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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  Excellent Car - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Rob Aiken - November 8 - 8:53 am

  I have owned my 2005 Saab 9-3 Linear for 7 months now and like it more and more everytime I drive it. Usually when I buy a new car, I start to notice little things about it, that I dont like within a month or 2. That has not happened with my 9-3. In fact, the opposite has happened. I have started to find little things about the 9-3 that I like more after driving it awhile. The suspension and handling on this car are unbelievable. My friend owns a 2005 BMW 325i and after driving my car, wishes he had purchased a Saab 9-3 instead. It is a little cramped in the back seat, but is fine for kids. Or 3 adults in back for short drives. I will always buy Saab now and cant wait for my 9-7x.

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  For being "different," its too ordinary. - 1996 Saab 900
  By fitzgerald.e - November 6 - 5:50 pm

  I bought this car as my 21st birthday present. I moved on from a 9000 S to the proper turbo 900. Since I bought it, it has slowly fallen apart. Little things break, and it just adds up. The performance is nothing special (especially today), and the turbo takes FOREVER to build any meaningful boost. Also, the clutch is stiff and there arent ANY cup holders! You need at least one, especially with a manual. The climate control irritates me. Why is it always on? Its default setting should be "off." I dont want it blowing hot air when I get in at noon in July! I think Id be happier with an S70 T5 of similar vintage.

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  My favorite car of all time! - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By Curt - November 4 - 3:26 pm

  Ive had this car for nearly a year and I love it! Its powerful, comfortable and gets very good gas mileage. The car is loaded with features and is designed with safety in mind. This car offers so much value for the dollar. I traded-in a Jaguar XK8 for this Aero and I have never regretted the decision. This car is great in the snow and hauls five passengers quite comfortably. The trunk is very large and the interior is well laid out. This is my favorite car Ive ever owned.

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  Im so happy! - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Milan - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Pefect!The Saab 9-5 is comfortable, convenient and enjoyable to drive around town and on the open road. Clever ergonomic solutions, like seats with fans, an aircraft-style map light,roomy cargo area with a perfectly flat floor,with its high-output turbocharged engine, puts a lot of power under the pedal for quick throttle response at highway speeds!

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  Finally a Fun car to drive! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By ipnman - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Have the 9-3 convertible about a week, and cant stop smiling! This car is fun to drive, and every where I go people come up and say what a great looking car. If your looking at convertibles, do youself a favor and test drive the Saab.

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  SAAB: Totally Under-Rated! - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By EFenderman - November 2 - 10:00 am

  My new 9-3 Convertible is a blast to drive! I would have never guessed that a car could be so fun to drive until I test drove this car! The excelleration is "Jet smoooth"! The quality leather coachworks are top-notch. I settled on the automatic and love the the "S" mode button on the shifter. You can certainly sense the "aircraft" heritage of these fine automobiles. More people need to discover the quality and value of these cars.

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  Different from the rest - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Michelle_70 - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car. Distinguish style and lot of torque with turbo engine. Coll features like ignition key and above all if you want to be different from all the BMW 3 series and still drive something which is even better performance and handling then go for SAAB.

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  99 9-3 Still going strong - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Chris Kreger - November 1 - 11:06 pm

  Just rolled 200K and the car still moves. Gets over 30 mpg highway and averages 26+ mpg. 3 daughters learned to drive in this car, wife drives everyday and refuses to give it up. Oil changes every 4-5000 mi w/synthetic, one tune up, one timing belt, and repair to drivers window. Car still looks good and currently no thoughts of replacing it.

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  Saab surprise - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By happy owner - October 29 - 10:33 am

  After selling my old 900s, I looked at VW (Passat), Volvos and Audis. The 900 was okay, but I dont miss it. Then I saw that GM was getting generous with its cash back program, so I decided to give Saab another try. I was glad I did. The interior quality and the handling were better than the Passat or the Volvo v40, and on par with the Audi A4, but 5k cheaper than the Audi. And after cash back, only about 2k more than a VW. The interior and the trunk are larger than any of those competitors, which is great, given the baby seat we recently had to install. The 9-3 offers 99 percent of the quality of a BMW 3 series or Audi A4, but for a lot less money. This car is a steal.

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  Resolving a midlife crisis - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By L. Zeitlin - October 29 - 10:30 am

  This is a "Q" boat of a car. It packages the firebreathing performance of the Subaru WRX in a skin that you would not be reluctant to drive to a meeting at the Harvard Club. I can recapture the sports car days of my youth yet remain outwardly respectable. The build quality is excellent and the car has proven ultimately reliable. Fuel economy is good but every time you use the blazing acceleration, its like throwing a 50 cent piece out the window.