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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  The Princess Mobile - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By James - March 23 - 7:23 am

  My Princess is my wife. The Saab 97X is her chariot. We were looking for a road worthy and safe vehicle with some class. Also, made in America was a key issue. With a GM drive train and frame we knew it was a solid investment. The standard features would have cost $7-9,000 more on comparable vehicles. Its a dream to drive... when she lets me.

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  Awesome Car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By bonds12000 - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Purchased after EXTENSIVE research on safety, drivability, curb appeal and overall value...NOTHING came close for the price. Ive owned several european cars and this car is by far the best I have driven... including the 2002 Saab 9-5 wagon I own. I upgraded the wheels to the 17" with pirellis....and chose the rich looking metallic midnight blue...this car turns more heads than my red miata convertible!

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  Perfect for a tall person - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By ChemE - March 21 - 2:00 pm

  I am 66" and the Saab fits me like a glove. Ive had the car 3 months now and its still a joy every time I drive it. The last tank of gas I got 30.5 MPG with a little bit of spirited driving (~80% HWY). The 6 speed manual lets you cruise at highway speeds without the turbo (or loss in fuel economy).

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  2003 Saab SE Convertible - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By gggcag - March 20 - 3:50 am

  We recently purchased a used 2003 Saab SE convertible with 25,000 miles on it. We wanted a convertible for summer fun and this vehicle certainly fills the bill! It has outstanding performance and is a thrill to drive. We live in the mid-west and promptly took it on a trip down south to take advantage of the warm weather and driving with the top down. Very little wind noise for a convertible and averaged 31 MPG! What more could you ask for?

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  Love this car! - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By Jamie Jennings - March 18 - 6:26 am

  So much fun to drive. Reliable, no significant issues, even with car over 100k miles!

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  I love my Saab - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By Kay - March 16 - 2:13 am

  I had a 2000 9-3 and sobbed hysterically when I traded it for a Prius last year. That portended what was to come. Another year and I have bought a new Saab 9-3 wagon with a stick. I cannot believe how nice this car is! I loved my old Saab; this one is not in any way the same car. It is much nicer but I love it just the same. I am just a Saab lover, I guess. I never want anything else. I love this car.

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  Its a Rocket - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By LPA - March 13 - 6:00 am

  I know they say Saabs are "made from jets," but this car is a rocket! In my first two months of ownership, Ive come to appreciate the outstanding acceleration of my Saab while experiencing awesome gas mileage (until I just reset it, my mileage calculator registered 29.7 mpg for a full months worth of driving), far better than expected. Heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, quality climate control all make driving a pleasure. My impeccable timing -- I bought the car just before the Spyker deal was finalized -- yielded me a new entry- level luxury car for $23,400, a huge discount from the $36,500 sticker price.

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  Navy Blue Rocket Sled - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Spark9-3 - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for about 2 months now. I love it. If you are good with driving stick this car will satisfy that urge for power. I love everything about the car, testdrive one, you will be hooked VERY quickly. My only advice is to find one with a CD changer as it costs 700 from saab to have one installed, and other than that the only option for CDs other than replacing the radio is a FM modulated changer (I just had one installed from tweeter today) which runs around $350.

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  Lemon for sale - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Never buy GM - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Got my new 9-3 last May. I just picked up the car from Shrewsbury SAAB for the third time. Its been towed twice for a dead battery, replaced the battery both times. They reprogramed the computer. When picking up the car, the info system showed a another failure, another day in the shop. Dealer called, problem hopefully fixed, BUT to add insult to injury, now I have a big greasy hand print on my white headliner. Fun to drive but any bump in the road will cause to lose your spleen. Ive owned Lexus and Infinity, I took a chance on SAAB but never again. At least the Japanese dealers treat you and your car with respect!

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  nervous saab - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By ohiosaab - March 10 - 12:20 pm

  Have owned 3 years now. Still under warranty. Fun to drive. Great mpg. Clock keeps own time. DTE always wrong. Onstar intermittent. Replaced seatbelts (recall), replaced door handles (color changed year 1). Car drives great, but mechanically quality is iffy.