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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  Great car, flawed by mixed reliability - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By GF - February 25 - 5:06 am

  This is a great car to drive, and enjoy. Good size, performance and fun to drive. Unfortunately while it did not cost anything to fix as it is still under warranty, this car went into the dealer about 4 or 5 times over the 2 years for problems related to engine not starting or quitting unexpectedly. I had Saabs before with better luck, so maybe this was not typical.

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  Saab 2003 - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Lee - February 18 - 4:00 am

  It is a very fun vehicle to drive.

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  Poor Saab Reliability - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By dinori - February 6 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a new car that has had so many problems. The car does have excellent J.D. Powers Initial quality. However, it falls rapidly downhill after the first year of ownership. In 50,000 miles: 1) Replace the turbocharger 2) Replace the engine computer 3) Replace the SID Computer (information display) 4) Repace power steering line 5) Replace heat warmer switch 6) Replace door trim 7) Replace head lamps four times 8) Repair windshield washer jets 9) Replace rear windshield wiper assembly 10) Replace Brake Rotors New Problems to be Serviced: 1) A/C Compressor Moans at low engine speed 2) Second Power Steering Line Leaking

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  nice car, nice rental - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By jj - February 1 - 10:36 am

  This car hugs the road! This car is sleek and beautiful! This car sucks in the snow with the high performance tires! This car loves being in the shop! (I guess it misses its brothers and sisters at the dealer). Man, I love the way this car handles and looks. But, it goes into the shop every month or two for something new malfunctioning. Tires wear down like crazy. I wish they would have taken time to fix all of the electrical kinks as they did in the styling.

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  Great vehicle! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Preston - January 23 - 1:43 am

  I love my car. It has been wonderful and only issues have been its common gnomes in the electrical work/displays (funny at times, annoying at others). Comfort is above par and makes daily long drives bearable. Turbo lag is certainly there, but as soon as it realizes that its supposed to go, it does so with awesomeness. Plenty of power and fuel economy to boot. Overall, a wonderful car for my first dive into the luxury branded vehicles.

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  Great performer but lots of noises - 2008 Saab 9-5
  By steve G - January 22 - 2:30 am

  This is my 5th Saab. Very comfortable, fun to drive. Just completed a 300 mile trip and got an honest 32 mpg. The only problem are the various rattles and chirps which come and go. Dealer cant seem to fix them. Had the same issue with my 2006 95. If little rattles annoy you, youd better go elsewhere. otherwise a lot of car for the money.

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  Love my Saab - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By mazz5 - January 18 - 12:12 am

  I bought my 1999 9-3 for 6k with 45k miles on it. Since then I have put 55k on it with minimal repairs. Probably the most economical car I could have asked for, however there are a number of things wrong with my ride right now, its literally falling apart slowly and not worth investing money in repairs. Aside from random problems, some of which are due to an accident, I still love this car and the engine would probably be good for another 100k. Would love to buy another one but all the small problems are keeping me away from Saab for awhile.

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  Great car but - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By dan r - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased my saab (linear) Ext is very nice but the int really looks cheap if you dont upgrade the sound systems which really stinks. My kids small hand radio sounds better. You will need to keep the window shut in order to hear it. It does rides nice....

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  Solid, Ford not affecting them yet - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By ejohn - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Inherited the last two years of this lease. Probably wouldnt have selected this car myself, but came to really appreciate it. It hasnt had one mechanical problem. It is fast, too. You get a little torque steer when accelerating, but that has never bothered me. Very smooth at high speeds. When we had our cold spell last winter here in Chicago, it began to creak a bit which makes me wonder how it will be in the next few years. I would recommend this car for a lease, dont know about the long term.

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  Fun to drive...expensive to fix - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By gohard - January 9 - 8:03 am

  I bought my Saab 2001 used with 20k miles in 2004, now has 98k miles. It has been a great dog mobile and triathlon equipment car. I have a love/hate relationship with the Turbo. It has gone once already as has the battery, brakes, cup holder, lights (frequently), electric panel, A/C, etc. I have easily spent over $10k in repairs. The ignition is in a terrible place and the car has turned off when a larger person passenger accidentally bumped the ignition. I thought it was a lemon but from reading other reviews this is typical of this model. I had hoped to drive it forever but I dont think it will last that long. The interior is nice but I wont buy a performance vehicle again.