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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  Im suprised they dont sell more - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By newsaabowner - January 13 - 10:06 pm

  Im new to the SAAB world. I am a car nut. I considered this car based on price. If I could have afforded it, I would have gotten the 325i. I didnt want an accord or a camry. In terms of price, this is a similar car to an accord with leather when you calculate the lease. But the saab gives you soo much more. You cant beat the safety items on this car..large tire, large brakes, stability control, traction control, #1 in safety both side and frontal. This car is small on the outside, huge on the inside. I got the manual 5 speed. Its a nice stick...not as nice as the bmw, but nice. I am tremendously happy with this lease and Id do it over and over again. Very zippy on the highway!

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  Great Car, some problems - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By TRudd - January 13 - 9:10 pm

  I bought this car with 50,000 miles on it from a dealership and was the 2nd owner. A day after I bought it, the head gasket went out. The dealership paid for labor, I paid for parts ($300). Needless to say, this should not happen with a car that has 50,000 miles on it. After the repairs, I havent had any problems... yet. I love this car, a little more interior noise than my Honda Accord - but much more fun to drive, better looking, and gas mileage wasnt all that different (28 mpg/hwy with the Saab; 28-29 mpg 97 honda accord 4 cyl).

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  2002 9-5t - Owner Review - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By TJ - January 13 - 6:36 pm

  I spend a great deal of time in my car - average 30,000+ miles per year. Its comfortable, fun to drive, and gets great gas mileage (about 27.5 - 28 mpg, if I stay out of the turbo charger!). Solid performance, sticks to the road nicely -- I love the Michelin Pilot Sport tires (just bought another set for it). Ive had only one bad experience with my car (related to a recall on the headlamp assemblies that was not completed correctly - some difficulty with a dealer - but the factory eventually responded to my call and took care of the issue.

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  hot to trot !! - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By kellee - January 12 - 2:10 pm

  This car is an absolute dream!! People comment on the beautiful lines, especially with the top down. Peppy, fabulous European design, interior is very functional and roomy. Drove the BMW M3, Audi A-4 convert., Volvo and more. This is the best, for the money, that I drove. Sporty, peppy and a real cutie. The A/C takes NO time to cool down and that is key in Texas!!

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  Still in love - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Phil - January 12 - 1:20 am

  More than 9 months and 10,000 miles later, and I still love my 92X. Great pickup (couldnt stand the lag on the Aero version, so I bought the Linear). Handles very well. It has more room for cargo than youd expect, especially with the seats down. Just took it skiing in WV, and it handled the snowy hills without a single problem. And all my friends are impressed by it.

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  Very fun to drive. - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By hbueain - January 11 - 3:53 pm

  Got the car with red metallic paint, looks great on the road. Very fun to drive, its 4 cylinder feels faster then my V6 Mercedes. Back seat is a bit too stiff, not very comfortable. Very neat interior finish, and the new dash is very easy to use. All the controls including the radio are very easy to reach and easy to read as well. The wide-angle rear view mirror really helps. Overall a great car.

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  These cars are LEMONS!! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Funstuff - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my 2003 Arc 24 hours and hate it.So far the Air Bag malfunction light has come on,the parking assist system has failed, the back up lights dont work, the hi beams dont work and the 6 disc cd unit failed. They have reprogrammed the computer, replaced the entire front headlamp unit, replaced the CD player and claimed they corrected the air bag situation. (Remember, all this in the past 24 hrs). On my way home after 2 1/2 hrs at the dealer, the air bag malfunctioned again!! Never Again!!

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  Bang for the Buck - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By EBG - January 6 - 5:00 am

  The 2005 9-5 Arc is a whole lot for a rather moderate price, compared to competitors. Reliability is first on the list and, although not the reason for purchasing the vehicle, gas economy is phenominal at 28+ MPG (combined city and highway). Road feel is superb and the way that saab manages to squeeze power out of a 4 cylinder engine in unbelievable. With the "sport" feature that comes standard, you can get the feel of driving a much more expensive sports car, although your fuel economy will suffer just a bit. I am pleased as can be with the vehicle!

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  Fun meets function - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By MOMAMIA - December 30 - 10:00 am

  This car impresses you from the test drive. We looked at BMWs and the like and they were lacking compared to the Saab. You must smile when you drive this car - its impossible not to. You have a superhuman feeling of control. Its sharp in every way. We love this car. Test drive and fall in love. The 9-5 is the only way to go. Best in class.

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  9-2X is not for everyone - 2006 Saab 9-2X
  By Kenpost - December 28 - 3:06 am

  All that says Saab is not Saab. I may have had an exception but even my friends who drive Subarus discribe their experience differently. My 9-2X had a very annoying gear hum that over shadowed any other good qualites. The auto transmission was 20 years behind the times in techno. At low speeds it seemed to always be looking for the right gear. GM has has acted wisely in dropping this model from the future Saab line up. I have followed their lead and traded it after only 1 month.