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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  Not Safe - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By brijitte - June 30 - 12:03 pm

  While driving at 11:30 pm on a small country (paved) road with my high beams on, my warning system indicated "Left High Beam Failure. About a minute later the left head light was in flames. Within 15 minutes the entire front half/engine of the car was in flames and subsequently burned/melted the entire front half of the car. There were less than 80,000 miles on the car. After month and a half Saab still has not investigated this issue and refuses to acknowledge the issue. I have pictures of the fire that I am happy to share. It was a horrible experience, and I am not sure how Saab can have such reputation for safety.

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  fun car! - 1996 Saab 900
  By jj99 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  This car has been great! fun to drive, easy to drop the top and let the wind blow. Plenty of speed and excellent mechanics. 80K miles and zero major engine, suspension or interior repairs.

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  Not my fathers SAAB - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By inpdx - June 27 - 9:40 am

  Having owned 8 SAABs I bought the 9-7 because I needed the towing capacity of a larger vehicle. Its comfortable and can tow over 5000lbs but the drive train is truly dissapointing. MPG only averages 15 in mixed driving (approx half city/half highway). There is a noticable lag on acceleration from a stop, then it comes on all at once (are they trying to copy SAAB turbo lag??). The transmission shifts nervously in city driving, constantly fishing and clunking between gears. The engine and tranny combo remind me of a 60s Chevy pickup - completely unrefined. Wish I had bought the XC-90 instead.

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  Precision Piece of Machinery - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Edan - June 26 - 10:53 am

  This is my second Saab, but my first GM built one. I have had it for roughly 10k miles now. In that time Ive been plagued by problems. Including a front end shake at high speeds that I havent been able to pinpoint or solve at the cost of thousands of dollars. Otherwise, its got a lot of go and decent gas mileage. The newer Saab hatchback doesnt compare though to the older ones. Also the ride quality is fairly poor, my moms base model Camry from 1995 is much smoother and quieter on the road. If you like to do your own maintenance, then this is a good car for you. If not, it will just bum you out.

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  Love Hate Relationship - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By Saab Story - June 23 - 1:16 pm

  I bought a used Saab 9-5 SE with 98000 miles on it. It was the car of my dreams. Ive never liked a car so much. Until it started leaking oil. Then the oil gasket blew. And the ABS module blew. And the serpentine belt blew. And 2 months later the entire belt tensioner blew, causing the serpentine belt to snap, causing a melt down. The list goes on. In the course of a year, I spent $3000 in repairs. The shameful thing is that I love driving this car so much, I actually considered getting another one. Had to slap myself out of it, because it really is better as a second car you only take for long highway rides. Guess Im gonna have to find a 12-step program for Saab drivers.

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  2 Years and going strong - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Dr Mercado - June 21 - 11:10 am

  I know what Audi & BMW can be (A4 & 3 series). I decided on this one for its safety features and handling manners. I see some other owners have not had the luck I am going to mention. No fails, no problems. Ride is a pleasure, turbo lag could be something that may bother you if you like make frequent accelerations below 60 mph) hint: I use the tiptronic and get some difference!). My wife is so happy that we are just waiting for the new 9.3 V6 Turbo.. The car is excellent after 2 years, with no strange noises or something to complain. If you buy, chances are that you will keep it fon long & happy.

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  So far, so good! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Daid Hecht - June 21 - 12:50 am

  Ive put 6000 miles on the Sport Combi, and it has been bulletproof so far. Have averaged 28.0 mpg on the computer on regular gas. Car has plenty of power, is very comfortable and looks great, because it is different. Every passenger so far has been complimentary, and at least one friend just purchased one because he liked it so much.

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  Enjoyable car, but some sticky points - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By porterjs - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Some quirks and some warranty-covered reliability issues have not hindered the enjoyment of this car. The car rides very nicely and has enough power for both around town and some speedier highway driving. The interior layout and ergonomics are superb, and generally build quality is good. Two new turbos (one likely not installed perfectly) and a tendency to go through a lot of light bulbs and a couple of batteries have tried our patience at times - as has the lack of dealer parts inventory once or twice. The cargo room is quite good.

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  Big Surprise, Small Price - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Alfabet - June 12 - 10:06 pm

  I bought this used in August of 06 since I had a "price point" in mind as children were in college and cost was important. The terrible depreciation is the used car buyers gain and I bought three years from new for about 45% of list. The car turned out to be a big surprise after 4 years and about 40K miles I have driven. Few mechanical problems, although they were either covered by the remaining factory warranty or the extended one I bought. I am very impressed with the highway cruising ability but it is not my prior 911 or 540 (nor did I expect it to be). It is generally an all around good car with lots of room and decent driving fun. Go find one with low mileage!

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  Stunning Swede - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By GregM - June 12 - 2:00 am

  My ferrari red Saab Aero is simply stunning to look and to drive. Lots of power, especially the massive amounts of torque that makes driving this car seem effortless. Very quiet, smooth and stable all the way to 155+ mph. Handles like a sport coupe and has excellent brakes as well. Also the Aero is the most comfortable car I have driven, supremely comfortable seats! Lots of features unique in the industry and very rare!