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:

• 

  100 mile commute seems a lot shorter! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Luba - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Just bought my 2003 9-3 ARC last week w/auto and sport wheels. GM employee discounts for the 2003 model made it tough to pass on. Already put 800 miles on the Saab. Replaced a 1995 Volvo 850 turbo. No comparison, the Volvo was quick, but did not handle the turns, the Saab takes the turns like it is on rails,a lot of fun. I would recommend this car to anyone that is considering a euro sport sedan. I also drove the Infinity G35 sedan, which was quicker, but felt like a very heavy car, not as nimble. So far I love the car, and Ill keep you posted on our progress.

• 

  Excellent Car - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Rob Aiken - November 8 - 8:53 am

  I have owned my 2005 Saab 9-3 Linear for 7 months now and like it more and more everytime I drive it. Usually when I buy a new car, I start to notice little things about it, that I dont like within a month or 2. That has not happened with my 9-3. In fact, the opposite has happened. I have started to find little things about the 9-3 that I like more after driving it awhile. The suspension and handling on this car are unbelievable. My friend owns a 2005 BMW 325i and after driving my car, wishes he had purchased a Saab 9-3 instead. It is a little cramped in the back seat, but is fine for kids. Or 3 adults in back for short drives. I will always buy Saab now and cant wait for my 9-7x.

• 

  My favorite car of all time! - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By Curt - November 4 - 3:26 pm

  Ive had this car for nearly a year and I love it! Its powerful, comfortable and gets very good gas mileage. The car is loaded with features and is designed with safety in mind. This car offers so much value for the dollar. I traded-in a Jaguar XK8 for this Aero and I have never regretted the decision. This car is great in the snow and hauls five passengers quite comfortably. The trunk is very large and the interior is well laid out. This is my favorite car Ive ever owned.

• 

  Im so happy! - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Milan - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Pefect!The Saab 9-5 is comfortable, convenient and enjoyable to drive around town and on the open road. Clever ergonomic solutions, like seats with fans, an aircraft-style map light,roomy cargo area with a perfectly flat floor,with its high-output turbocharged engine, puts a lot of power under the pedal for quick throttle response at highway speeds!

• 

  Finally a Fun car to drive! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By ipnman - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Have the 9-3 convertible about a week, and cant stop smiling! This car is fun to drive, and every where I go people come up and say what a great looking car. If your looking at convertibles, do youself a favor and test drive the Saab.

• 

  SAAB: Totally Under-Rated! - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By EFenderman - November 2 - 10:00 am

  My new 9-3 Convertible is a blast to drive! I would have never guessed that a car could be so fun to drive until I test drove this car! The excelleration is "Jet smoooth"! The quality leather coachworks are top-notch. I settled on the automatic and love the the "S" mode button on the shifter. You can certainly sense the "aircraft" heritage of these fine automobiles. More people need to discover the quality and value of these cars.

• 

  Different from the rest - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Michelle_70 - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car. Distinguish style and lot of torque with turbo engine. Coll features like ignition key and above all if you want to be different from all the BMW 3 series and still drive something which is even better performance and handling then go for SAAB.

• 

  Saab surprise - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By happy owner - October 29 - 10:33 am

  After selling my old 900s, I looked at VW (Passat), Volvos and Audis. The 900 was okay, but I dont miss it. Then I saw that GM was getting generous with its cash back program, so I decided to give Saab another try. I was glad I did. The interior quality and the handling were better than the Passat or the Volvo v40, and on par with the Audi A4, but 5k cheaper than the Audi. And after cash back, only about 2k more than a VW. The interior and the trunk are larger than any of those competitors, which is great, given the baby seat we recently had to install. The 9-3 offers 99 percent of the quality of a BMW 3 series or Audi A4, but for a lot less money. This car is a steal.

• 

  My Experience with a 99 SAAB - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By relady - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I had never owned a SAAB before but will continue to buy them based on my first experience. I am in my car continually and always find it a pleasure to drive. I love the way it handles. Its sporty, yet very reliable and functional. I have had extremely good luck with mechanics even though I put a lot of mileage on it in my line of business (I sell real estate). The only draw back is the price of repairs, Ive overcome that somewhat by finding a great non-Dealer mechanic who knows SAABs and is not out to make beaucoup bucks!

• 

  Loved my 99 Saab - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Marie - October 25 - 7:26 pm

  I bought my 99 Saab with 30,000 miles on it, had it for almost 8 years and brought it to the junkyard with 160,000 miles. It was in need of a few mechanical repairs which, although expensive I would have gladly made since I am sure the car had much life left. Unfortunately, the frame had rot on it. I learned a valuable lesson to wash salt off my car in the winter. The car was fun to drive and I will miss it. The repairs are expensive-I almost died when I paid for my first break job. However, the expensive maintenance is balanced by not having to make major repairs. At 150,000 miles I made my first repair-a fuel pump, that cost $900. I always had it maintained by a Saab specialist.