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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  Poor Saab Reliability - 2000 Saab 9-5
  By dinori - February 6 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a new car that has had so many problems. The car does have excellent J.D. Powers Initial quality. However, it falls rapidly downhill after the first year of ownership. In 50,000 miles: 1) Replace the turbocharger 2) Replace the engine computer 3) Replace the SID Computer (information display) 4) Repace power steering line 5) Replace heat warmer switch 6) Replace door trim 7) Replace head lamps four times 8) Repair windshield washer jets 9) Replace rear windshield wiper assembly 10) Replace Brake Rotors New Problems to be Serviced: 1) A/C Compressor Moans at low engine speed 2) Second Power Steering Line Leaking

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  PERFECT - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By Anne - February 6 - 10:00 am

  I use it for light trips and use the OnStar, its great- travel info, where is ther nearest hotel with an indoor pool? , Onstar in the SAAb can tell you- Have a flat, SAAB roadside assistance or Onstar roadside can help. Car handels great!!! awesome in dry and wet. fun to drive witht he turbo, and its so reliable, # 1 in JD Power and Assc. in Initial quality. Safest car in the world- 9-5 no lie.

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  One heck of a car - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By everynewday17 - February 4 - 1:40 pm

  Buying a used Saab is great for a couple reasons: 1 - The price was great. 2 - The car is amazing. This Saab 9-3 SE is an absolutely fantastic car. It has a premium package (sport susp, better audio, full leather, ACC) and heated seats. The 5-speed shifts smoothly and accleration is excellent. Suspension is quirky, yet entertaining. It handles corners very well. Its absolutely beautiful in black. The hatch has a plethora of room for anything. Rides quietly. Engine noise is really insignificant. Fuel economy is great for a car with its power. No torque steer.

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  Could be better - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By vchirico - February 4 - 7:30 am

  going strong after 191000 miles, fun to drive and amazing capacity.The turbocharged engine makes things fun and it is amazing in the snow. Now for the down sides it feels like I am playing wack a mole with all the problems maybe its just the fact it is an old car at this point. I would consider it decently reliable but, the parts feel like there unnecessary expensive compared to cars of the same size. Good car could be better though. if given the decision I would pass considering the company is out of business and there isnt much of a scrap Saab base to scavenge parts.

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  great car!!! - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By flcmike - February 2 - 2:00 am

  best car Ive ever had!!

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  Excellent car!! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By saabster - February 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a wonderful car to drive and own. I have 17k miles and only been to the dealer for regular services (no repairs!!) This is my second Saab Ive owned and I havent been dissapointed yet with them.

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  nice car, nice rental - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By jj - February 1 - 10:36 am

  This car hugs the road! This car is sleek and beautiful! This car sucks in the snow with the high performance tires! This car loves being in the shop! (I guess it misses its brothers and sisters at the dealer). Man, I love the way this car handles and looks. But, it goes into the shop every month or two for something new malfunctioning. Tires wear down like crazy. I wish they would have taken time to fix all of the electrical kinks as they did in the styling.

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  Better than the reviews by CR, Edmunds - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Mike - January 31 - 5:46 pm

  A very understated car. It almost looks like a combination of the positive characteristics of bmw and volvo, along with Saabs traditional design. Handles well, I like the fact it takes REGULAR GAS! You cant get that on any other european car. But I believe my mileage is more like 20-22 city 25hwy. The interior could be a bit larger, stereo and controls could use a little work. Moving flexible armrest on the center consule can be annoying. I think that the reports about the reliability being poor are not fair. Look at mercedes, bmw, volvo, volkswagen, audi, they are all about the same or worse. I previously had a 900 which ran over 165K, with no major concerns. These are good cars

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By CMD - January 31 - 3:03 am

  Bought after my TrailBlazer was totaled in an accident, it held up so well I knew I wanted another vehicle on this platform. The 9-7X may look a lot like the TrailBlazer but it drives completely different. The handling is absolutely fabulous for a truck based SUV. The 4.2 L inline six is an excellent engine, I looked at the V8 but I feel that the six is just as good. Fuel economy may be bad for a car but it is an SUV so I find my averages of 17.3 city and 22.8 highway (about 72-74 mph) to be acceptable.

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  Fun!! - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Steve Pfeiffer - January 28 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for about four months and every morning that I get up I cant wait to drive it.