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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  Exceptional Value, Fun for GTI people - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By cliffy - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Before purchasing the 9-3; I considered the Volvo V40, the Benz Coupe, the BMW 325, and Audi A4. I purchased the 9-3 after the test drive. Loads of power and acceleration. Top end power was a little low, but how often do you really get into triple digits? For those of us raised on GTis in the 80s and 90s, this is a well-qualified replacement.

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  Onstar problems - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By xcitableboy - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I am having a problem with cross talk between the onstar system and the electrical components in the car (thats what the dealer has said). My problem is not severe but a friend has such a severe problem that the car will not start. This problem is surprising since GM has been installing onstar on its vehicles for many years.

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  By Far The Best Car I Have Ever Owned! - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Melinda25 - November 9 - 8:43 am

  I purchased my 1999 Saab used and with high mileage(113,000 miles)in 2007 when my Audi broke down. Since buying my Saab I have only had to replace the idler pulley and belt($320.00 which included towing, was my mechanic not Saab "expert" mechanic and nearing the end of 3rd year of ownership) and do regular maintenance on it. About 1 month ago a stolen car him my mothers parked Volvo at 40+ mph causing the Volvo to hit my Saab that was parked about 1 foot in front of it. My mothers Volvo was totaled, it folded in the front and back, however my Saab drove away from the accident with only $43.00 in damage! I would recommend this car to anyone! My mother is actually looking for one now.

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  GREAT Car!!!!!! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By RandyV - November 8 - 11:26 am

  I bought my 2006 SAAB 9.3 Aero with the optional touring package and 2.8l Turbo engine. I love it. At the time of my purchase I shopped around and bought a top of line platinum warranty for the car, covering all repairs, from bumper to bumper...Great choice. Although to date I have not had to use the policy it, but it certainly removes any concerns about expense repair costs in the future. Now lets talk about the car. I have looked extensively at BMW, Audi, Lexus and Acuras but settled on this car. It drives well, looks fabulous and no matter how bad my day is at work....settling in my SAAB for the ride back home, reminds me of Christmas day and playing with my favorite toy!!!!!

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  Under Rated!!! - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By MUWOLV - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I am amazed by the J.D. Power and Editors reviews. Ive owned my 9-5 Aero for about 10 months and have 11,500 miles on it. I have not had one problem. The car is fun to drive, tight, and different. You dont see a lot of Saabs in the Detroit area. I drove the BMWs, Audis, VWs, Lexuses, Infinitis, etc. and none of them were the complete car that the Aero was. Furthermore, the Aero was actually cheaper when you added the eqivilant options to the other brands. I would recommend a 9-5 Aero to anyone. I enjoy it more every day that I drive it.

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  arc 9-3 - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By fishtank - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my car almost a year and for the most part I like it however, Im reminded daily that I hate the 6 speed transmission. The shift from 1st to 2nd is very slow and I often catch the teeth on the snycros. I read in one car magazine that the Audi A4 with less power was faster from 0 to 60 because of the slow shift. Im at a loss as to why the traction control has come on so often, and on one road I turn it off so it doesnt come on. At night it can be scary when you cant use your brights on a real dark road because of traffic. The dont shine far enough. These Thule roof racks are only available at a saab dealer.

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  Saab versus Volvo - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By architosh - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Saab. Have Volvos and love them. Saab 9-3 is so far a really good car. I considered the Volvo S-40 2004 but went for the Saab 9-3 Linear with extras. Its more care physically and with more goodies. The car is fast and quiet (under 3000rpm at 90mph) with stable ride and good road holding. Turbo reacts quicky and smoothly. Great interior with good build.

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  Great car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By neil martin - October 29 - 1:53 pm

  I love this car. It is fun to drive yet luxurious at the same time. I have never had any trouble with it and I love the way the turbo kicks in when you stomp on it. It is not extremely fast or anything but it feels great on the road and has great low end torque. It handles great too for only sixteen inch wheels and when I buy a new car it is definitely going to be a saab. Thank you for reading this.

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  Great value, excellent performance. - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Colorado Saab Owner - October 28 - 10:10 am

  I had no intention of owning a Saab until I stopped to take a look at a 9-3 Sportcombi at a local dealership. I have owned Volvos for over thirty years, but never a Saab. The 9-3 Sportcombi comes in at about $10,000 less than a Volvo XC 70 wagon. Yes, the Saab has less room and is slightly smaller, but it also gets significantly better mileage and is noticeably more nimble. This car is a real sleeper -- when you look at what you get for the money its pretty hard to beat. Im thinking of getting a second one to replace my Ford van. Also, there is virtually no turbo lag, and a lot of get up and go when you need it. Mileage is outstanding for a car of its size.

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  Love the 60th Anniversary - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By howie93x - October 26 - 9:13 pm

  Ive owned my 9-3 for 14 months and have put 45k miles on it so far. It has a total of 85k. I had a few minor issues covered under warranty when I first picked up and since then it has been flawless. This Saab drives very cleanly and is very fun to drive. My BMW friends are always impressed with the comfort and also with the performance. The Saab is built for safety, function, and fun to drive. I thoroughly enjoy driving this car, especially on my once weekly trip over a very winding mountain road. This is my 3rd Saab and 7th overall car. So far it has been the most reliable car I have owned.