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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  love it despite the problems - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By saaba - April 17 - 10:00 am

  let me start with problems.sid showed gear box malfunction which was cleared by software update.the car stalled once !! while driving which again was solved by a software update.gear slip from 3 to 4 ,another software update .looks like this car needs more software updates than windows !!!!.few months ago car wouldnt start ,showed immobilizer failure (?),wouldnt jumpstart either ,dealer said dead battery !!!.go figure.on the positive side i love to drive this car ,fun and sporty .safe and stable at high speeds.although iam a little bit worried as my warranty period is running out.

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  92x--The worst car Ive ever owned - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By nomore92x - April 13 - 4:00 pm

  Im leasing this car for two years. Ever since I got it, my arms, hands, shoulders, neck and back have been killing me. i finally figured out that it was the really hard seat pressing into my back causing the back pain and my hands jamming into the Saabs European seating design from the steering wheel, causing incredible pain. I am trying to get out of my lease. Saab has been no help. So now Im trying to just have someone take over the lease payments. I hate this car!! Never again with Saab. Im going back to Subaru!!

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  Love my Saab - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By ChuckInReno - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven 120 miles to test drive this car 3 times now, and each time has been a blast. So much so, that Ive ordered one for European delivery to coincide with my summer vacation. If you want a BMW, then buy it. BUT - I test drove the 325 several times, and, maybe its me, but I prefer the distinctive styling of the 9-3. It doesnt look like every any other car, the back seat can fit humans, and it drives great. Im no race-car driver, but the performance of the 9-3 impressed the heck out of me. This is a great all-around sports sedan.

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  Buyer Beware - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By lotek - April 7 - 3:40 pm

  If youre thinking about buying a 9-3 Hatchback: dont think twice, just walk away. If you work on your vehicles yourself youll end up tearing your hair out because everything in the engine compartment is so poorly planned, parts are hard to find and expensive. Good luck finding a mechanic that will touch it. I bought this car 2 years ago and have had nothing but problems for the last year and a half (and its been well taken care of). There are so many people saying theyre happy I felt it necessary to share my absolutely terrible experience with this car. I find it no surprise Saab isnt around anymore.

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  Just O.K. - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Russ - April 6 - 11:26 am

  First of all Im a 21 year old college student. Its a black Aero with Cold & premium pkgs. I got this car myself its my 1st car and couldnt wait to get it. With the employee pricing it was hard to pass up. But to that I add I shouldve gotten the new "06" Civc this car feels very questionable in the quality department. Its very slow off the line you have to practically floor it at every light to get it going which cancelled out the fuel efficiency of the 4cyl that it has as opposed to the "06" v6 eclipse i wanted its the same MPG. The steering is said to be direct aka "Not enough power steering boost". I dont how Saab even thought this car would sell for 30k !!!

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  Total Drivers Car - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By beren - April 4 - 11:23 pm

  I bought this car on day -1 and now 50K miles later I can say Im glad I did. As a total package this car cannot be beat. Does it go 0-60 with an M3 - no of course not. As a total experience this car rocks - decent off the line performance, great handling, no bling-bling crap, and a decent back seat.

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  Saab Aero is fun - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By RaviSingh - April 3 - 10:00 am

  I have driven a number of European vehicles over the years. The 2000 Saab Aero has definitely been the most fun to drive. After leasing it on a 42 month lease, I have decided to buy out the car. It is ergonomically built for the drivers comfort. Things which others find Quirky such as the ignition in the middle is actually much safer as the key and lock mechanism is known to cause knee injuries. This car has a 230hp engine and goes 0- 60 in around 6 seconds. Excellent safety record, great preformance and outstanding handling.

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  Not overly impressed - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By MikeC - April 3 - 10:00 am

  I must admit, part of this is my own fault. I test drove a Vector model since it was the only manual transmission model the dealer had. I then bought an Arc to save some $$$. Well the difference in handling is very noticable. My Arc is too softly sprung to offer top-notch handling. Plus the seats are much less supportive than in the Vector. A major improvement over previous Saabs but still no BMW or Audi.

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  Saab 9-3 SE 4 dr Auto - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By pmcag - April 2 - 4:20 pm

  Bought a 9-3 with 65,000 mi and have been pretty happy. Dont like the auto climate system - defaults to air cond. in summer. Good fuel mileage. Much more power than my accord ex V-Tech. Oil changes are easy. Keeping my fingers crossed that nothing major happens like an engine seizure due to oil pickup getting blocked.

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  What a ride! - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By T & C - March 31 - 3:00 am

  This vehicle is amazing to drive, smooth, good feel of the road, with a feeling of complete control thanks to the AWD feature. The interior is just plush enough without being fru-fru, nice clean look, but lacks storage for the little things you need close at hand. This is true quality.