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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  Nice Car - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Derek - June 22 - 10:03 pm

  If you are looking for something practical but fun the 9-2x is a good choice. I am 23 and very active in basketball and baseball and the 9-2x can fit all my gear plus a few friends. Also I plan on owning this car for a long time so it is nice to know I can grow into it as well.

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  More bang for your buck - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By John B. - June 15 - 12:00 pm

  Editorial reviews rate the SAAB 9-3 low compared to the competition in nearly every category but one - price. The sticker may be high but that doesnt reflect the actual price, which is much lower than the competition. If you are splitting hairs then perhaps the editorial reviews are correct, but for the everyday driver this is a fine car over-loaded with power, comfort, and features compared to other cars in its price range. When my wife and I went to buy a new car she was adamantly opposed to buying a SAAB because of the latest troubles - then she drove it. For the price we got ($23,000) there was no comparison to the Mazda, Honda, Subaru, or Nissan cars we looked at.

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  Arcs Alright - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By gtoman - June 5 - 10:00 am

  Overall, very pleased. Im still surprised it only has 200hp since its performance belies that number! Its a blast to enter a highway with the rush of acceleration and launching it from a stop light in the Sport mode will snap your neck back.

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  What a blast! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Mike B - May 18 - 4:20 am

  So far I love this car, still a little cold to drop the top much, but cant wait for summer or at least April! Its as much fun to look at as it is to drive.

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  Good value for used luxury car - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By jethro64 - May 7 - 8:35 pm

  I bought my 02 Linear used, with low miles and it was pampered. An insane bargain! Really am enjoying the smooth and quiet ride, great turbo power from a 4 cylinder, and gets good gas mileage too...26-28 in mixed driving. If you own one of these, I highly suggest joining an online Saab forum to educate yourself even further....and to save $$. Like any European make, they can be a bit high maintenance. Thats why a lot of Saab owners are DIYers or have a well trusted mechanic programmed in their speed dial. It is mandatory to use synthetic oil in turbo models, and I wouldnt buy any used Saab without interrogating the previous owner about their maintenance schedule until they wept aloud.

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  5 years and counting - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Egospoon - May 2 - 10:00 am

  80K miles and no substantial problems. The air venting directional thingy froze up and the info display isnt comprehensible any more, but really thats it. Love it.

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  Run, dont walk, away from this car. - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Cambridge - April 18 - 3:20 pm

  Extremely expensive to repair! When buying, I would strongly suggest you have all the records for repairs and maintenance. Prior to buying, I had a reputable mechanic review the car and it appeared to "look" good but he was honest - "without records he was guessing." A car that has documentation on repairs and maintenance is extremely key. Bought this car used from a dealer without documentation and have spent nearly $1500 (in a calendar year) on items that should have been repaired or replaced as apart of routine maintenance. People swear by this car but thus far this has been a giant albatross. Would never buy another. The plus - I found a good mechanic.

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  Inconvenient - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Michelle - April 15 - 1:03 am

  I love to drive this car. It is fast, it responds well, and is very comfortable. However, I have had many problems since day 1. It came with a bad battery which died the day after I bought it. There was a recall on the coolant tank which I wasnt informed about; had to wait until my hood was smoking to find out. The saab service agents dont care and fail to inspect my entire car when I bring it in, so I have to keep going back. Speakers are fuzzy. Just replaced another battery and a corroded switch. Seems like there is always something wrong with it. I now have to replace the front and rear break pads and rotors at 36,000 miles.

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  What high hopes......What a mistake! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By bd - April 4 - 1:46 pm

  I searched for a used Saab to replace my 02 Passat and found an 03 9-3 Linear w/Touring Package. The car was beautiful, and had all the difficult to find bells and whistles I was looking for in the Linear. However, as we all know, looks arent everything. The car has been at the dealer 10 times in 5 months. It takes forever to get parts and the techs are terrible at diagnosing problems. Saab North America could care less about customer service, their reputation, or dealer service standards. Tomorrow, the Saab is going away in favor of the 06 Passat. Word of advice, stay away from used or new Saabs until they start building quality w/ a decent residual

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  stay away from this car - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By Anna - April 4 - 4:30 am

  I must say , it is a great car if it is drivable. Everything in this car broke, starting with trunk lock and ending with the engine. The extended warranty for oil sludge is the biggest scam. The Saab admits that there is the problem but at the same time they the requirement for the warranty is all oil change receipts from the beginning. I am the second owner of this car. I am missing only 2 oil receipts from the first owner ( 20,000 & 30,000 miles). The Saab Corp. refused to replace my engine because I am missing these 2 oil receipts. The worst service ever. After thousands of $$ I spent on this car , it is a junk now worth $0. I am preparing for a law suit now. Stay away from Saab