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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  Lots of Bang for the Buck - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By JTS75 - February 10 - 10:16 pm

  Had my 05 9-3 for a year, and no problems other than a faulty radio which was warrantied without hassle. Its FWD, so its just not quite a Bimmer 330 or a A4 Quattro, but then again your not going to get a deal on either of those vehicles like you will on the 9-3 if you look hard enough. Indeed, with that factor considered, I think the Saab is probably the best overall value in the entry-level lux- sport sedan class. Manual version is a blast to drive and the turbo makes it peppy enough to be fun. Handling is tight and braking is exceptional. Build quality is OK, theres a few cheesy design features that will bum you out a bit. Oh and the stereo is horrific. Other than that, great car!

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  Fast car for Old Man - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By RBK9 - February 10 - 9:40 am

  I love this car! I have yet to see another one on the road. The titan grey color is perfect. The seats are more comfortable than my wifes Cad. STS. Nitpicks: There is an ever present yellow light that tells you whether the passenger side airbag is activated or not. Wish I could turn it off. There is a little bit of road noise, but this may be typical of wagons. I reduced the noise considerably by buying the optional cargo mat. I have been getting 21 mpg, but the low fuel light comes on after about 275 miles. Huge glove box! Terrific handling and acceleration. I have automatic (6 spd) with manual override. Shift with the paddles or with the shifter - its a blast! I highly recommend this car.

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  LEMON - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By jaime - February 9 - 6:06 pm

  We first bought this car at a dealership that went out of business,not knowing that. Saab corp., decided not to contact anyone about this. The car has too many electrical problems.The car has been in the shop about 20x the first year. Every time we turn around there is a problem. We will never buy a Saab again, cant wait to sell it. Very disappointed in every aspect of Saab and there corporation. Consider this a LEMON.

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  Fun car with lots of storage - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By BMV - February 9 - 12:46 pm

  Ive owned this Saab for 2 and a half years. Purchased it used with 58k miles. It will reach 90k soon. Very fun to drive. Turbo lag is minimal. Feels taut at high speeds, nice steering feedback. But wait, this is a family car. The trunk is huge for strollers, golf clubs and oversized stuffed animals from the in-laws. Pulled the hatch cover off recently and packed it to the window for a week long trip to the mountains. It is a quirky Euro car though. Strange issues like Purge Valve throwing CEL codes, bad crank position sensor stranding my wife when the engine compartment got hot (would not start, the fix was to squirt cold water at it). Find yourself a Saab specialist you can trust.

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  Safety, Performance, Reliability = SAAB - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By fredf - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed every mile of the first 25,000 for this automobile. It handles great, and provides the safety, performance, reliability and comfort to make each ride an enjoyable experience. It is a fast car, get ready to move into the fast lane; even with the minimum sized 2.0 Turbo engine. The ride is firm, but comfortable. The interior is quiet, the controls are very nice, it reminds me of the cockpit of a small airplane. The car has a powerful AC which uses an air filter prior to bringing air into the car.

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  Gonna Buy It From Lease - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By esfoad - February 1 - 10:00 am

  We leased this vehicle new. We average 12000 miles per year. Its been a joy. Completely reliable, 23 avg mpg since new with 75% local and 25% highway miles. Our dealership is responsive and wonderful to work with. We looked at the new model and while its impressive, we feel that the residual value of our vehicle makes it too attractive not to buy.

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  Balance of Comfort and Performance - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By rad - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Its a great car, with the right balance of comfort, performance and economy. Its aethetics are hard to beat, inside and out. It has a comfortable rear seat, adequate for 3 adults, perfect for 2 and my 3 kids. I can get 4 ice hockey bags in the trunk, 2 adults and 2 kids. With the AT in SPORT mode, the car plain out hauls, as it does in MANUAL mode (but MANUAL mode can be awkward.) In DRIVE mode, it performs well, at the rate of 28+ mpg. Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

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  NICE..... - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By choop - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Since I am a quiet freak, I always avoided convertables but finally broke down and picked one up - and sure glad I chose the 9-3 Areo... Always liked the styling and was very impressed with the quick response, nimble handling, solid (but comfortable) ride, and nice sound system. The manual shift mode really enhances the performance and would challange anyone off the line. I love its unique styling as it offers a breath of fresh air. Another great point is that we can get two full sets of golf clubs with other necessary stuff in the trunk WITH the top down - good luck trying that in one of the competing models...

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  I love to drive this car!!!!! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By bbelmont-peters - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I had a short list of the Saab 9-3, Jaguar x-type 3.0, Acura TSX, and Audi A4 3.0. I found the Saab had better performance, better handling, nore confortable interrior, and a better value for the dollar. This car is so high tech ...Ill need a college level class to fully utilize all of its technology. I am enjoying it more and more with every mile.

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  Nothing else is even close - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By senko555 - January 30 - 1:33 am

  I am a used car dealer and like cars a lot but cannot compare anything else with my Saab. Bought used one with 60k and now at 120k cost of my repairs are $0. When driving cars like accords or Camry from auctions I just cannot understand way people like them so much. Will never own any other brand for sure. I am sorry to hear that other people have some problems. Just change oil every 8k and transmission oil at 90k with coils and be happy that own one of best cars around. There is no timing belt to worry about either (timing chain) good for life time of vehicle. Still original battery after 7 years and 120k. Last year one Saab was retired because of over 1,000,000 miles. I hope this will be helpful.