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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  appearance and comfort - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By michael spinelli - August 30 - 2:00 am

  overall satisfied with performance and build quality..however it is extremely uncmforable for a tall person to enter and exit the vehicle without rubbing the head on the top of the door jam

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  9-3AeroCV WHOOOHOOOO - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By CRD - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This car takes convertibles to a new level of handling, solid body integrity and performance all in one beautiful and comfortable package. The features such as the one-button remote top down function, excellent ergonomics in the interior design, comfort of the seats and joy of the drive (try the paddle shift) is unsurpassed. I recommend this vehicle without reservation.

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  2003 Saab 9-3 Arc Review - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By wakeboardguy13 - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car, and is very reliable and all around well built car.

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  ABS Module - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By Ipse Dixit - August 26 - 1:06 am

  After replacing my own DIC (or IDM) for $319, I encountered another problem 2 months later. Warning lights on the dash came on; ABS, Warning Triangle, TCS. The speedometer and odometer stopped working. This all eventually causes the CEL to come on as well. I had it in the shop, did some research, reported this all to Saab USA. It turned out to be the ABS ECU. My service shop called Saab to see if theyd pick up the $2500 repaur cost. Saab offered to pay 1/2 and no labor (about $450). I said "no thanks" and did it myself for about $500.

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  Awesome Car! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Saab Bob - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Saab really hit a home run with this one!

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  AERODYNAMICS EXTREME - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Honest - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Just can not get out of my car! It is wonderful! My friends who have BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus cars all respect my ride and wants to exchange cars for a day to see what all the hype is all about. Not a chance! They better go get their won. I like a competing growing car with an interesting history. SAAB never dies, literally!

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  Best in class. - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By M.A.D.MikE - August 19 - 1:13 pm

  Used to own a 1994 VW Passat VR6, and didnt want anything slower. Narrowed my search to A4 or Passat with the same 1.8T engine, BMW E39 or 46, C Classe and Mazda RX-8. Didnt even consider Saab at that time. But after sitting in different cars at used car lot, felt in love with 2000 Arc model and went straight home to do some research. Found a black 2003 Aero and bought it the same day. Its 440 pounds heavier than my old car but the acceleration is just stunning! The only major problem with this car is $3000 I had to pay on my 90k servicing :( Nevertheless I would buy it again if I had the chance and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a compromise between sport and luxury.

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  SPORTWagon - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By jsharnik - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I am constantly delighted by the smooth mid-range power available through the 3.0 liter, 6-cyl., low-pressure turbo engine. It is unfortunate that this engine is no longer available and that Saab is moving away from the Swedish- engineered and built automobile. This is probably the first and the last Saab Ill ever buy. GM is in the process of destroying this brand, as far as I am concerned. Back to the car: the Sport setting is a real blast on country roads, and I am delighted at how tightly the car is put together. It is also a very comfortable car to drive and to ride in.

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  Blind spot - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Karen Katanick - August 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a great driving car. The only complaint I have is the blind spot on the drivers side. I was taught to glance over my shoulder before merging to the left but in this vehicle the view is obstructed. Compared to my last car, a 2001 VW Beetle, the Saab is much more comfortable and handles really well. I am anxious to drive it in snow.

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  Great Long Distance Auto - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Bill - August 19 - 9:46 am

  I bought my 04 Arc with 4500 miles a few months ago. Since have driven 6000+ and enjoyed every minute. Have taken (2) 500+ mile trips and am very happy with mileage, power, comfort and style. Both my wife and I think the car is very easy to drive. Great seats, good controls and easy to read gauges. Lots of storage room make this as easy to pack as our station wagon. We like the materials used in the interior and appreciate the room and soft touch of the space. On the road the car feels smaller than it is and the isolation over rough roads is wonderful. Transmission / engine well matched with plenty of go anytime it is needed. We got 28 MPG on our last trip without trying. Great car!