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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  Runs like a champ - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By johnd - July 25 - 9:30 pm

  Bought my 4- cyl turbo se special edition with BBS wheels brand new. Fun to drive, a great value for the money if you buy used. My 9-5 has 125,000 miles on it and I plan on going to 200k. Change oil with synthetic or semi- synthetic and only have had minor problems with electrical system. The panel goes bonkers sometimes but overall would buy again. Need to buy the Aero next time or Saab should make other models sportier with lowered suspension. Out handles many a surprised BMW, Audi and M-B drivers. Shock value is high.

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  Get one if you can - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Steve - July 21 - 6:26 pm

  Our 97-x replaced a leased Honda Pilot. We werent sure at that time whether we had made a good decision... but after a few weeks it was apparent that we got a lot of SUV for the money. Three kids (two in booster seats) fit easily into the rear seat, and there is at least as much storage room behind the seat as the Pilot (maybe even more). The front seats are very comfortable and we really like the dual climate control, since my wife is always cold and Im always warm! The 18 inch tires provide a very smooth ride. We bought is used at a great saving from the original price and so far it has been worth every cent. I would recommend this SUV.

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  Look at this before you buy!!! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By JRT - July 19 - 7:33 pm

  In short: for the love of God stay away from a Saab!! My Saab has been involved in 6 separate recalls, needed a new transmission due to mechanical failure (out 2 weeks), lost two batteries which requires a tow (no kidding), I had no idea what "turbo-lag" was until I tried to pull out into traffic with this thing and the service teams have been less than stellar. For the record mine only has 24K miles on it!

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  OOPS Wrong car. - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By notstock - July 17 - 2:39 am

  Well I got suckered by the lure of a Good deal" I needed a cheap family vehicle and I found a 2006 SportCombi Aero with 56K miles for only 11.5K, paid cash and now I know why it was so cheap. It started having problems on the way home from buying the stupid car. Its got this weird surging hesitation under partial throttle. A grinding clanking from the engine, and a weird high pitched whine from the audio system even if its turned off. This is a one owner dealer maintained car with full service records, so I know it was taken care of. Im really disappointed because I liked the performance in a car that I dont see dozens of every day. UNIQUE, I like that. Unreliable and broken NOPE.

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  THIS CAR IS GREAT! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By dreamcar - July 17 - 2:00 am

  The new Saab 9-3 is a great car. Its handles wonderfly and I dont have to worry about safety either. It has saftey features out the wazoo, along with all of the performance feature, which really make it a fun car to drive.

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  Beauty for the beast - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By beemboy - July 15 - 4:06 pm

  Anyone up for a Subaru entree with Saab spices? I was, and its delicious! The 9-2x Aero combines the practicality of a wagon (great for carting small- to medium-sized dogs, for example, or camping gear), the thrills of a turbo engine (it will put a silly grin on your face that you cannot wipe off), and the safety of all-wheel-drive with ABS and a limited slip differential. The turbo characteristics have been refined, so you wont necessarily take off like a Tasmanian devil at 3000RPM. The shifter is notchy and can definitely be improved. Seats are decent, and the two-tone interior is nice. Road noise is acceptable, but more than the Jetta I owned. In all, a practical car that spells F-U-N.

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  Great - 1996 Saab 900
  By Ryan - July 12 - 2:40 am

  Great car, bought it in WI, and drove it 2500 miles back home with no problems at all, i bought it with 128k miles, this car will last forever as long as you maintain it, i do an oil change every other month, trans fluid change once a year, constantly check the fluids, coolant, oil level and brake fluid. Ive also installed 18inch rims on it, and wow it looks great, ive installed a stereo system, with an amp and subs, i put a strait pipe, with a custom muffler in and got rid of all those stupid flex pipes, i recharged the ac, great car. the two bad things ive noticed are: the "check engine light is always on, and when i put it in reverse the front park lights come on.

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  I drove them crazy! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By AudioMike - July 11 - 10:00 am

  After driving the A4, 325Xi, and S60 I hopped into my first Saab, the 2003 Arc and drove out of the dealership. I had a smile on my face before it shifted to 2nd gear. The display in the center of the dash tells everything needed and is unobtrusive. Took it out to the twisty roads to discover that this is the Best handling FWD I have ever sat in. The feel, ride quality and overall composure of this car is phenomenal. When I took it back I decided to try the Linear and was shocked to find about the same car with less frills. Still very torquey and smiling all the way. Now I know why they say most buy that try.

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  The Best Ever - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By Copy - July 10 - 3:36 pm

  I was a little reluctant to get the new Saab (back in 2000) but something made me to for 3 years later. This convertible is the best ever. In California never Had a problem. It is amazing how fast you can pass any car with the turbo. Even in California this car is an icon and everyone watches you pass. I am proud I made the best decision.

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  Awesome Car!! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By NEPASaab - July 9 - 4:23 am

  Ive owned my 9-3 for exactly one year, just hit 32k miles, and i love it just as much as the day i got it. I picked my silver 9-3 over an Accord, Legacy, TSX, S40, and Mercury Milan. I purchased the car used/ certified with 20k miles on it from a local Saab dealer. Some have mentioned that Saabs arent common however where i live they are very popular due to the dealers rapport with its customers. The car is a wonderful value and theres very few, if any, cars in this segment that compare. The car is a blast to drive has great fuel economy, and i love the styling both inside and out. I treat this car better than most treat their kids and it loves me back just as much.