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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  9-3 Linear: Fun and Practical - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By GolferJim - January 31 - 2:00 am

  My first Saab; Im very pleased so far. The 175hp turbo and automatic are very flexible. Gas mileage (27+ mpg) has been better than I had hoped for with the Auto. Handling is xlnt; not M3 great, but better than the Acura TL we had. Some of the SID functions are awkward, but most controls are good. The 150wt stereo needs help, 6-CD changer is good. I have gotten a number of "thumbs up" from people looking at the car for the first time. Its sharp in silver. The exterior fit and finish are as good as any. The interior materials look good, but not quite A4-good. The heated seats are very comfortable. I also consideded an Audi A4 and Mazda 6s.

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  Entry-level luxury, real sport & utility - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Aerocraft67 - January 30 - 1:40 am

  I upgraded from a Chevy Cavalier, so I am very happy with this vehicle. Imperfections are legitimate trade-offs. It feels large for the engine size. From a stop, the transmission and turbo feel confused unless you throttle very gently or heavily. Acceleration improves at high speeds (passing), and overall high-speed performance is excellent. This is a great highway car, but less nimble in dense traffic and tight spots. Otherwise handles well and feels safe, especially with stability control. The seats are very comfortable, and the controls are nice. Storage areas are inefficient. Underappreciated feature: towing capacity. Excellent value. Refined, safe, comfortable, practical, and economical

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  People still turn their heads... - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By RP - January 26 - 8:53 pm

  I am enjoying my 9-7x even though the prices at the pump make me question my decision sometimes. People are constantly looking to see what I am driving and honestly I like that. The styling is unique and the V8 is fun too. I havent had any problems to date and the SUV has been a pleasure to drive. I only wish that the 2005 model had the fuel economy of the newer V8s with displacement on demand (or whatever GM calls it).

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  First time Saab owner - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By theaba - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Test-drove and eventually leased this car because of GM financing and its standard safety features. The car is a blast to drive. It is a great value if you stay at the base level. It is relatively light weight. So, it really handles very well and the acceleration is quite adequate. The interior is very well done with leather seats. The five speed auto trans is very smooth and responsive. The car looks beautiful to me! After 900 miles, a warning appeared about auto transmission. It was a false alarm probably caused by a bad sensor signal. The second and current problem is related to the malfunctioning of OnStar.

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  1st time Saab owner - 1996 Saab 900
  By Gene - January 16 - 1:18 pm

  Ive had the car for about a year. I love the turbo performance and tight handling. I had to replace a tonneau cover motor which was really a surprisingly easy to do.

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  Gorgeous but unreliable - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By MrStrutt - January 14 - 9:40 am

  I chose the 9-3 convertible from 2006 based on the fact that it was *more* reliable than the 2004 and 2005 models (according to Consumer Reports). However, after barely two months driving it, I have had to take it twice to the dealership -- recent failures include the alternator and the clutch. I know that Saabs werent the most reliable cars out there, but Im still surprised! The beauty is the 50,000-mile warranty which turns into 1) free repairs and 2) free loaners. In the end it only costs me trips to the dealership, plus a few parts here and there. A small price to pay to drive such a beauty!

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  Not worth buying, even used - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By tdskip - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Saab has ready gone down hill, you can tell they weve been stretched too thin in trying to keep up with their peers. My 9-3 has the structural integrity of cooked linguine is is fragile. If you ask Saab theyll admit that this model needs lots of maintenance and isnt very robust (tend to bends the front hubs). Roomy and the hatchback is flexible, but not as much as youd think since the rear seats wont fold flat unless the front seats are all the way forward.

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  Saab 9-5 Aero - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By John C. - January 1 - 9:03 am

  Have had my 9-5 about 7 months. Although there have been a few things that needed attention, I love the car. It has a dual personality: practical family hauler (I have 3 kids and do the school drop-off in the mornings... backpacks, musical instruments, computers, sports equipment, it all goes in the trunk), gets close to 35 mpg on the highway, but at the same time is a highly entertaining performance sedan. Great seats, great stereo, but interior ergonomics are not great. I think its one of the best looking 4 door cars on the road. Try to find one that has some factory warranty left on it.

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  Good Vehicle for Price - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By AK Driver - January 1 - 4:03 am

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife to transport the kids around. It is very comfortable and roomy for a smaller SUV. The engine does very well for an I6, but fuel mileage could be better (I guess you can have one or the other more power less mileage or more mileage less power). Bought it used and a good investment so far. Had a slight alignment issue, once fixed have had no problems. One frustrating thing is it is very hard to get accessories for this vehicle. Overall good vehicle for the price.

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  Used 2003 9-3 Convertible - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By disasterdawg - December 22 - 11:41 am

  Bought this car with 89,xxx miles on it, AUTOMATIC I knew it needed a few cosmetic items and tires, but was a value for $4400. Solid car that is fun to drive. The AC blows so cold I had to turn it down on a 90+ degree day. Items are simple to fix like the DIC and fluid for the covnertible top. Lots of parts on eBay and videos on YouTube to help. Is quick and responsive. The Sweeds know nothing of cup holders though. The car will throw trouble codes every day. Buy a scanner when you buy a Saab. Nothing to worry about, most are harmless warnings and can be fixed without huge money. The DIC (coil pack) is the common failure for most codes, new is $500