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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  Unique but at a cost - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By JMcN - April 30 - 5:50 pm

  I had read the reviews - kind of all over the place. I decided to have at it and buy a 9-3 as a daily driver. I bought a high mileage 99 base model for a steal. Since ownership, beyond routine maintenance Ive had to do quite a bit of unexpected repairs. The heat stopped working, the fuel pump went, stalling issue due to a clogged fuel check valve. Overall not a very satisfying ownership experience. We just leased a Mazda and will be moving on from this experience. If you like to tinker with cars and have the time and a warm place to fix things when they break in the dead of winter then go right ahead. Otherwise I would caution any family member of mine considering this vehicle.

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  Fun to drive, but... - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By MUY - April 14 - 10:00 am

  The car is fun to drive, but interior details are cheap. At any given point in time over the last 3 yrs, something on the interior is broken. These are always small (back seat light, seat adjustment knob, gear shift knob) but annoying. I also had to replace the tires after only 19,000 miles. No help from the dealer in getting warranty relief, they claimed it was my alignment. Which brings me to my final issue, dealer service stinks. They dont even provide free coffee or a carwash, let alone a loaner car.

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  I love this car!! - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Chris Wright - March 25 - 9:50 pm

  This car is spunky and fun to drive. The gas mileage is exceptional on the highway...I get about 32 regularly. I test drove the BMW 325i, and I liked this car much better...hands down.

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  My New 9-3 - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By Matt - March 25 - 7:53 pm

  Head and shoulders above my prior 2000 9-3. Looked at Audi A4, Subaru Legacy, VW Passat and Acura TSX. Saab prevailed on driving dynamics and styling. Upgraded stereo is excellent. The car is a tremendous value.

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  Saab 9-5 - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By TONY TOMPKINS - March 20 - 10:00 am

  Love the car and its ablility to perform. I am dissapointed with the build quality. I have creaks and shakes in the dash and surrounding areas. I came from a 5 series BMW, and will go back to BMW. I have had the drivers seat fixed 4 times, and it is still loose from the base. My dealership experience has been less than o.k.

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  Very Poor Customer Service - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By Georgia Saab - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I have grave concerns about the vehicles reliability and Saab Customer service. As soon as we bought it, the car broke down during a move to GA. Trips to the dealership (one over a week) failed to resolve the issue. We still continue to have problems with the car. The Saab Customer Service department was extremely antagonistic, unhelpful, and even untruthful. The car continued to experience many minor deficiencies during this time. To date, all issues are still unresolved, and we have lost faith in the cars reliability, the Saab warranty and customer service department. Knowing what I know now, I never would have bought this vehicle.

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  Excellent SAAB! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Billyboy1956 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I’ve had my 9-3 Linear with the “launch package” (inc 16" wheels with Pirelli P6s) for about a week and I like it more with every drive. I had a 2000 9-3 convertible and this is such a fundamentally different car: outstanding handling (sans the awful torque steer of the old car), excellent turbo boosted acceleration, nice redesign on the interior, top- notch fit and finish, loaded with technology, and handsome looks. With the incredible financial incentives offered by SAAB, one has to consider this car. Despite what some of the “old guard” thinks, this car is true to the SAAB tradition of building incredibly safe, well-built cars that are fun to drive.

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  Frustrating/Disapointing Experience - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By HK Pearson - March 6 - 8:36 pm

  Bought the car 20 months ago and it has been in the shop 12 times. Most were warranty items. Replaced the coolant reservoir 4 times and the coolant temp sensor 5 times. Very disappointed in the car. Love to drive it, when it is running. Other warranty items have been stereo cuts in and out, wiring in door loose, replaced the tires 3 times in 37,000 miles, and replaced struts and shocks already.

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  Loved the Car, Hated the Reliability - 1996 Saab 900
  By Andrew K - March 3 - 3:43 am

  This car was a sheer to drive and handled like a dream. However once the car hit 90,000 miles it was pretty much all downhill from there. Repairs went through the roof, headgasket, clutch cable (3 times), reverse sychro gear which made a horrible grinding sound, the turbo went, the water pump and alternator went, the drivers side window frame broke on its own, the tires cost 500 dollars every year and not to mention electronic issues every now and again. The car was a complete disaster, the amount of repairs that i had could have paid for a new saab, every time the car went it it would be at least 400 - 700 dollars to fix. I would buy another if it was more reliable!

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  9-3 Turbo...dare to compare! - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Chaz - March 2 - 3:46 pm

  I test drove all of the European imports in this class, and the Saab 9- 3 offers perky performance, nice handling, and great gas mileage. If you drive a lot, the manual seeting with multiple adjustments is better than any electric seating system I have had in the past. The factory sound system leaves a lot to be desired. The on-board computer systems are functional and informational without being intrusive. Plenty of rear seat room for adults as well as children without having to "move the seats up" for rear passengers. Dollar for dollar, a great performer and great investment!