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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  Driving is fun again - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By double d - July 16 - 6:56 pm

  My wife and I recently bought a still new 08 convertible for our fun car (at a very good price). The cars we drive for work are good but boring. Not so with the Saab. Im having a blast driving it. I havent had this much fun driving in many, many years. Always looking for an excuse to drive anywhere, especially with the top down. The car is nimble and has a nice throaty exhaust - so different from the Asian cars Ive owned. Exterior styling is not as thrilling as other cars in its class but thats OK because its unique styling has a timelessness about it that should make it a pleasure to own for many years.

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  Saab - highly underrated balance - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By RSDonahoe - July 16 - 10:00 am

  this is an outstanding car with the perfect combination of safety and performance. While we all want performance, few are willing to give up safety....this is perfect balance.

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  The Best Car - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Sheena - July 16 - 10:00 am

  My Silver Vector has 3800 miles on it and I love driving it. I get a lot of complaints from many of my friends. Everyone seems to love the body kit on the car. There is not much turbo lag but the car does take a second to get going after you hit the gas pedal. The sport seats are perfect for sharp turns.

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  Be careful... - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By JCool - July 16 - 10:00 am

  After 1800 miles a new transmission unit was installed because the last one caused a loud grinding noise when shifting into second gear. At around 4300 miles, the same EXACT problem with tranmission happened again. The second time my car was worked on, the problem was actually worse. The problem only occurs when the engine is cold. In addition, "engine malfunction" light has come on twice. Power seats didnt work properly. The radio has messed up. A headlight has gone out. All this with less than 5000 miles.

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  Great Car - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Chris - July 12 - 4:00 pm

  i ws not planning to buy a car. Drove it while my VW was in service, and had to get it. Never thought I would have a Saab. Drove the 325i, A4, and C230 Sport and bought this. Maybe not quite a 325, but a lot of car for the price. Handles good, and is fun to drive. Car has great gas mileage for the "funness" of it. Better than the 2004 Passat I traded in.

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  No disappointment here! - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Red Saab 9-3 - July 11 - 10:13 pm

  Great balance of above average performance,comfort,design,and fuel economy. 28-30 combined mpg with mainly hwy driving. Other than turbo lag with hard acceleration from a stop or out of a turn, nothing about my 9-3 disappoints. Substantial power,and with power heated seats,rain-sensing wipers,parking assist,dual ACC,OnStar,and wheel-mounted audio controls,the 9-3 pampers. With new Michelin Pilots, I experience a stable, quiet and responsive ride at all speeds. Brakes are exceptional, although a little touchy until you adjust to them. As far as design, it turns a few heads and you dont see yourself coming and going. When heading out with family or friends, I always say "Ill drive!".

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  Shameful - 2000 Saab 9-3
  By getts45 - July 11 - 8:06 pm

  I would expect a lot more out of a car that claims to be an upperscale car. Been a constant nightmare since purchased. While driving it home from the dealer it broke down- $300 repair. Two months later again. $700 repair. then twice more each over $150 repairs. It rides clunky, choppy and stiff, rattles and the body hardware is terrible: door jams wear easily, under the wheelwells wear to the bare metal, and the only good thing is the power and fuel economy and the looks of it. Stay away from this car!

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  Last Saab Ill buy - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Avi8jazz - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Pros: 6 Speed manual gives us 37 mpg on hwy at 75 mph. Trunk is a LOT bigger than it looks from the outside. Fun to drive. Cons: Replacing left headlight takes practice (dealer charges $90). Windows regulator is defective(bad design) $450/window. SAI Check valve $180 needs a biannual check. If it fails, condensation floods the SAI Pump $600 (current issue). Check Eng. light only goes out when the bulb burns out. No AUX input for iPod connectivity (had to buy a third party $75).

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  My first Saab and probably my last - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By RJR - July 7 - 6:40 pm

  I always liked Saab, so I leased this car in 2006 for 27 months. Its a very nice car for the buck, but I wouldnt buy one. Thats just my personal preference but my sixth sense told me that this car would cost a lot of cash to maintain for the long haul. Drives great, handles great. The turbo 2.0L engine is sluggish with the A/C on full blast, but otherwise very quick and great on the highway when you need some extra power. The exterior is very high quality, interior is the same way. Not sure why Saab put a completely useless 3"x2.5" screen on the dash. It has an integrated phone, but it only works in Sweden, not in the US, so all those buttons are useless unless you live in Sweden.

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  Perplexed as heck!!! - 2001 Saab 9-5
  By James - July 6 - 8:13 pm

  Bought a used 2001 95 wagon in jan.08. The first 8 months-great! Then, starting issues began. Replaced starter, battery, ignition cassettes; still wont start now and then! Googled "Saab issues" and cant fathom how many problems there are. Why are they allowed to continue to sell these defective things! Is it GM or a pre-GM issue? Im so over it I could puke. Oh, the power window issue and the rear light failures, too! When it starts I could drive it to California and back (from KY where I live), but dont dare let it sit for a few hours! Any input or thoughts? Im at my wits end! No more Saabs for me!