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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  They were right - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By crabby kaiser - August 1 - 7:40 am

  I cant say I wasnt warned. Other Saab owners had suggested that the car would be quirky and that Saab dealers are generally horrible and expensive. They were right !!! The check/engine electronic portion of the car is horrible. The engine is great and the handling is terrific. The biggest knock against this vehicle is trying to get it fixed/serviced. This alone will keep me from buying another Saab period. Fun to drive, great gas milage wont make up for the persistant problems with the direct ignition cassette (now part of a recall) and the terrible service from numerous dealers.

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  Fantastic in-betweener - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Kiwidude - July 28 - 10:06 pm

  Weve had our 95 for 5 years now and love it to bits, the whole family loves it. It is a great alternative to a Toyota Camry (or similar) as it is much nicer, has more style and feels much better than the standard Japanese plastic box. It isnt at the same level as a BMW 5 or Audi A6 but neither is the price so what you get is a lovely solid car that does everything reasonably well at a great price. People moan about how it doesnt have the performance of a BMW 5 etc but it doesnt have the price either so! If you want a solid well performing comfortable car look no further. Mine has been reliable but like all cars you can find owners who disagree.

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  Poor Saab quality - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By Ray Mesa - July 25 - 6:53 pm

  Surprised and the poor quality of the car Saab overall - trunk lid squeaks when opened, front door speakers are very poor quality, rear airbag cover fell off. GM has definitely had a poor impact on Saab. Customer service isnt any better in trying to fix problems. OnStar definitely needs to be removed - in keeping with other cars in its class bluetooth would be much better. Navigation system definitely needs improvement.

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  Driving is fun again - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By double d - July 16 - 6:56 pm

  My wife and I recently bought a still new 08 convertible for our fun car (at a very good price). The cars we drive for work are good but boring. Not so with the Saab. Im having a blast driving it. I havent had this much fun driving in many, many years. Always looking for an excuse to drive anywhere, especially with the top down. The car is nimble and has a nice throaty exhaust - so different from the Asian cars Ive owned. Exterior styling is not as thrilling as other cars in its class but thats OK because its unique styling has a timelessness about it that should make it a pleasure to own for many years.

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  Last Saab Ill buy - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Avi8jazz - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Pros: 6 Speed manual gives us 37 mpg on hwy at 75 mph. Trunk is a LOT bigger than it looks from the outside. Fun to drive. Cons: Replacing left headlight takes practice (dealer charges $90). Windows regulator is defective(bad design) $450/window. SAI Check valve $180 needs a biannual check. If it fails, condensation floods the SAI Pump $600 (current issue). Check Eng. light only goes out when the bulb burns out. No AUX input for iPod connectivity (had to buy a third party $75).

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  My first Saab and probably my last - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By RJR - July 7 - 6:40 pm

  I always liked Saab, so I leased this car in 2006 for 27 months. Its a very nice car for the buck, but I wouldnt buy one. Thats just my personal preference but my sixth sense told me that this car would cost a lot of cash to maintain for the long haul. Drives great, handles great. The turbo 2.0L engine is sluggish with the A/C on full blast, but otherwise very quick and great on the highway when you need some extra power. The exterior is very high quality, interior is the same way. Not sure why Saab put a completely useless 3"x2.5" screen on the dash. It has an integrated phone, but it only works in Sweden, not in the US, so all those buttons are useless unless you live in Sweden.

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  Still a Head-Turner! - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By Daniel - July 5 - 8:50 am

  Fourth Saab. Very happy with the car overall. I like the old dashboard better from 1999-2005 (Seems more classic Saab than GM). Nice ownership experience from Saab, bought me back from Subaru.

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  A very safe car - 1996 Saab 900
  By Maine - June 27 - 2:00 am

  owned car 4 yrs, tons of fun to drive, a number of annoying repair issues for low mileage vehicle. rolled car completely over and hit a t pole on ice and walked away from a totaled vechicle without a scratch. Immediately bought another one (2000), safest conv we could hope to own

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  Pretty, comfortable, powerful, stylish - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By odoyal - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun, stylish, and very comfortable. The sport mode of the 95 saab is a real nice kick when you hit the gas and is a considerable step up from the normal mode. The cup holders are a negative but with the long list of standard features, it more than makes up for it. Also OnStar is nice to have if your willing to pay the extra $120-$300 a year. I would get the 3 liter because there is more than enough power and isnt as noisy as my friends aero version.

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  2006 SAAB SUV REVIEW - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By william mitchell - June 20 - 12:13 am

  The car handles great. At 70 miles an hour youre doing over 2500rpm. I like the stiff ride but not shocking.