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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  SAAB 9-5 - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By Kevin - November 15 - 8:40 am

  Had to put in rebuilt trans at 92K, had to rebuild engine at 129K. Performed maintenance as scheduled. Very expensive car to own.

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  My Lord, Saab comes out of nowhere!!!! - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By CobtheCrazed - November 15 - 2:00 am

  I was searching for a used convert. for a couple of months. At first I liked the Boxter, then the BMW, the the Mercedes SL. At no time did I even think of the Saab. I went to the dealer after my sister told me about a sale going on, I said, why not, they are cool looking cars and they fit with my snobby job in banking. Let me tell you, I had a ball testing this thing. From the ease of the convert. top to the turbo boost and the little S button for extra speed. I bought a 2002 model that same day and I wound up getting a bumper to bumper warrenty until 2009 or 100,000 miles. Final cost before tax, $27,000. Simply Amazing car.

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  Awesome Car! - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By JoeyDropTop - November 8 - 10:30 am

  I am so happy with my purchase! I have been interested in this 93 for some time now! I shopped for a while, compared, and I am glad to say that my New Saab is amazing! Fun to drive, and FAST for a 4 cylinder! LOVE the turbo! Love the remote top down! And gotta love the ICE BLUE color!

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  Young mans sport sedan - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By Brian - November 8 - 4:36 am

  XWD, six-speed manual really make this car fun. It tracks very well in the snow and ice. It rides hard, even over medium quality metro freeways. So much so that on one bump I was tossed upward in the car and hit my head on the ceiling. I have been known to grunt in anticipation of road bumps. Maybe this is because of my bad back and age 43. I had an 87 Saab 900S several years ago in my youth and loved it. My new Saab is fast and fun to drive on smooth roads, but I may have bitten off more than I can chew. A loaded Accord would have been a better choice for me. Discounts made the car affordable, but I anticipate reliability will be below average; its in the shop as I write this review.

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  Not a bad car - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By ray85158 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, handles well and is very comfortable. It has also been very reliable, within a year of ownership no major problems. But I have two gripes. Like another comment posted here, I had an occasional problem with a sulfur smell from the catalytic converter. My other gripe, when in closed spaces like a parking garage, the noise from the exhaust manifold was so loud it sounded like the muffler fell off. Ok one other gripe, the resale value stinks. I have already traded it for an Audi A6. But I can say, it was a lot better than my 96 Volvo 850.

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  One of the better cars for the money - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By bnkharris - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I traded a 2000 Volvo S40 for this Saab. My first choice was the all new S40, but noticed a little more turbo lag than Id have liked, and they are not yet available with manual shift. For the price difference with options the 9-3 is a no brainer coupled with the deals and incentives offered. Its got to be one of the best values out there for this price segment. Nice looking, fun to drive car with lots of safety features.

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  Love the Saab 92X - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Vhawk - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Replaced a 2001 AWD Toyota Rav4 with the 2.5 Linear and am extremely pleased with the Saab 92X. Was considering waiting for the AWD Audi A3 or BMW Series-1, but am happy I decided to go with the Saab. The handling and performance is superb. Highly recommend to anyone considering a AWD sports wagon.

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  Not like all the others - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By jag2 - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market for a "near luxury" sedan to replace my 98 Audi A4. Since the new Audi A4 3.0 is close to, and can exceed $40k, I looked elsewhere. My parents had a Saab in the early 80s and I always liked its uniqueness. The 9-3 Aero definitely has Saab uniqueness. It is surprisingly quick for a 4 cylinder, and the turbo lag is quite minimal. I particularly like the styling and I am glad Saab did away with the hatchback. The interior is very comfortable and the car handles very well. The suspension is stiff, so if you want a softer ride get the Arc.

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  Excellent deal for the money - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By 92xaero - October 28 - 8:16 pm

  Picked up my Aero 5mt early July, 2005 and have already put about 4400 miles on it. The car is a lot of fun to drive and a bargain for the less than $20k that I paid. Engine pulls strongly above 3000rpm and puts a smile on my face every time. Shifter is a little notchy but is getting better with use. Lower gears are spaced a little too far apart which needs them to be revved higher before upshifts for max performance. Interior is spartan by Saab standards, but quite adequate at its price point. Huge selection of WRX aftermarket bolt-on/tuning parts make it very easy to upgrade power and handling at reasonable prices. All in all, an excellent ride at a very affordable price!

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  Awesome, third new Saab in 3 years - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By awesome car - October 25 - 5:10 pm

  The car is awesome and the engineering is incredible. The car is for my wife and I am very confident in the safety and reliability of the car. Picked up the car and drove it 3000 miles for christmas vacation and enjoyed it totally. Lots of power and very comfortable. I am 63" and 320lbs and would drive cross country without any reservations of comfort, performance, handling, fuel economy, and safety.