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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  poor build quality - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Jason82 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, but a horrible car. Mine has 22,000 miles on it...been towed 3 times, AC broke, ignition problems, creaks and rattles constantly, rotors needed to be replaced twice. Fortunately its leased and I am getting rid of it in a year. Thank god! Stay away from SAAB. Over priced and sub standard.

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  Different Kind of Car - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By mrcook128 - January 23 - 12:26 pm

  I have driven lots of other cars from Bimmers to Hondas. Personally, I find it to be a beautiful car. The drive is refined, with a more compliant ride than my Mazda6. The steering is precise, although the body will understeer out of a tight turn if youre not careful. The engine is leaps and bounds better than any turbo-4 Ive driven short of the Subaru WRX. The power delivery is strong and fairly smooth. The much-maligned interior layout is perfectly simple to me. The seats, though comfortable, lack any sort of grip, and are short on lateral support. The 6-speed is a bit heavy, and can be a bit tricky with some of the throws. The brakes are adequate and have good feel.

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  fun and comfortable, rock steady build - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Joseph - January 20 - 7:33 pm

  I have driven this car for over 60,000 miles now, and still love it. I am a Saab fan from way back, but this one is the best. I did have some minor throttle part problem that was a back- ordered part, but was covered under warranty. Even then, the vehicle was drivable on "limp" mode, so it has never stranded me. I did not like the original tires, but replaced them with Turanzas at 40,000 miles and am very pleased with the added quiet and drive.

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  JANNES TEST - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By JAN MULLER - January 20 - 10:00 am

  IT IS A VERY "TIGHT FEELING" CAR TO DRIVE. HIGH LEVEL OF CONTROL AND GREAT ACCELERATION. A GREAT VALUE FOR THE MONEY. WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK? IT IS NOT A FRIVILOUS CAR LIKE MANY OTHER SUPER- CHARGED BRAND NAMES. SERVICE IS GREAT. BEAUTIFUL SHOWROOMS; TRULY A GREAT IMAGE BUILDER FOR SAAB: HI TECH PERFORMANCE! JANNE MULLER

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  I love my Saab - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By J Greenberg - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this Saab almost two months ago, after owning luxury SUVs (Lndcruisers) for years. I could not be happier. I made the choice when I purchased a used Saab for my son as a graduation present, Driving and riding in it, I realized what a great car this was. So, I made the move away from the big (politically irresponsible)SUV, to this grand, luxry sedan.

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  Welcome to The State of Independence... - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Michael_LA_CA - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I admit it; they had me at Welcome. I was captivated by a marketing campaign aimed at winning buyers from new, diverse demographics. To my own credit, I still did my homework and heavily researched several other vehicles. I read endless consumer guides and reviews, online and in print, that covered everything about these cars from environmental ratings to crash test results to resale values and more. In the end, spreadsheet in-hand, I test drove the Audi A4, the BMW 3 series, the Volvo S60, saving the Saab 9-[3] [my pre test drive pick]. Then, at the showroom, I was again captivated. This time by a sexy, black 9-5 Aero Sedan. For fun, I decided to test it. They had me at 9/10s of a mile.

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  Excellent car - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By chris - January 20 - 2:36 am

  I was kind of skeptical about buying this vehicle because I had heard repairs are too expensive. However, I have driven this car everywhere in the last 6 months and it has been great. has not let me down at all, I have put 15 thousand miles in the last 6 months, bought it with 126 thousand. if you do all the preventive maintenance on a SAAB, it will last a very long time.

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  Great car - Great value - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By jriroberts - January 17 - 11:39 pm

  I love this car - my third Saab. Bot it used in Jan 09. Drive 3 times a year from Maine to western PA (about 850 mi). Always have used regular gasoline and my highway mileage is consistently 36.5 mpg. I drive about 9 over speed limit and occasionally high 80s. The car goes great, climbs the PA mountains with ease at any speed, accelerates on demand, and is wicked fun to drive. In town mileage averages 25. Not sure why my mileage is so much better than what others report except that I am driving a 6 spd manual and Im apparently driving it very well:) I am so sad that Saab is no longer. It delivers great bang for your buck! My 99 9-5 with 190k is used daily for commuting by my daughter

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  SAAB 2003 LINEAR - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By JAT8 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Car is well designed,looks good,is fun to drive and a great value.

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  Sweet Ride - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Fred - January 14 - 10:46 am

  Beautiful SUV inside and out. Saab did an outstanding job of "Saabifiying" this vehicle. I had a Trailblazer as a rental for a week before I bought my 97x and the difference between the way the two drive is quite remarkable. It really does have more responsive handling and a very european feel.