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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  Great Saab Travels - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Saab Guy - May 26 - 2:10 pm

  I used to drive 20,000+ / yr and this car has been a great car. I handles like a champ and corners great. I have had to do a few costly repairs but when speaking with my friends who own BMW, Volvo and Mercedes, this car is much cheaper. On own highway the car glides on the road. If you are mechanically inclined the car is easy to work on. I started doing my own repairs and service about a year ago for fun. I can change out the spark plugs in less than 15 min. Mind you I was used to working on VW Bugs with their pancake engines, which was a hard spot to get to the cylinders. The road noise can be a little louder than competition though.

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  Great car-great lease - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By timsmith - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Saab. Although I miss the quirkiness of my old 900s, this vehicle is head and shoulders above our old 9000cs. The car has cost us next to nothing to drive (especially once you consider the extremely reasonable lease packages Saab is putting together). The car has never been in to the shop for anything other than "scheduled maintenance," and Morries in Minnetonka, MN is even a reasonable place for an hour coffee break. I have really enjoyed this car.

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  aero - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By deltaomega - May 20 - 10:00 am

  i dont know what there talking about the the turbo not kicking in in lower rpm but this car has 258 ftlb torque at 1900 rmp so the turbo kicks in after u already take off with all that torque for continuous acceleration id like to see a bmw do that for this price

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  The Non-Swedish Saab - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By casey - May 18 - 4:10 pm

  Being one of the first driving this Saab in the Netherlands it is a pleasure driving it. Saab tried to keep the sales price low compared to its european competitors. Giving some success so far. As hardly anybody knows the car, you get a lot of attentions from others. It is a pity that the gearbox has only 4 and not 5 gears. Lets see if this Saab will meet the elk-test in Schweden. A small pity is that the specific US-features do not work in Europe.

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  My second 9-3 - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Rodney Imai - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I previously had a 2000 9-3 and never had any problems. After the lease was up, I was happy to purchase it, but the temptation of a new car was too much, so I leased the 2003 model and am glad I did.

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  buying 9-3 linear in one month - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By tobethebest - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I just got home from test driving the 2003 Saab 9-3 linear. I was very impressed with the drive and comfort. I was receiving plenty of looks from good looking girls on and around my University campus. This car made me feel good when driving. I felt more confidence within myself. Its amazing how driving a car can make you feel, and the Saab 9-3 made me feel great. I am currently an Audi owner. For the price the Saab is a much better deal. Looking forward to hearing others comments!

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  60th Anniversary package rocks - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By 1st Saab - May 8 - 6:53 am

  Had the car for almost 2 years. Really been nothing but a pleasure from day one. This is the car I should have bought 10 years ago, though it wasnt available ten years ago. Bose stereo is wonderful. Ride and performance are really nice. Punching the gas every once in a while is a blast. Road noise is not nearly as bad as my former Subaru. Interior design is lovely though there is too much hard, sort-of-cheap-feeling plastic. Rear fold-down seats really create a humongous hatchback-like cargo area. Dealer has been great. The warranty and maintenance are really top notch. Newer models dont have as long of a warranty. Roof rack bars look awesome.

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  OK, but not really happy - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By bar_ml - April 28 - 8:26 am

  I bought this in mint condition last spring. I have put about 20K on it. Driving on the highway is great, especially here in Europe. But, this car is starting to drive me nuts. 1 cup holder, no armrests, waywayway too many buttons for the heater, etc. Give me some dials so I can concentrate on driving and not have to search for a button and almost wreck. They key should be on the steering column. Thats where my cell, wallet etc. go. Give me wipers that I can set where I want, not some electronic sensor. Always too fast or too slow for me. Display constantly missing pixels. reverse help never works. Key batteries die very fast. I have had no engine/tranny problems.

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  Fun to Drive, Yet Sophisticated - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By bluehorseshoe313 - April 26 - 6:46 pm

  I have a 2.0T 60th Anniversary with an auto trans. The auto has some turbo lag off the line, but the "passing gear" is great. Overall the car looks great and is fun to drive. At 64" I have just enough head room, but could use a little more. The Bose audio system sounds good, but the head unit controls are a little confusing to get used to.

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  Sleeper - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By LCACBOSN - April 26 - 5:16 pm

  Overall this automobile is an excellent value. Its definitely Subaru however the added Saab soundproofing and ride quality makes a huge difference. The front-end sheet medal appearance is better than the 05 Impreza. I recently drove the car north from Virginia to New Hampshire in late December. I found that driving in all snow conditions to be safe and pleasurable. The dry weather performance is fantastic for a grocery getter.