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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  Old Design, But Still Works - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By Derreck - March 8 - 12:53 pm

  Bought this vehicle used. Was a GMAC off lease vehicle with only 23,000 miles. Love that I dont see many on the road. I understand that this car is basically the same as it was 10 years ago, but it is fun to drive and feels very solid and still looks modern. Its too bad SAAB is in so much financial trouble. I believe had they priced their vehicles more in the VW range instead of the BMW range they would have sold in much greater numbers and turned a profit.

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  Fun and Safe - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Judi - March 8 - 8:03 am

  This is my third Saab. Ive only spent $140 on the car since purchased new. I drive it every day. Mileage is great on the highway (about 30 mpg) but on city streets it drops to the teens. A bit of trouble with the locks, and speakers not great in the 2004. Huge trunk but still prefer the old Saab hatchback (had my 1985 900 for 20 years). Safety features ahead of its time.

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  Great Saab 9-3! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Carmaster216 - March 8 - 12:53 am

  The Saab 9-3 is a pretty good car. In between its great luxury and its being very sporty I would say this car a very good car to have.

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  Great in a snowy climate - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By snocrvr - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Im very happy with my 9-3! Best all- around car I have ever owned, including VW, Mercedes, and Lincoln. I drive a lot of freeway and town miles every day for my job, and this a totally enjoyable and reliable (so far) car to drive. The build quality is good, and the seats are sensational. I love the thermostatically controlled heated seats. The hatch and fold-down rear seats are great for carrying big and bulky items. Wonderful winter car in Minnesota.

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  very impressive - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By Jacques Talbot - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Excellent performance,and superb stability

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  Best Wagon Value - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By RMP - March 5 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I compared the Volvo V70 and Passat GLX to the Saab. The Saab was the clear winner. Exterior looks aside, this vehicle was by far the most bang for the buck. After the dealership took $7,000 off the sticker it was a no brainer. It even looks pretty good in midnight blue. Its sportier than the Volvo and more distinctive than the Passat. The interior is top notch.

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  A car for snow - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By Ken Jensen - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Winter in our part of Canada lasts from November to March. The road handling of the front wheel drive Saab is wonderful. Year round, this Saab spends half its life on secondary highways and gravel. At 30 months it has gone 75,000 km (47,000 miles). It has performed flawlessly. The only servicing has been oil changes.

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  I love my SAAB - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Thorsteinn7 - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I love my SAAB. This is my 5th SAAB in 20 years. It is fun to drive, in snow and summer. Steady on the road. Reliable. In the evenings I sometimes just stand by the window watching my SAAB.

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  New to Saab - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By GeeWhiz - February 28 - 10:10 pm

  I first drove a Saab 9-3 Aero , but it was sold, so I drove this 9-5 Arc. The 9-5 Arc is more of a touring car and is larger and less sporty than the 9-3 Aero. The ride is much smoother than the 9-3 Aero and the Interior is better designed. I love this car - power on demand with the 2.3 L turbo and great gas mileage as long as you get out of city driving conditions. Only owned a short time, but all the research seems to suggest that routine maintenance is key and Synthetic Oil changes every 4-5K miles is a must.

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  Love the Arc - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By DoctorV3774 - February 27 - 11:53 pm

  Just picked up my Arc on June 16. It is fantastic. Ride is terrific, great sound system and lots of features standard. With the GM Employee Discount it is a steal!!!!