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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  Pleased with Saab 9-5 Aero wagon - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By wendieb04 - June 3 - 8:53 am

  The car has been very comfortable and fun to drive. This is the most horse power I have had, felt I had power to maneuver when needed in traffic. Gas economy is good for size of car it is. When I have had passengers with me they have always commented what a nice ride they are having. I agree that back seat is just about as comfortable as the front and plenty of leg room. I think you get a great value for the money. Have had 2 minor recall issues I have had to get fixed. One complaint is that covered maintenance is only at 5k, 15k, 30k and 45k. Oil changes between every 5k are not covered.

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  What a love hate relationship! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Joe - June 1 - 8:43 am

  This is the best of cars, this is the worst of cars. Sound familiar 03 Saab 9-3 owners? Whats good is good- and thats handling, braking, cornering, traction, and great responsiveness from the outstandingly smooth (for a 4 cyl) engine. Great aerodynamic exterior too-a holdover from the Saab-Scania days. The interior is techy rich though the myriad of chicklet sized buttons is obnoxious. Now, whats bad is bad- and thats just plain lack of fit and finish and totally ridiculous reliability. I have the same problems I have read before- plastic rattling dashboard, OnStar meltdowns, thunking shocks (BADDD!!), run on transmission. Just get it right guys. This car has incredible potential.

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  fast/dependable/flexible - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By djdozer - May 30 - 2:00 am

  perfect in every way,except for the bumpers.. if you live in the city,, people of course bump in to them, and scratch them and they quickly look like s///t even if the rest of the car is perfect.. a design flaw in my opinion.. but otherwise.. great job. Standard radio/speakers// also kind of suck.

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  Best car ever - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By soggy - May 29 - 8:00 pm

  the only downside of this car is that theres no AWD, which will hopefully be out in 2008. Other than that, Im in love!

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  Saab 9-3 subpar on reliability - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Lauri Welch - May 28 - 12:20 pm

  Since owning my Saab 9-3 it has been to the shop at least 15 time for maintenance. From 2 front end tire rod issues, struts, motors for power window failing, radio issues, stability control failures, immobilizer failures to broken flimsy cupholders.

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  2003 Saab 9-3 Linear Sport Sedan - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Alonsdale - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Nice handling, decent 175 HP turbo engine, gorgeous 17" wheels and Pirelli perf tires, interior not Audi quality bit good fit and tight, excellent safety features, easy to use Saab Info Display computer.

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  Good car for the price - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Chris - May 23 - 12:10 pm

  Overall, I am happy with my Saab 9-3. The car is fun to drive and comes standard with several whistles and bells that others charge for. The car is stylish and very fun to drive. However, I have to agree with others who make mention of constant service. There is always a rattle or some little piece of cheap plastic that falls off of something. A total pain. The electrical has been an issue too (Headlights and power locks). However, our Saab service department has been great to work with!

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  The car that makes me happy - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By Dan Munteanu - May 18 - 2:10 am

  Saab 9-5 Aero is a car that does everything very well that youd expect from a near luxury vehicle. On top of it, the extra oomph can be effortlessly delivered by just pressing the gas pedal harder. The manual transmission might be a little tricky to master for some at first, but I was able to read it right away and I still enjoy using it. If theyre brand new they may be a tad expensive but it makes a great slightly used car at a great price.

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  GREAT used car - would have never bought it new - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By rurahrah - May 14 - 12:53 pm

  I bought this car sight unseen in Sep 2010 from a dealer (found it on Autotrader). The car had 86k miles on it and the Carfax showed it had been properly maintained. I paid $5,900, which included shipping, taxes, etc. Cheap! Prior car was a 1999 Saab 9-3 SE hatchback so I already was familiar with its quirks. I have only put about 2k miles on it so far but must say that so far it is the BEST car I have ever owned. FUN!

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  It wont let you down! - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By demetri - May 9 - 9:20 pm

  Ok, so its a GM deep down ... once you get over that youll see how fun it is to drive. The suspension is tight (I used to drive a G35 - hard - and I honestly dont miss it). The AWD is a treat. It has every bell and whistle you can ask for. I used to own an 01 Aurora and I must say this is not far from it. The fuel (in)efficiency is a total drag but it wouldnt be a problem if it wasnt for the ridiculously high cost of gas. Acceleration is great but with a 4-speed transmission you cant wait till the last minute (the computer does predictive shifting for the overdrive). Only a couple of fit/finish issues.