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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  Saab Convertible - Performance and Fun - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Marvin Young - April 28 - 7:33 am

  The Saab 93 Convertible is incredible! I own the Aero and the new 2.8 V6 turbo is worth the extra cash.

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  So far so good - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By marcellolf - April 26 - 4:23 pm

  I was a bit skeptical of buying my first Saab. I have read of reliability issues but so far this car has been perfect.

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  Run, dont walk, away from this car. - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Cambridge - April 18 - 3:20 pm

  Extremely expensive to repair! When buying, I would strongly suggest you have all the records for repairs and maintenance. Prior to buying, I had a reputable mechanic review the car and it appeared to "look" good but he was honest - "without records he was guessing." A car that has documentation on repairs and maintenance is extremely key. Bought this car used from a dealer without documentation and have spent nearly $1500 (in a calendar year) on items that should have been repaired or replaced as apart of routine maintenance. People swear by this car but thus far this has been a giant albatross. Would never buy another. The plus - I found a good mechanic.

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  Two Years and Still Love It! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By TRT - April 18 - 10:50 am

  I am just now adding my review after two years into my three year lease and I still love this car. I find the car to be a great performer and very comfortable. I tested the BMW 3 series, the Audi A4 and the Infiniti G35 and have never had a second thought about my decision. A couple of minor things (mostly electronics related) have caused the car to go into service but with the warranty and free scheduled service it has been an easy car to live with. I find the car to be quite handsome in the euro way and is unique on the road. Many friends who own BMW 3 series comment how they get tired of seeing themselves at every street corner. A solid buy/lease.

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  Excellent Choice - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Builder - April 18 - 10:00 am

  After looking at all the competition, the Vector is by far the best value and the most fun to drive. It looks great and performs well ahead of more expensive competition.

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  Nice, Nice, NIce - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By henry - April 16 - 9:03 am

  We have been looking for a convertible which I fit into. I am 69" and am able to drive and ride comfortably. The car is one of my favorites for styling & perfomance. 2.0 liter is amazing bullet proof and the auto shifts smooth and is fun to drive. If you want a nicely priced used convertible the Saab is 2nd to none.

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  Inconvenient - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Michelle - April 15 - 1:03 am

  I love to drive this car. It is fast, it responds well, and is very comfortable. However, I have had many problems since day 1. It came with a bad battery which died the day after I bought it. There was a recall on the coolant tank which I wasnt informed about; had to wait until my hood was smoking to find out. The saab service agents dont care and fail to inspect my entire car when I bring it in, so I have to keep going back. Speakers are fuzzy. Just replaced another battery and a corroded switch. Seems like there is always something wrong with it. I now have to replace the front and rear break pads and rotors at 36,000 miles.

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  Love this car! - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By Michael Mehring - April 11 - 6:56 pm

  Too bad Saab doesnt sell here in the US anymore. Id buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  best car for the money... - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By sly51015 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  ... and probably the most underrated car on the US market, along with Audi, part of it due to Edmunds editors reviews. My previous cars were BMW and Audi. Saab offers more luxury and safety features than BMW and its far more reliable. It doesnt handle as good as Audi (no other car that Ive ever driven does), but its much faster. 170 hp doesnt seem much, but when you have 207 ft-lbs. at 1800 rpm, it makes all the difference (you get to see in the rear view mirror much more acclaimed brands:) !

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  Love The Saab - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By baddi - April 11 - 2:00 am

  The car is a dream to drive ask for power the turbo kicks and it is there in an instant. Ours is the Auto with Sport Mode, awesome and manual shift on the wheel, screams give me more. trhe car corners like a cat on carpet, no body roll, and torque steer is almost non-existant, quite a trick in a front whell drive. Sitting on a 3 hour drive is no problem, the seats cradle you like baby. The instruments and controls are easy to reach, and driver friendly.