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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  My 20 cents - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Ricky Sein - September 5 - 11:30 pm

  I bought the 2006 9-3 Aero in 2009. It had 22,000 miles. The car looks very nice, its lots of fun to drive. It is faster than most of the similar priced European makes (which are usually more expensive). The 2-tone leather interior with silver trims look sporty and modern. The 2.8 V6T does consumes significant amount of fuel, which can add up, specially if you follow the owners manual requirement of premium fuel only. Overall, I love it!

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  Saab 9-2x Linear - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Eric - September 5 - 9:46 am

  Bought the last 9-2x Linear available in the city. Even without the turbo, this car with 5-sp manual is a blast to drive.

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  Sobbing over my SAAB - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By roland11 - September 4 - 1:23 pm

  Thought I did enough research before purchasing, I was wrong. The car is wonderful when everything is working properly. Which was about 2 weeks! Have done more repairs than I can list here. Parts are often hard to come by and expensive! Unfortunately, Saab quit employing Aircraft engineers decades ago. Im an aircraft mechanic and I have no doubt their early models held up best because of their aviation background. Im convinced their partnership with GM was their ultimate downfall. If you already bought a 9-5, Four words: CHANGE THE OIL OFTEN! Change the ATF or manual GB oil often as well! Do maintenance yourself if possible. Mechanics hear "SAAB" and they see $$$$

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  Better options available - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Ashok - September 2 - 5:53 pm

  I bought this car trading my Toyota Camry. The engine is great with good interiors, all other things are very average or poor. The interior of the car shakes and rattles all the time. There is something going wrong always - various lights come on, computer malfunction, moon-roof not closing, door-handles fading, shock-absorbers breaking, etc. The dealership is very nice and the car is still under warranty (ends Oct,07). I dont know what Ill do after that, if this thing keeps braking! Dont waste your time on this car, I guess SAAB brand is being washed-away by GM. I love the Acura TSX as an alternative.

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  If you like quirky this is it! - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By SAAB95JD - August 29 - 2:13 am

  I bought a 2007 Saab 9-5 after losing my 300K Mercedes E300D due to a flooded street. It was difficult to choose a car other than another Mercedes, but lets face it... if you want a M-B diesel the minimum price is $60K! So, I chose to go with something else unusual, and the Saab fit the bill. What a great car! The acceleration is thrilling, the build seems great, the interior is comfortable and well thought out, and I LOVE the fact that the parchment seats are combined with black interior colors. Very modern. The car has had one warranty claim already which is why I rated it 9 instead of 10... but it was a simple squeak in the wood trim. It took the dealer 10 min to fix.

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  "Garage Queen" - 2007 Saab 9-7X
  By lycklig - August 28 - 5:28 pm

  I have owned, and loved, 3 previous SAABs, but this one is a major disappointment. I purchased this so that the tall men in my life would no longer have to leave their knees at home when we go on a trip. The space is great and comfy, DVD and multi-CD players are sweet, and the on-board air-compressor is a great asset. BUT, it is sluggish when going uphill (diesel-pushers cruise past us), has had multiple major issues, and spends more time in the dealership garage than on the road with me. Gas mileage is about the same as my Suburban. This 9-7X has cost me so much time and money. I can hardly wait to trade it in!

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  Saab Story - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By jon_e_quest - August 28 - 4:16 am

  This is my 7th Saab, 2nd 9-5. It will be my LAST! Bought with 37K miles. Replaced the Turbo, ACC control module, trip computer, & entire dash facia at 46K (all warrantied). Now with 68K miles, have a short in the no. 8 fuse circuit that nobody can find. Unless I drive with that fuse out, battery dies. Intermittent engine light due to a faulty coil pack (possibly under recall, but I had to purchase one for my last 9-5.). Intermittent oil light (replaced the sending unit, but now it looks like a $1K oil pump replacement). Replaced the left side ACC air dist. stepping motor which controls temp adjust. Replaced both fog lights. Needs left side ball joint. Sunroof rattles. I give up!

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  From Slaab To Saaahhhhbbb - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By BMW Who? - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Have owned it for 1 week and am so glad. We test drove the BMW, Audi, Honda, anything and everything. This is by far the best for the money. The lease special that Saab ran was one of kind. Like the saying goes "most who test drive a Saab, buy a Saab" and we were one of those.

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  Have confidence, get certified - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By RLS123 - August 27 - 4:16 pm

  I wanted the confidence of an extended warranty and something different than the run-of-the-mill sedan. I didnt know much about Saab, so my expectations werent too high. If you only look at Consumer Reports, you would never buy this car. However, its an attractive automobile with many standard features which would be options on another vehicle. I was concerned about it being a 4 cyl, but the Turbo gives it plenty of guts. Additionally, I have owned this car for over a year now without any cosmetic or mechanical issues. Its fun to drive with very little road noise.

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  A Sexy Beast! - 2008 Saab 9-7X
  By SvenBanginshea - August 25 - 9:20 pm

  What a sexy beast! The 9-7x Aero is a rare classic that was doomed by the poor timing of >$3.50/g gas. Their loss in sales is my gain in rarity. I have owned many exclusive, classic and modern sports cars, but never have I received so many admiring second- looks and seen so much drool from jaw dropping performance envy. Blows away all other SUVs except for fools that paid well over 2x as much for the turbo pepper S. And did I mention that the exterior is second to none! I have never stated this but, "Good Work, GM"!