wrong gasoline. Must use detergent gasoline (Shell, Amoco, etc). non-detergent gasoline will slow start-ups. Very comfortable car.

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  Excellent Car - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By Jim K - February 11 - 4:46 pm

  There isnt another wagon on the market with the Saab 9-3s combination of size, comfort, performance, economy, safety and value. I also do not understand why the automotive press continually under rates Saab vehicles. Nothing from Audi, Subaru, VW, Toyota, Honda, Acura compares - look at the specs - the 9-3 has more cargo capacity than anything within $15K of the price - assuming you want to drive a car and not a truck or truck like vehicle. Reliability has been excellent - have owned two 9-3s - gave older one to my son.

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  Mine suffered from oil sludge - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By 2000 9-3 Conv SE 2dr - February 11 - 3:36 am

  I bought my Saab 2000 SE Turbo Convertible as a Certified Used vehicle. After having the car for 2 months, the engine completely blew (as well as the Turbo and catalytic converter) because of a known issue with this 2000 model -- oil sludge. I fought and fought and fought for MONTHS with Saab corporate to fix my $15,000 used lemon. Saab Corporate kept insisting that I PROVE the vehicle had proper maintenance (i.e. oil changes) throughout its life. BUT I had JUST bought the vehicle from a Miami dealer as a CERTIFIED USED vehicle. That, by definition, means the vehicle had a proper maintenance throughout its history. Saab eventually replaced engine, turbo and now the car is fantatic!