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 has done it again - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By william72 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I used to own a 9-3, wonderful car, but my new 2002 9-5 AERO is close to perfect. The handeling extremly good, the SAAB engine is worth a Nobel-price (as usuall in SAAB) etc. Ive tried every Volvo made but they have nothing to compare with SAAB. SAABs number 1!

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  Surprising - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By JGC - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I have owned three convertibles but this one is the best by far. I was not in the market for a Saab, I was looking at BMW and MB and Chrylser. The BMWs styling was old and the tops come with plastic windows. The MB CLK was nice but too pricey. I test drove the Saab and loved it. It is the quickest off the line and the top is great. The car has no rattles and wind noise is nonexistent. I drove the Volvo C70 to compare and it was slower, handled less well, rattled and was noisey with the top up. The back seats are useful, unlike any other car I considered. It is a great luxury sports car and the price is reasonable.

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  Safe, reliable, comfortable SAAB - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By kidlatAzul - November 25 - 8:03 am

  I purchased a 2005 SAAB 9-3 because I wanted the safest vehicle I could afford. In 2005, the 9-3 was one of only a few vehicles on the IIHS top safety pick list. Fortunately, to date I have not had to test the 9-3s many safety features, but feel reassured driving this car. But in addition to being safe, the 9-3 has anchor-like brakes, handles great, is comfortable for all-day cruising, has ample acceleration, and gets up to 37 mpg on highway. Even around town, Ive never gotten less than 26 mpg (manual tranny helps). Only problems after 3 years & 56,000 miles have been headlight bulbs burning out twice, each time covered by warranty. The nicest car Ive ever owned.

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  Wonderful car - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By JL - November 25 - 12:36 am

  This is a lovely car to drive. The performance, ride, handling, versatility, and comfort are all top notch. I have the automatic transmission which is the best I have ever driven. Fuel economy is very good for the power and size of the car. The radio is a bit confusing and has way more features than I need. It can be extensively customized but it takes a lot of patience and help from the manual to figure it all out. The front seats are very comfortable, the rear seat is also nice, but a little too low for tall people. The hatch takes tons of cargo, the look of the car is lovely. Especially with the incentives Saab offers, this care is an incredible value!

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  GREAT CAR - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By SAAB OWNER - November 24 - 12:06 am

  I got this car about 2 weeks ago, and its great. The Saab is very affordable considering all the standard options that are equipped standard. Its fun to drive and very nimble which surprised me being that it has only a 2 liter engine. The European styling cues make it interesting and unlike any other car on the road. Also, the Pirelli tires that come standard are an excellent feature meshing well with the cars responsive rack and pinion steareing system. Great car yet would like to see more contoured seats particularly in the lower back area.

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  Most underrated car? - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By maltesefalcon - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Saab 9-5 Aero for 21 months now. I bought it because it had the best combination of everything I was looking for. Where can you get really good performance yet get 32 MPG on the highway. The trunk is huge and handling is great too. And with the onstar system, you get a built in phone. Just push the button and start talking, hands free. Ive surprised a lot of people sitting at a stoplight. I just punch in the sport mode and this thing takes off like a rocket from a standstill. Ive had no problems or repairs so far. Which leads me to conclude that this is one of the most, (if not the most) underrated cars for sale today.

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  Love mine!! - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By lalzaga - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Aero almost a year now. Has 8500 miles on it. Ive had not trouble with it. Ive been service dept free. The only time Ive had to go in to the service dept is for the 30day inspection thats part of the warranty. I love owning and driving this car. I like to so much, Im think of buying a 9-3 conv. :)

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  Disappointing - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By ebeth05 - November 20 - 8:53 am

  Purchased a 9-3 60th anniversary edition with high hopes for my first car. Loved the anniversary package, very happy about my first ever car purchase. Now Im disappointed. The first week of driving I noticed a steering wheel vibration - a nuisance at low speeds, a violent shake at higher ones, not relenting when again at lower mph. After one week I took it shopping: took me five tries to get it to start; it turned on, then the engine shut off on the first four. I have taken it to two different dealerships to have the problems looked at with the frequent response "problem cannot be duplicated." Tires have been balanced twice, vibrations still exist.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By SaabLemon - November 20 - 8:10 am

  This car has been in the shop every three months, nothing but problems - it looks good, but it doesnt work. Absolutely a lemon. It is 3.5 years old with 35k miles on it and it needs another $2000 worth of work - radiator leaking, transmission leaking, front and back brakes/rotors need replacing, 4 new tires, the battery was replaced one week ago. The electrical system was worked on at least 6 times, the window got stuck open, the alarm would go off randomly even when I was in the car with the key etc. etc. Dont buy a Saab - GM ruined the make.

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  Our new toy! - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By SAAB-BOB - November 18 - 6:03 pm

  We bought our convertible 9-3 a couple months ago and we love it. The car gets good gas mileage (23-25MPG) around town where it is mostly driven. The handling is great and the turbo pickup is excellent. This is my first SAAB and am enjoying every moment of ownership. The pricing is so good on used SAABs that you cant go wrong. If your on the fence just do it..buy the car and have fun. Life is too short not to enjoy a little topless driving in the sun. They say once you own a SAAB youll own another...Im starting to believe it now. Do your homework, make sure the car you buy is of quality and go for it!