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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  Whats with the silly cruse control? - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Jamesa - August 27 - 2:00 am

  My pet peeve is the cruse control that is sooo awkward to use. Fortunately I dont use it too often. Drive the car in sport mode for a real kick in the pants. Forget the standard transmission its really a waste of time in this car. Save the manual shifting for your 93 convertable.

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  Fast - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By ss5jeter - August 27 - 2:00 am

  I have always owned a SAAb and of all the SAABs i have had this is the best. This car is fast, handles well, and has alot of standard features. If I were ti but another car it would be a SAAB.

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  Just Got It - 2002 Saab 9-5
  By BruceB73 - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I got my 9-5 about a week ago now. First SAAB Ive had and I love it. Iv had MB, BMW, Lexus. This is as good as them all for a lot less. The performance is really great. I compared it to a BMW 325 & 525, Audi A4 3.0, Volvo S60 T5 and Volkswagen Passat W8. If youre in the market for a sports sedan, you have to try this car. Not to mention that right now they are practically giving them away

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  Very Enjoyable - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Michigan - August 24 - 9:56 pm

  Bought it used for the purpose of a new salesmans car. I easily put 50,000 miles on in one year and never had anything major go wrong. Tires, synthetic oil, blah blah blah. The point? No problems. I had been warned by many about a Saabs reliability. This obviously proved untrue. The zero to whatever as many reviews have testified to is nothing to write home about. Its better than most I would say, but passing power with the auto-stick transmission is a blast. The trunk is huge, backseats are small and the overall comfort for the driver is sufficient. Good tires go a long way and I tinted all of the side and rear windows which dramatically improves overall car appearance (I think).

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  Amazing car for the price! - 2006 Saab 9-5
  By clg - August 24 - 9:50 am

  The 2006 Saab 9-5 is a WHOLE lot of car for its price and an amazing sports sedan/highway cruiser. Most optional features that get quite expensive on other cars come standard on the 9-5 including seat/mirror memory buttons, dual power seats, heated front & rear seats, in-dash 6 cd changer. Comfy and easy to use interior that is great for traveling even long distances with 4 people. Great performance - its scary how much pull this engine has. Floor it to 80 mph and it feels like the 9-5 isnt even breathing hard, plus you feel like youre only traveling about 55 mph! Yes, theres a bit of torque steer if you floor it but, hey, I think that makes the car a bit more exciting to drive :)

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  Most fun Ive ever had in a sedan - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Bill C - August 21 - 5:00 pm

  This car encapsulates everything I want: style, speed, value, and dependability. I have a 44 mile round-trip work commute and I (almost) look forward to it.

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  Super car - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Don - August 20 - 11:20 am

  hHandles beautifully. Amazing cornering and wonderful headlights.

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  Aero Wagon - 2008 Saab 9-5
  By christian - August 20 - 9:33 am

  I have had every car and wagon imaginable and nothing comes close to this. It is fast, fuel efficient, safe, roomy, comfortable and has every convenience possible. Very surprised how well it handles. Saab truly has put a lot of engineering in this car! This car is a real secret.

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  Beautiful automobile - blast to drive - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By GKellogg - August 17 - 3:06 pm

  I love this car. Aside from being gorgeous, it is exhilarating to drive. With the manual transmission you can really play with the turbo boost which is what makes this (as well as other Saabs) so fun to drive. The guy with the X5 mentioned he likes not getting as much attention as with his BMW? Nooooooo....lots of stares because its NOT a run of the mill 3-Series that you see on every street corner! Love it.

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  Great car - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By amie - August 13 - 12:10 am

  I have been slamming the miles on this car which now has 151,000. I have had no problems other than replacing the tires. The paint on the hood peeled and Saab finally agreed to re paint the hood. It is a fast car and I get a lot of compliments on it. It still looks new when I clean it up. Would do it all over again