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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  This is a great car - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By Bruce - January 20 - 12:33 pm

  Car runs excellent

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  Best car Ive ever had! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Confidential - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Im not long winded. This is the best car Ive ever had. If a car can be perfect in every respect, this is it.

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  LOVE MY CAR - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Lori - January 16 - 2:13 pm

  Memorial day this year I hit a deer head on at 65 mph. Grateful no one got hurt, but concerned the airbags didnt go off. I am still waiting for it to be fixed-over $8200 of damage. I miss my car, as it has been fantastic to drive. Never any problems not even in snow. But getting parts for a Saab I find isnt easy. I am told I am #123 in line for the radiator mount, and no clue on how long it takes to fill the back order. Ugh! But hopefully it is before summer is over, as this is why I bought the car. To put the top-down and go for my long drives. This car has been worth every Penny I paid on it.

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  Good Choice - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By DH - January 16 - 10:53 am

  Extremely pleased so far - handling, styling, and power meet my high expectations from Saab. Enjoy setting the automatic controls so the radio & heat come on the way I want them to. Love the "heads-up" display atop the dash, but why do I still have a big screen in the middle of the dash with nothing to display? The basic audio system is a bit bland - Im sure theres a subwoofer in there someplace, but my ears havent found it. The engine has nice perky pickup, although the delay while the turbo kicks in was odd at first. Still, I find myself doing 80 without realizing it.

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  A fun machine - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By BlueOkie - January 16 - 3:46 am

  My first non-US car. I found great quality in the workmanship and material. All leather is not created equal and this is the tops. Love the look and the sunroof. 3 different transmission settings allow for a fun and responsive drive. So far, Im sold on a SAAB. Free 36 month maintenance sure is nice. As said in manual, gas mileage improves as car is broken in. Ive gone from 23 to 26 now. Mobile One and 93 Octane is used.

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  Great Family Car with Sporty Feel - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Great Family Car wit - January 15 - 2:16 am

  This car is fully loaded. Nav, DVD, V8. Handles great, is very reliable. Our daughter feels like the car is part of the family. Great in snow and is faster than my BMW.

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  Surprisingly Fun - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By AX - January 14 - 3:20 am

  I test drove BMWs, Volkswagen, and Mercedes, but leased the Saab 2006, sports with 5 speed manual. The competition is more refined in most areas, but can’t compete with the overall value (at least $100 less per month than competition). I preferred the manual to the automatic version of 9-5 Saab, as the manual is more in tune with the road, with less front torque pull. It is surprisingly fun to drive, even when compared to comparable competition, even if not as powerful. The seats are probably better than competition. Additionally, XM is a pleasure. Rated very high for safety.

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  Third Saab - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By windwomen - January 13 - 5:00 pm

  Nice car! Runs better on Super fuel. The front seat very cozy, back seats nice but not as much room as older models. Pretty sweet to look at in black.

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  Best Wagon Ive Owned - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By maustinpdx - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this wagon to replace my 9-3 which had almost 200k on it. I was really dissapointed that SAAB stopped making a hatchback, so I looked at the 9-5 wagon. I dont think Ive ever liked a car more. Its comfortable, civilized, great ride - smooth without feeling mushy and give you a real sense of security. Considering the size and power a steady 25mpg in mixed driving is great. Ive gotten low 30s on road trips.

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  amazing car - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By cara - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is so fun to drive!! THe handling and acceleration make it a great car for traffic-the interor is so driver friendly-would love mnore cupholders_that is my only complaint! I love my car-you should get them from a saab dealer-and let them maintain them carmx is not all that it is cracked up to be!!