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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  nice awd wagon for cheap money - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By old_wrx_owner - June 27 - 9:43 pm

  I owned a 2001 wrx sedan and loved it (until the turbo lag got to me). i replaced it with a 325xi sedan. but my dog-toting lifestyle demands more space then a 325xi has, so i needed a wagon. i didn;t want to spend much but i needed awd. thanks to the gm employee discount, i got a 9-2x linear for $17,300. so far the car has been great. i drove it from Texas to New York and back (4,300 miles) and it didnt even burn any oil! the brakes are a little mushy just like the ones on my wrx.

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  1st week - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Hoagie - June 23 - 8:36 pm

  So far, this car has been a blast to drive. The 165 hp is more than enough for my tastes. I have an hour drive, and am 6 ft, 230 lbs. No discomfort whatsoever. And 28 mph to boot. The 5 speed makes this package all the more fun.

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  Saab FUN - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By mschae - June 23 - 2:03 am

  Fun and exciting to drive. Recently had two rather large rocks hit windshield. However, on further inspection not a mark was noticed. This car has very rapid pickup in the 70-80 mph range.

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  Excellent Sport Sedan - - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By mmeytin - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in December more or less by accident. I was looking for a small, fun to drive sedan, and test drove Audi A4 (not bad, but felt crammed and small inside, plus ergonomics of the dash left something to be desired), BMW325 (nice ride, but overpriced with even simple things optional plus bad MPG) and Lexus IS300 (not at all impressed). Stopped by at Saab dealership basically on a whim, and after test driving a new 9-3 I was very impressed. GMs incentives helped with the purchase - the car was eligible for 0-0-0 deal. The car is fun to drive, but at the same time very stable on the road.

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  This is a Saab? - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Nutmegger - June 21 - 2:00 am

  The good news: goodbye torque steer, goodbye mushy handling, goodbye alarming amount of flex over bad roads. The bad news: its no longer a Saab. Wheres the quirkiness? Hatch? Supple ride? Now its just another generic Eurosedan with a stiff ride...

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  a road less traveled - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By scotty b - June 21 - 2:00 am

  WHAT A GREAT CAR ! Quick, agile, fun. IF you want a sporty feel the 17 inch wheel sport package is a must. I just like the fact that its the only one in the parking lot amongst 20 Bmws and 10 A4s. A lot of standard features for the price. ALso, what an amazing improvement with the turbo chager itself. Very little lag.

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  Somethings Almost Always Broken - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By teblhasa - June 19 - 8:36 pm

  It would be a great car, if there wasnt always something going wrong with it! Ive only had it not even 6 months and I want a new car. Some of the 9-3s are great, just make sure you have it thoroughly inspect it before you buy. But it is a lot of fun to drive (when it behaves), and it turns heads! I love how expensive they look all cleaned up, and the really nice infotainment display.

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  What a terrific car! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By kwelch01 - June 16 - 10:00 am

  If you can be open minded enough to embrace the uniqueness and character of this car you will truly be astounded at what a wonderful automobile it is. I have always been a fan of Saab yet until now was never fond enough of the product to purchase one for myself. I have never been so happy with a car. With enough time spent, the car just makes sense. Everything is in the correct place. Everything is well though out. The attention to detail, while simple is astounding. The lines are clean and uncluttered. I can honestly say that I have never driven a car that gets so much attention and inquiries.

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  GM has ruined this car - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By ExSaabLover - June 15 - 9:10 pm

  I have had 2 Saabs in the past and I LOVED the cars. I think my current one is a lemon. Its been at the dealer for repair 4 times already, and I just owned it for 6 months. Very poor build quality.

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  Best Car Ive Owned So Far! - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By luxman - June 14 - 11:26 am

  I have wanted a Saab 9-3 for a long time so I looked at one last year, but I figured they were going to restyle them soon, so I waited. Im glad I did, because the new one looks AWESOME! I got a silver one with all the options. Tan leather, wood trim, heated seats, 6 cd player, fog lights, and power seats. I like the headlights a lot too. they look cool driving at night. Standard satellite radio and onstar is nice too. This thing handles like a dream too. I have the automatic with tiptronic, and it is fun to drive it in tiptronic mode. If you want a high quality, sporty car for under $45,000, you MUST get this car!