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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  Third Saab - 2007 Saab 9-5
  By windwomen - January 13 - 5:00 pm

  Nice car! Runs better on Super fuel. The front seat very cozy, back seats nice but not as much room as older models. Pretty sweet to look at in black.

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  ...sad to return car to Saab - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By yml - January 11 - 10:00 am

  13 times in shop in 25 months of ownership. Worst experience ever with a new car -- replaced transmission, water pump, power ant., a/c compressor and hoses 4 times, windows leaked, and on and on... Saab USA finally paid me to return the car. Even with all these problems, it was the most enjoyable car to drive and haul my family and stuff.

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  Jury is Out - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By Stewart in VT - January 10 - 6:26 pm

  Love the car - basically - despite its quirks. Thank God bought a certified pre-owned - 6 months into it - at 50k, I needed a new head gasket and turbocharger - $2,900! (Free w/ CPO) - Engine light came on this week - though nothing more than gas tank cap not on tight. And huge disparity between average city and highway gas mileage - as in 17/29. A discernable turbo lag -- though kick into sport mode transmission and its WOW, even on base model. Nice car, hope it lasts. DO get a CPO warranty for protection - dealer told me its $1,200 of the $16,000 price I paid, and definately insurance worth having until 100,000 miles.

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  2004 95 Aero - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Kumar - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Very comfi, did not realize what i was missing (I have an Isuzu Trooper). Very snug and well fitting seats. Great pickup and handling (not quite the same as a BMW 325i), but for 36K I got much more car for a little bit in terms of pickup and handling. Saabs paid attention to small things like the two sunshades/visors. Controls are very ergonomic in addition. Cant say much about the reliabilty, i bought it on the 10th of july and have done only about 400miles. Overall fun car. Bought the car for my wifes bday, shed happy, but she thinks that this is too complicated for her to handle, something that I am not in a hurry to correct :)

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  Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By jpn207 - January 1 - 10:20 pm

  This car had two personalities. It was easily one of the best handling road cars in any situation or condition that I have ever driven. On the highway the car was a dream, getting over 31 mpg and so smooth that the only thing that prevented me from getting tickets was the speed alarm that I set for 90 MPH. HOWEVER, the service record was abysmal. The car was in the shop 44 times in 24 months. Most problems were computer related (mechanically the car is very sound). Eventually the people at the dealership found a broken wire in the wiring harness underneath the battery that was causing the car to break down. If you buy one of the 03s you should get friendly with your service techs!

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  Shame on GM - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Saad_Saab - December 27 - 7:10 pm

  My initial love affair with this car has gone cold. Ive had this car almost 1 year, bought it as Certified Pre Owned, and it is bordering on qualifying as a lemon. Ten trips to the dealership, mostly for brake related problems (noise, vibration, ABS/TCS lights coming on). My nearest dealership is 100+ miles away, so major inconvenience. Today, check engine light came on, a week after getting it back from the shop. Typical story. In the cars defense, a lot of the trips are due to dealership/mechanic incompetence, but isnt that part of the package? I only recommend a 9-5 if you live near a dealership and they supply loaners, and you get extended warranty.

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  I really do like my 9-3 - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Eric - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I use the Saab as my 2nd car and just for commuting to an from work... and for that purpose it really works well. The gas mileage is good (low 20s) and the car is easy/fun to drive and weave through traffic in. I could have purchased a Civic or another comparable vehicle for what I paid for the Saab in 01 but there is no comparison and that was a very easy decision. You get a lot of value for the dollar (if buying used) and that is probably the most appealing thing about this car.

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  Not Worth it! - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By llangone - November 4 - 3:36 pm

  I loved this car when I bought it. For the first 9 months it was great and a lot of fun to drive, then everything went down hill from there. The airbag malfunctioned and required replacement, pullies seized, the top has stopped working. The car looks great, but is not worth the headaches! My husband has sworn off Saabs for our family.

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  80% Fun, 20% Headache - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Marshall H - November 3 - 5:43 pm

  Excellence: Good looks without being flashy. Superb power delivery, very smooth for a small displacement turbo. So quiet inside you forget its a convertible, comfy seats. Acceptable: "premium" sound system is mediocre at best. Tires break free pretty easily when accelerating from a stop into a turn, but with FWD kind of expected. Unacceptable: Spotty build quality results in buttons and interior surfaces paint rubbing off. Electrical gremlins are a constant threat. Complexity of common tasks like resetting oil life monitor is way more difficult than it has to be. Saab-ness: Saab is often different just for difference sake. Like the "night panel" function.

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  Constant Repairs - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Cubbie 6 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  The car is really fun to drive when it is drivable. We have only had the car for about a year and have only been able to drive it for half of that amount of time. It spends most of its time in a repair shop. Our friends have started to call our situation the Saab story. It really is a fun sporty little car but I just dont have the hundreds and hudreds of dollers to fix it every month.