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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  Bad Decision - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Mike29 - November 24 - 9:00 pm

  After I purchased my 9-3 I have had nothing but problems with it. I have had to replace the tires twice in 2 years. I only drive it 7500-8000 mi a year. I have had a check engine light come on several times which three Saab dealers cant come to a conclusion on. I have had my power steering shut off while driving with my young sons in the back seat. Other than the MPG and turbo this car is not a good decision to purchase. I WILL NOT be looking at purchasing another Saab anytime soon!

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  My last SAAB - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By jmklwck - September 21 - 10:33 am

  Purchased new - experience has been less than stellar with immediate recalls of front wheel axles. As the weather got colder the first winter (2 months after the purchase) the car would not immediately start. After repeated trips to the dealership the problem was resolved with an adjustement to the engine software. Multiple recalls on the vehicle - seat belts, gas cap, etc. I have had a constant check engine light issue which I was told was a secondary vacuum pump for the turbo ($600+) that I have chosen not to repair since it service tech stated it only affected mileage which I have seen no change.

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  My last Saab - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Dan J - August 14 - 5:30 am

  We bought our 9.5 wagon new and drove it approximately 10,000m per year. After a very short period, we began to experience a broad range of mechanical issues and failures. This was in spite of the fact that we brought the car back to the dealer for every scheduled maintenance item. The list of failures is very long and the costs have been very high. The final straw was when, after replacing the timing belt as required, the bearing in the timing belt assembly failed and the engine was destroyed. Do not buy this car under any circumstances unless you are ready to pay for many repair bills and want to become best friends with a mechanic.

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  SAAB Story - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By bblngtme - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Sorry, I cant give my SAAB 9-3 a good review. My car was lemon and was returned to the manufacturer. Even though the engine and transmission worked well, the electronics had problems as well as the parking brake. I had to have the car towed into the dealership 6 times, 3 for the engine immobilizer shutting down the car, and 3 times because the parking brake would not release. Oh well, the car in no longer an issue for me

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  unreliable car in the world - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Worst car i ever had - May 12 - 12:10 pm

  I brought this stupid car and didnt even had it for 9 months, the car spent most of its time in the garage then in my parking lot. has a lot of electrical problems( doesnt start some times, the theft alarm goes off, doors and trunk lock and unlock themselves, the ac doesnt turn on some times, have to restart the car every time , to get this problem fixed). the interior surface peels off, very cheap looking interior and the materials used are so cheap. its nothing but a chevy malibu (with a Saab badge), better we can call it SAALIBU. pls dont get attracted to the looks, every thing else sucks.

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  dont ever buy one! - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By saabing - May 2 - 10:00 am

  i have had my 01 9-3 for 6 moth. it has now 97000 miles, I have replaced the air compressor, all belts and hoses, Transmission, muffler, and more. I have spent more than 5 thousand dollars on top of the purchase price of this lemmon. Dont be saabing like me and never buy one used. Oh and the locks and the seats dont work anymore, electrical problems

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  Read this before you buy!! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By MikeCo - April 11 - 2:00 am

  This is my second review of this car on this forum. Im now up to 8200 miles and the car has spent a total of 7 days at the dealership for different electronic glitches and engine issues. Also, I got into a minor fender-bender and it took five weeks to repair because Saab couldnt provide a tie- rod. Needless to say, parts can be difficult to get for this fairly new model. By far, the least reliable car I have ever owned. I took off the standard 16" Pirelli tires because they were terrible and upgraded to 17" Sumitomos. Big improvement. Please email me if youd like any other info. on this model. There are much better cars out there.

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  So disappointed - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By raedej - December 27 - 7:43 pm

  I love the comfort, styling and drive in the Saab 9-5. But the quality and therefore reliability of this car is terrible. Yes, its the electrical system - head/tail lights burn out too quickly, the entire key/ignition system had to be replaced (by me, after the warranty expired), the climate control periodically goes on the fritz; even the digital display loses pixels on a regular basis. A real disappointment on my first and last Saab.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By SaabLemon - November 20 - 8:10 am

  This car has been in the shop every three months, nothing but problems - it looks good, but it doesnt work. Absolutely a lemon. It is 3.5 years old with 35k miles on it and it needs another $2000 worth of work - radiator leaking, transmission leaking, front and back brakes/rotors need replacing, 4 new tires, the battery was replaced one week ago. The electrical system was worked on at least 6 times, the window got stuck open, the alarm would go off randomly even when I was in the car with the key etc. etc. Dont buy a Saab - GM ruined the make.

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  A truly heartbreaking expereince - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Horrified/Sadened - October 2 - 9:46 pm

  After 8 months and only 10K miles my once passionate purchase is now a shop visiting menace. Small things I was coping with. Now the transmission. Completely unreliable even for work commutes. Rattles galore and surprisingly weak gas mileage (24.2) at high altitude. Cant wait to get rid of it.