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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  Swedish Sleeper...a future classic - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By m11171 - September 3 - 3:10 pm

  They dont build cars like the Viggen anymore. This car is an animal, pure and simple. But, with 5-door configuration, I can take my family and plenty of belongings (in the huge hatch) anywhere in comfort and safety. This is a very limited production car. With the right modifications, they can be made into not just fast - but also excellent handling vehicles. As long as you stay on top of maintenance these cars are fun and reliable transportation. The acceleration on this car will shock those who dont know what this car is. This is the fastest car SAAB ever produced, and remains so to this day (Oct 2011). Still, I get 31 mpg on the highway and about 20 in the city. Love it!

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  Falling apart - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Irfan - August 30 - 10:00 am

  When i got the car, it was wonderful. VERY comfortable seats, easy to drive. drove it 16 hours straight from florida to ohio once. seats are great, power is good, sport mode is fun. handling is too soft. all of that still makes for a decent car... except the reliability.. in the 10months ive owned the car since mile 46000, ive had: sunroof rails problems, speakers, oil leak, fog light, electical system and starting troubles. this is in LESS than a year.. the first guy had shocks/info display covered under warranty. smooth ride, jsut not too fun, and its falling apart on me.

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  A blast to drive, but at a cost - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By perks77 - August 10 - 3:20 pm

  I had fond memories of my 83 Saab 900. That car was a tank and simply refused to be driven into the ground. My 05 9-3 has all the gutsy handling the old models did (and then some!), looks great, is quite comfortable and is surprisingly roomy for a car of its size. For a little 4-banger, it really zips along once the turbo kicks in! However, Ive had the car in the shop REPEATEDLY for random electrical and mechanical problems that simply should not happen at 30K miles. Some of the interior finish is cheaply done and parts have decided to fall apart at random. This has left me so disappointed that I plan to trade it in as soon as possible.

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  Great dynamics - shame about build - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By ChasB - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful driving dynamics. Shame about the details. Too much electronic control. Changing the band on the radio is a major job. Door locks problematic. Stalling problems & stability control warnings. Back to the dealer 4 times in 4000 miles.

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  9-5 Arc - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By tw - July 9 - 12:13 pm

  3rd Saab Ive owned. Initially loved it. Fun to drive, plenty of interior room, solid handling and quick. Saabs poor quality control has convinced me this is my last Saab however. Ive had numerous failures of the temperature gauge. the fuel gauge and missing pixels on the dashboard Saab information display (SID). Although it is just a display problem caused by poorly engineered wiring, to fix the problem you have to buy a whole new computer that costs hundreds of dollars.

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  The Perfect Performance Package - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By mrwarmth - July 6 - 2:00 am

  This has the driving dynamics of a hotrod, yet the sophistication of a premium sedan. The engine is a monster torque mill that moves the car along much faster than its 210 hp/torque rating would suggest. Best part is - there is no torque steer, yet the steering is responsive and sharp. The ride is a little knobbly on harsh surfaces, but never uncomfortable. The car is poised and secure even in extreme turns with bumps. It holds a line like a limpet. Brakes are fabulous - they are "right now" when you need them to be, but progressive and easy to modulate otherwise.

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  Excellent car so far & very good value - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By LASaab - July 5 - 5:06 am

  2.5 years and 35,000 miles in LA traffic, and no real complaints. A few minor service items, but the car has been very reliable (as was the 2001 that I had before it). Superb highway cruiser. Smooth & quiet, with good acceleration once you get over about 15 MPH. Excellent value for the money. This was engineered to be a BMW 5 series competitor in its day, and the quality level is in that category.

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  Hot Swedish Piece of Junk - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Scott - June 28 - 7:33 pm

  Im in a love/hate relationship with this car. We bought it used two years ago and havent gone six week without it being towed or in the shop, at an average repair cost of $300/month. In the first thirty days we had to spend $1200! I lost my patience when we topped $7,000 and resolved to buy a new car, but after two months of test drives and research I couldnt find a car at any price that I loved more. That changed last week when we got an estimate for yet another $3,000 of repairs. Weve replaced the display system, the environmental control system, the emergency blinker button, seat heaters, wiper motor, drivers window motor, air bag light, water pump, blower and tires THREE times!

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  My SAAB in Norway - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Ole Olsen - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I am now a 3-time SAAB owner. This time, I live in Norway. I clicked the Aero box because my Norway-model is closest to the Aero except for the engine. I have the sports-seats, automatic trans, metal dash, leather, and 17-inch wheels, BUT ONLY a 150- horsepower 2.0-turbo! Nonetheless, this power is all one needs here (and Id say also in the US). The 9-5 is a great car, much peppier than my 1995 9000 US-export, which had a 2.3-turbo. The ride is much smoother than the 9000, and the feeling is more one of soft luxury, even though these SAABs are considered FAMILY CARS here in Norway and Sweden.

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  Good Car for the Price - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By kayvan - June 26 - 7:56 am

  It has good acceleration, handles well on corners, fuel economy could be better, its hard not to push the gas pedal. It comes loaded with a lot of features, overall a satisfied customer. Looking forward to driving it in the snow.