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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  Fun to drive - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By Turbolover - August 17 - 5:46 pm

  This car is amazing. It is extremly fun to drive. Interior is comfortable, not to mention the huge trunk space. Only problem is the display unit is starting go, a problem Saab fixed on the newer models.

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  The perfect sleeper - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Mike - August 16 - 9:03 pm

  Ive lived Saabs for years. I briefly owned an unfortunate 86 SPG, but loved its quirkiness (overused adjective when describing Saabs, I know) as well as its performance. The Saabaru is a near perfect marriage of two iconic marquees, in terms of performance, quality and quirk. Its a real shame more people dont even consider this car when shopping, especially considering the ridiculous incentives GM is currently offering. The power is there, the handling is better day to day than the WRX, its stealthy (both to cops and the kid in the modded Civic), its well made, it has a great warranty, and its different. That counts for a lot with me in this age of SUVs and boring Asian lookalikes.

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  Saab Reality - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By 8AA2YM - August 15 - 10:23 am

  This was my second Saab. It was great to drive, and my dealership treated me like a king. Things started going wrong with the V-6 in this car, though. I began to notice a degradation in engine performance at about 42K miles. I had it in the shop at 48K when I decided to trade it in. In any case, My 3 Saabs have required little unscheduled maintenance other than many fog light lens replacements.

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  I love this SUV - 2007 Saab 9-7X
  By RJETER - August 14 - 12:13 am

  You have to drive this SUV to appreciate its ability. Its big, but hugs the road. A powerful engine that can run with just about any SUV out there. Fun to drive and if you close your eyes you might think your in a car. The 18 inch tires give it the strong masculine look. Its loaded with more standards then most vehicles.

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  So Far So Good - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Code7700 - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I was a bit nervous buying a first year model. Especially since Ive never owned a Saab before. But this car is unlike the Saabs of yesteryear. It looks great (not quirky), it drives great, and for a few dollars more than a Maxima, the fit and finish 100 times better than any car in its price range. For well under $30,000, you can be driving a car that easily competes (and in many cases beats) $35,000 - $40,000 Audis and BMWs in terms of quality, ride, finish, and customer service.

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  Fast & safe - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By Khalid - August 7 - 8:23 am

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It handels well, especially in corners. impresive braking & all the Alphabits in it (ESP & ABS....) do work!The quality of the car is impresive so far. But the only problim I faced is replacing the battery four times in two and half years!

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  Great car - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By saabster - August 6 - 5:23 am

  This is my second Saab 9-5 Aero (previous was a 2003). I like the new materials used inside the cabin. Finally, standard XM radio/CD changer. The changes on the outside look great also. My previous 9-5 was great, never any problems. Im expecting this one to be just a good.

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  Poor mans BMW? - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By pcguy74 - August 5 - 1:30 am

  Bought this one used, my first Saab. Warranty fixed the turbo and gasket (blue smoke is your indicator). Heater blower just went at 95K. I love this car, though the interior design still needs more thought. Id buy another one, luxury without the pricetag, fun without the fuel bill. Ive averaged 26mpg overall w/70 percent highway driving... pretty good for 70K+ miles, I have made 31-32 at times but I cant stay at the speed limit with this fun car! It even saved my life once in winter weather, avoided a head on because of ESP feature, fun AND safe? you bet!

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  Very impressed - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By me0101 - August 4 - 2:10 am

  Ive had my Saab 9-3 for a year now and have about 10,000 miles on the odometer. This is my first Saab, and I primarily bought it for the incredible mix of performance, fuel economy, comfort/utility, and handling. I am 100% satisfied with the choice and have had zero problems with the car. I would buy again w/o hesitation. I hope Saab is around for a very long time.

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  No sobbing with this Saab - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Doobie - August 1 - 11:06 am

  My Chili Red 9-3 2.0T has been a joy to own. With a daily commute of 90 miles round trip, I wanted a car that that drove and handled well without the need for a stiff suspension and low profile tires. It also had to have good gas mileage, decent acceleration and run on regular gas. This car does it all. One of the most comfortable cars to drive that I have ever owned. The engineers at Saab have geared this car perfectly. At typical commuting speed, the engine pulls about 2300 RPM. This is the cars sweet zone. At this speed, the engine is responsive, road feel is fantastic, steady and there are no vibrations or annoying harmonics. No service issues and I am getting 29.5 mpg (hwy).