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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  Best car for the money - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Kenneth James - September 18 - 12:16 pm

  The drive is the experience for the love of driving with the handling and feel of the car is unexplainable. You just drive this car once and you will understand my delight with driving this car. So, give it a test drive and make the decision for yourself and appreciate speed and comfort of a once in a lifetime automobile.

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  Bullet proof Saab 9-5 - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Ozzie - September 15 - 10:23 am

  Just a great car. Never a problem and looks great (even when dirty)

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  Great sport sedan - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By saabguy - September 12 - 3:03 am

  I love this car. It handles great and has plenty of power for passing carving up twisty back roads. This Saab is very comfy and feels solid when driving. It doesnt hurt that this car is one of the safest cars on the road.

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  My fifth one, and the best one - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By Tiff - September 11 - 11:13 pm

  This is my fifth 9-5 and I think its the best one Ive owned. I have always loved the comfortable seats, the well-designed dash and the rather eccentric turbo engine, but the new one finally has satellite radio, a cd changer, and tons of power. Its comfortable on long drives and still has room for four or five people and their luggage. And while newer designs may offer more toys, they come at a price.

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  Nice low profile sports sedan - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By bruce - September 9 - 6:10 am

  After over 3 years and nearly 60,000 miles, I have no complaints about the car other than the poor resale value vs its competition. It handles nicely with the sport pkg, feels safe on the road, looks great in red, and always gets compliments. It has had a few minor electrical glitches but all were fixed under warranty, and one was fixed out of warranty due to a recall. Sure, theyre not Hondas, but they do stand behind them. This is just about the safest affordable vehicle on the road when you factor in handling, braking, crash tests, curb weight, airbags, etc. Road noise is a little higher than some luxury brands, but its not bad. A great used car bargain due to low resale value.

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  Saab 2.0T - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By DH - September 1 - 11:56 am

  This car is fun to drive, handles well in the snow and has some nice luxery components. The steering is resonsive and the mid-range acceleration is peppy. The overall interior quality is on the lower end, but still nice. The cabin is surprisingly roomy with a nice trunk and fold down rear seats for extra storage space.

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  sweet - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By bob saab - August 26 - 2:00 am

  2 weeks old love it

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  Great convertible! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By scot - August 25 - 10:16 am

  Wow! I received a fantastic deal after this gem sat at my local dealership for six months with no takers. Car turns heads and continues to receive compliments. Driving topless is the best stress-buster in the world. If Id heeded the reviews in Consumer Reports, I would never have purchased this vehicle, so Im glad I lived on the edge. I love the unique design and the fact that so few others own this vehicle. Still love it after owning for a year.

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  Good performer - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By SAB - August 24 - 10:00 am

  It was either a beemer or a Saab and I chose the Saab 93 with every option that came with the aero...I have no regrets, I used to own a 2001 95 Aero and BMWs before that, but I wanted something smaller and more agile. The car rides great, a little stiff around town but its tight around corners, there are small build issues inside the car but they are very minor, over all I really like the car and I think I made a sound choice.

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  Autobahn Tested/Approved - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Keith n Becky - August 21 - 12:23 am

  We picked this car up at the Factory and drove it to our home near Frankurt the next day. This car is completely at home while cruising at the 133mph gov. The magazines trash Saab for a couple reasons that stem from the FWD. It will never have the feel of a RWD BMW, but its great for a FWD. The shifter is fine untill you are speed shifting when it becomes a little slow. This and its at the limit handleing are not up there with the BMW, but during spirited driving youd never know it. It is only when one thrashes the car through a small road course, like the magazines do, that one would see the difference. Interior is much "nicer" than the BMW and the rear has more room than the BMW5dr