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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  New Saab Fan - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By speeedy94 - August 29 - 1:30 pm

  Overall a fantastic sedan. Original classic styling. Drive quality is a wonderful blend of luxury and sportiness. European drive and styling. High quality feel throughout interior. More room inside than other sedans of similar price. Also not all over the road like Acura Tl, Infiniti G-35, Lexus ES 350, BMW 3 series , Mercedes C-class or Audi A-4. I did consider all of the sedans above but Im glad I went for the underated Saab.

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  Good! - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Alexxx - August 18 - 2:00 am

  My other choices were the Audi A6, the new E60 BMW 5-series, E220cdi and Volvo v70. However, I just fell in love with this vehicle. I tried it in May, but I decided to keep my old car. Now that I saw it as a 2004 model I decided to go for it.

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  Love my 1st Saab - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By Ray B - August 16 - 3:33 pm

  After 30 years of driving only BMWs, I leased a Saab 9-5 to save about $240.00 per month. I am amazed at how much I truly enjoy this car. The interior ergonomics are great as is the sound system.

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  My last Saab - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Dan J - August 14 - 5:30 am

  We bought our 9.5 wagon new and drove it approximately 10,000m per year. After a very short period, we began to experience a broad range of mechanical issues and failures. This was in spite of the fact that we brought the car back to the dealer for every scheduled maintenance item. The list of failures is very long and the costs have been very high. The final straw was when, after replacing the timing belt as required, the bearing in the timing belt assembly failed and the engine was destroyed. Do not buy this car under any circumstances unless you are ready to pay for many repair bills and want to become best friends with a mechanic.

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  TheThinking Persons Car - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By SeattleNiceGuy - August 12 - 4:13 pm

  Great looking, handles super, good gas mileage, lots of cargo space, logical interior layout! The double-section rear area is great for my grocery bags. "Air Bag" plaques seem to be everywhere. The rear door was well thought out. It is light-weight, easy to open, arches back at the top so I dont bang my head. Im 61" and I rejected several others due to a lack of head/shoulder room. The SportCombi has plenty. How about that cooled glove box? Neat! It is a reasonable and rational choice for my lifestyle and I am very glad I selected this car. It looks as good parked at the library as the sports stadium. This is the right automobile for my lifestyle.

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  9-5 aero - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By dfeldm - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Really enjoy the driving experience. The Aero with the ventilated leather seats are very comfortable

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  Saab star - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By notnancy88 - August 12 - 2:00 am

  My 2003 9-3 ARC is my second Saab. Compared to my 2001 9-3SE, it is quieter and more solid than my 2001. The seats are more substantial and the tires are not low proflie and are larger. I do miss the hatchback that I had on my 2001 though. I also think the sound system or speakers in the 2001 sounded better. I miss the weather radio feature that I had in my 2001. Perhaps its the increased sound proofing in the 2003. I am looking forward to seeing the SUV model that will be introduced in a couple months. I am glad I have chosen Saab vehicles.

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  Impressed with my 1st Saab - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Florida Dude - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Driving this car in sunny Florida can be summed up in a few words: Quality built car that is fun to drive and eye catching. I am totally satisfied with my first Saab. This car gives you more for the buck. The performance and ride is first class and not to many on the road gives you an edge over the next "common joe".

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  A blast to drive, but at a cost - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By perks77 - August 10 - 3:20 pm

  I had fond memories of my 83 Saab 900. That car was a tank and simply refused to be driven into the ground. My 05 9-3 has all the gutsy handling the old models did (and then some!), looks great, is quite comfortable and is surprisingly roomy for a car of its size. For a little 4-banger, it really zips along once the turbo kicks in! However, Ive had the car in the shop REPEATEDLY for random electrical and mechanical problems that simply should not happen at 30K miles. Some of the interior finish is cheaply done and parts have decided to fall apart at random. This has left me so disappointed that I plan to trade it in as soon as possible.

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  VIGGEN! - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Champ - August 7 - 3:53 pm

  The Viggen has been a great car. Great performance all while obtaining great gas mileage. Front seats are a dream to sit in. In all climate areas, make sure to put the Continental Extremes on this car. This tire is great in snow, water and still is Z rated for performance. This car is highly recommended. This car was built in the same plant as the Porsche Boxter.