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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  Not too happy with my convertible - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By atlantaowner - November 19 - 9:03 am

  I first bought a 93 Aero, it shook terribly, turned it back in and got a 93 Arc...this one shakes! In a loaner from the dealer and it shakes at 70 mph. My car has been in the shop for over a month just because of a simple (I thought) balancing job. But it turns out that it couldnt get fixed, so they had to replace all 4 tires! Not even a year after my 2nd purchse, I am already planning to trade in after summer. Do not buy a 93 convertible unless youre prepared for it to be in the shop time after time after time. Its in the shop for updates seems like every month. If you want a high maintenance car, this ones for you!

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  A great car - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By aborwick - November 17 - 2:03 am

  We drove the car to Gatlinburg TN from our home near Washington, DC. The car drove flawlessly, nary a squeak nor a rattle. The four-cylinder engine was economical, yet peppy and and provided six-cylinder power. I found the dash ergonomics excellent, the seats were comfortable and the built-in XM Radio nice on the long drive. There was no torque steer from this front-wheel drive automobile. On-Star provided peace of mind. This car is a good value in todays near-luxury market.

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  Loads For Your Money - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By dseyemd44 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent vehicle which is fun to drive. There is no feature lacking in this car. While it may not be quite as quick as some of the other vehicles in its class, it is still plenty zippy. Forget about automatic in the Vector, get a stick. I have test driven most of the competitor vehicles and I feel that you get much more for your money with the Saab. This is a car for those who like the driving experience. If you want a fun vehicle to drive and you are not obsessed with impressing your friends and neighbors with a brand name, then Saab would be your choice.

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  I Hope Saab Returns - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By mr_monza - November 14 - 11:20 am

  Its really a shame----bordering on despicable----that the failed General Motors Corporation, survivors only due to the U.S. government flooding them with millions of our tax dollars----saw fit to essentially drive Saab out of business. Its a long story, but suffice to say, holding preferred shares of Saab stock, GM blocked the sale of Saab to a Chinese company, forcing them into bankruptcy. As I write this, Saab is hanging by a thread hoping to find a buyer GM will "allow" or finding a different way to stay in business, without the devils at GM lording it over them. Regarding my car----its a 2004 Saab 9-5 Arc Wagon, with automatic transmission. I bought it new. Reliable, great car.

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  Hard to beat for the price used - 1996 Saab 900
  By Miles - November 14 - 2:03 am

  These little cars are tough as nails and get great gas mileage! Sure, the occasional engine light comes on but that is because the Swedes put too many sensors on the thing. The 4 cyl is not the smoothest motor at idle, but it runs strong and is very economical. All this and classy looks with a 4 dr hatch thousands less then Honda, and Toyota. Saab is a well kept secret.

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  lovely car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By sweatheart - November 13 - 4:56 pm

  Ive had the Saab 9-3 4 door linear sedan for almost two weeks now i absolutely love it! Its very fun to drive. Stick shift is smooth. The only thing wrong is my emergency brake gets kind of stuck when trying to take it off. The car is very clean inside and out. Trunk size is good its pretty big for a sedan.

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  Great So far - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Lovin it - November 9 - 5:13 am

  Got this car about a month ago and I can say I am very satisifed so far. It is a little smaller than what I am used to but the gas mileage improvement is more than worth it in this $3/gallon gas world. The performance is awesome for a wagon, the stereo sounds great and it is pretty luxurious inside. I liked the Aero better but it wasnt worth the extra dollars. It feels great on the highway and the only turbo lag I have found is in first gear. If you keep the RPMs high enough, you will never notice.

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  Won my heart, hurt my wallet - 1996 Saab 900
  By saabsrule - November 6 - 9:45 am

  This was my first car in High School and I absolutely loved it. I bought it from my parents and it was about 14 years old then. This car looks amazing, gets about 27 mpg while driving agressively, and is excellent in winter weather. I drove the manual transmission model which was great fun. The engine was zippy and the car handled like nothing I have ever driven. However, in the 2 years I owned it the tranny went out, it needed a new exhaust system, the ignition module went, the clutch went and what eventually killed it was the headgasket blew. I loved this car and still do, but I could not afford the repairs. They were too expensive and too frequent. I sold her with a broken heart.

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  SAAB 9-7x Aero (SS-Package) - 2008 Saab 9-7X
  By bIll - November 5 - 10:40 am

  This is a Trailblazer SS in SAAB Suit! The Performance and ability to hide in a crowd is Great! Push down on the GO PEDAL and life changes in 5.5 secs flat. Gas Mileage is 13-15 at best, but this isnt for the faint of heart. The Seats dont hold you in the corners like an SS and that would have been an EASY fix (JCI-GM) The Cup holder in the dash was totally a waste of time and money, but SAAB Wanted that. (I wonder why) The Auto AC is a TOTAL JOKE! No feed back loop to confirm real air temp in cabin. (Duh, I guess they didnt have enough engineers that day at GM-HVAC)

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  AWESOME CAR - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By JXD - November 4 - 3:56 am

  GREAT EUROPEAN RIDE. MORE SPORTY RIDE THAN LUXURY. FUN DUE TO TURBO PICK UP.