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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  2003 Saab Linear - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By oddeath - June 8 - 10:00 am

  175 HP turbo Saab Linear is a decently powered, excellent handling vehicle with a lot of room, even for a relatively big person (61" 205lbs). Good ergonomics and back seat room.

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  Great Car - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By slosh64 - June 7 - 1:20 am

  Just purchased a new 2009 9-3 Comfort loaded. Xenon, tiptronic, sun roof, bluetooth, heated seats,... Sticker was $38k, paid $22k. Im amazed by this car! its fast, fun to drive, comfortable, quiet, and Im getting 32 MPG on my 100 mile per day commute. If GM does the right thing and sells the brand I WILL buy another one. Weve been a Volvo family for years but this Saab blows Volvo away (weve owned 5 Volvos)

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  Better Than A BMW! - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Mallfada - June 6 - 11:36 pm

  I have had 2 BMWs in the past, and after my last experience with BMW, decided a change was necessary! I truly love this car! It has these tiny features to be grateful for, like a rear fog light, a glove box to keep items cold, the manual buttons on the steering wheel, and the pockets for storage on the front seats, along with many others!! The back leaves little space when the driver and passenger need more room in the front. Overall, would never go back to a BMW! GM please dont change any body styling, its perfect as it is, thank you for a great car!!

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  Think Twice - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By KC - June 6 - 4:40 am

  This is a nice car but I would think twice about buying one used. I have found myself back at the dealer getting minor repairs countless times. And the minor problems always seem to stop the car from running i.e., I need a tow. If youre looking for a reliable used luxury car, this probably isnt the one.

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  Asphalt-eating, value-minded, rocket - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By Aero Slaab - June 6 - 12:26 am

  Exceptional value in the used market. Great punch 2000-5000 rpms where the turbo really shines. The sport mode on the auto works very well. Seats are extermely comfortable, even on long drives > 12 hrs. I really appreciate gas mileage near 26 MPG around town, near 30 on highway fully loaded with family and vacation gear; but premium gas reqd for the Aero is a bit to bite on. Exterior is a bit dated, but very clean lines are aging well. Just a terrific overall car that is vastly under-appreciated in the used market. Good examples will be easier to get as 3 yr leases on these expire. Saabs CPO program yields an excellent warranty to boot.

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  Swedish King, understated design - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By aerodude - June 5 - 9:46 pm

  Love my Saab! This is my 4th Saab, second 9-5. I ordered the car with a manual trans, a/c seats and sat nav. I do a lot of highway driving and this Saab just eats all the miles up. On long road trips i avg 32-35 mpg and every day driving i avg 28-30. The car is so much fun to drive and I love the turbo! Its comfy to drive in all weather conditions and roads. I do run snow tires in the winter and the car becomes unstoppable. I visit my dealer every 5k for sched maint and the car has never failed me. From weather of -20 to +115 dF, the car always handles it and with composure. The car is very understated in design which I like, doesnt call attention to its self in traffic.

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  Topless Swede - 1996 Saab 900
  By zazen - June 4 - 10:00 am

  The car performed and handled well and was fun to drive up until we hit the 100,000 mile mark. Then everything started to die - brakes, AC, Heating, struts, you name it. So, I would say buy it, but dont hold on to it past the 80K mark. Ever since Ford? took over this company, the car is not as reliable as the Swedes manufacturing prowess.

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  Better Value - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By aero_joe - June 4 - 2:50 am

  This is my first Saab after owning 2 Audi A4s. Ive always loved the exterior styling of Saabs but never thought about owning one until this year when my lease on my last Audi was nearly complete. I looked at both Audis and BMWs but chose the Saab because it provided me the power, performance, styling and comfort for a lot less than the comparable Audi and BMW models. The real factor was the new 2.8 turbo V6 engine which gives this car the performance equal to the much more expensive 330i and the 3.2 A4.

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  Saabaru - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By Bryan - June 3 - 6:36 pm

  My wife and I were shopping for a used Saab 9-5 wagon when we drove this at the dealer. The ride was amazing and my wife feel in love. With the employee pricing it was a huge steal. It isnt a true Saab, but it is one helluva Subaru.

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  Good Car, Needs Improvement - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By WI Saab Owner - June 2 - 12:30 pm

  This is our second Saab 9-3. Its a great car all around, stylish and a great price. Handles great in the snow, and the standard heated seats are lifesavers in the winter. The gas mileage is the biggest problem - we do mainly city driving and are getting between 15-16 mpg on regular. This was a change from our 2003 Saab that was a manual. Ive also had it in the shop twice already for windshield wiper problems.