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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  Best car for the money! - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Paul Hughes - January 1 - 2:00 am

  The Aero wagon could be the most balanced car on the market, if you look at price, performance, comfort, fuel economy and cargo space. The car is has no torque steer like my old Viggen did. The automatic transmission shifts seamlessly, and for a wagon, it corners with minimal body lean. Vented and heated seats are fantastic, and the auto dimming interior and outside mirrors should become the de facto standard on all cars. The Harmon Kardon stereo sounds incredible. This is my second Saab and I still remain a convert to this unique and wonderful car!

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  Wonderful touring convertible - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Bristol - December 31 - 12:10 am

  Very good mileage, extremely high fun-to-drive quotient, intuitive controls, plethora of options at a very reasonable lease or used-car purchase price. Many cold-weather features make it a true 4-season vehicle. Good trunk space for a convertible. Opening/closing top is a spectator event. Auto with manual shifting helps the acceleration and overcomes the lack of low-end torque. When turbo kicks in, the high-pitched whine and burst of speed is exhilarating. Comfortable seating, much-improved visibility. Safety features are industry-leading (popup rollbars, best crash test scores). Rear-seat access is improved, although seating is tight.

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  Solid fun convertible - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By 3rdSaabCvt - December 26 - 3:56 am

  This is my 3rd Saab convertible and its great. Nice balance of performance and economy. Ride and handling are way, way better than my previous ones. GM Ecotech engine could be more powerful but is extremely smooth and balanced. Interior is a downgrade from previous cars. Guages look cheap and SID information display was better when at eye level instead of buried in speedometer, but seats are super comfortable seats. Fuel economy is much better than EPA estimates. Im getting 23 in town with AC on and 29 in my daily commute which is 80% highway, again with AC on. Fog lights should be standard and hidden exhaust pipe is cheap, should have polished tips. Great soft top - high quality.

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  saabjsb - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Joanne Braun - December 23 - 2:03 pm

  I love the way this car looks and the way it drives. Handles very well and the convertible top is easy to operate. Has a very solid feel on the road and good pick-up. Tilt wheel lever is hard to reach, as it is underneath the steering wheel.

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  Awesome...my second Convertible Saab - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By SAAB for me Baby - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This is my second SAAB. My first Saab 900 SE Turbo was a 1997 and I drove it for three years . In Winter, I drove right by BMWs during our major blizzards and watched them spin their wheels . The seats that first drew me to the car. They are so comfortable.. I am also 63" and fit nicely into the SAAB with leg room to spare. Performance-wise the new 2003 is a better handling car. The cat back sport exhaust growls and shell stay with or pass most cars. They build this particular car on the same assembly line as the Porsche Boxster...a little known Fact.

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  Great Value! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By danmc - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I drove the BMW 325, MB C230 Sedan, Acura TSX and Audi A4 before deciding on the 9-3 Linear. I drove the Arc with a sport suspension as well but teh car did not seem as integrated as the Linear. Got the touring and drivers packages for a great price when GM was doing cash rebates in August. I really wanted a European car so the TSX was out and the rest just cost too much equipped as well as the Saab. Car drives great. Plenty of power for the freeway merges and gets great gas mileage.

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  Lots of FUN - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By oxie1 - December 10 - 6:16 pm

  I owned the car for 6 months and had to put about $500 a month in it, but no major problems just maintenance. I would recommend. Drove from ATL to Taladega @ an average of 130MPH and was just as smooth.

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  Great buy - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Dave - December 10 - 2:43 pm

  I love my 06 9-7x 5.3 I have owned many SUVs and this is the best one. 300 hp and I can get 24 mpg on a trip. The interior feels strong and solid unlike my old Nissan.

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  Lots of Miles; Lots of Fun! - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By zztopgun - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This Saab 9-3 is a solidly built quality vehicle. The handling is responsive and the styling exceeded my expectations.

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  Our 5th Saab - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By sunbeam - December 7 - 2:00 am

  We just purchased our fifth Saab, a 9-5 linear 2.3t. As usual, we were not disappointed. Saabs are great fun to drive, especially in a manual trans. and this one is no exception.Great comfort, cockpit, fuel economy, and value. We chose this over the BMW 525, the Jaguar X-type, Audi A6. Glad we stuck with Saab.