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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  Repairs on high mileage 99 9-3 - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By nhundt - December 9 - 2:36 am

  Regretfully gave up my 99 9-3 today. After 136K miles it was costing a fortune in repairs & replacements: fuel pump ($700), electronic ignition computer ($700), air vent selector switch broke nearly 1/2 doz. times. Now the engine gaskets are leaking coolant into the crankcase, front struts need replacing, and soon it will need a new clutch. Some items (e.g. clutch) are expected but other repairs were an expensive annoyance compared to 84 Celica which this car replaced. With my 9-3s book value next to nothing, chose to avoid throwing more $ at this car; I purchased an 08 Civic EX-L instead. Conclusion: Saabs will see hi miles only if you spend big bucks to keep em going.

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  77000 Miles and No Problems - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By RogKel - December 6 - 10:23 am

  Still a quiet, smooth ride. 2.0t has more than adequate power. Summer mileage 26 to 28 mpg on regular; winter mileage 23 to 25 in NH. No mechanical or electrical problems other than H7 low beam bulbs have a 4-6 month life expectancy. Exterior and interior have held up well. Highly recommend.

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  Fantastic Car - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Kennn - December 6 - 10:00 am

  This has been a fantastic automoblie. It had fairly high milage when I purchased it (60K) but it feels like it was just getting broken in. It is tons of fun to drive in sport mode and gets excellent mileage in normal mode. All around - very quiet and smooth. Took it on a cross country road trip this summer and loved every minute. I will definitely be looking at another Saab when it comes time to purchase another.

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  Lovely - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By tommy2 - December 6 - 10:00 am

  The only car Ive ever had that I love to just go out driving. Outstanding feature -- road trips -- further the better. Loves to run - settles down about 70 and gets better after that. Great sound system too. Addictive if you are used to Detroit iron.

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  Very reliable with great gas mileage - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Sam - December 2 - 12:30 am

  I have had to drive a lot more the last four months with a job change, so I am now putting a lot more mileage on my Saab than I did initially. Only have 26,000 miles but expect to have 36,000 by next May when the car turns three. So far, it has been trouble free except for the decal coming off the hood once which was fixed under warranty. Otherwise, this car gets great gas mileage (29-36 on highway, 18-24 in city - beating EPA estimates of 19 and 29), is completely reliable, and has the acceleration of a new V6 Honda Accord with about 10 mpg better. No smoking engines, no batteries, no rotors - none of the problems others report. I guess I live a charmed life.

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  Saab 9-7X (8 Cyl.) - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By kevinps - November 30 - 5:46 am

  The car rides smoothly and quietly, and the gas consumption isnt that much more than the 9-3.

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  SAAB has done it again - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By william72 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I used to own a 9-3, wonderful car, but my new 2002 9-5 AERO is close to perfect. The handeling extremly good, the SAAB engine is worth a Nobel-price (as usuall in SAAB) etc. Ive tried every Volvo made but they have nothing to compare with SAAB. SAABs number 1!

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  Surprising - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By JGC - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I have owned three convertibles but this one is the best by far. I was not in the market for a Saab, I was looking at BMW and MB and Chrylser. The BMWs styling was old and the tops come with plastic windows. The MB CLK was nice but too pricey. I test drove the Saab and loved it. It is the quickest off the line and the top is great. The car has no rattles and wind noise is nonexistent. I drove the Volvo C70 to compare and it was slower, handled less well, rattled and was noisey with the top up. The back seats are useful, unlike any other car I considered. It is a great luxury sports car and the price is reasonable.

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  Safe, reliable, comfortable SAAB - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By kidlatAzul - November 25 - 8:03 am

  I purchased a 2005 SAAB 9-3 because I wanted the safest vehicle I could afford. In 2005, the 9-3 was one of only a few vehicles on the IIHS top safety pick list. Fortunately, to date I have not had to test the 9-3s many safety features, but feel reassured driving this car. But in addition to being safe, the 9-3 has anchor-like brakes, handles great, is comfortable for all-day cruising, has ample acceleration, and gets up to 37 mpg on highway. Even around town, Ive never gotten less than 26 mpg (manual tranny helps). Only problems after 3 years & 56,000 miles have been headlight bulbs burning out twice, each time covered by warranty. The nicest car Ive ever owned.

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  Wonderful car - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By JL - November 25 - 12:36 am

  This is a lovely car to drive. The performance, ride, handling, versatility, and comfort are all top notch. I have the automatic transmission which is the best I have ever driven. Fuel economy is very good for the power and size of the car. The radio is a bit confusing and has way more features than I need. It can be extensively customized but it takes a lot of patience and help from the manual to figure it all out. The front seats are very comfortable, the rear seat is also nice, but a little too low for tall people. The hatch takes tons of cargo, the look of the car is lovely. Especially with the incentives Saab offers, this care is an incredible value!