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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  Love the car - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By dstan02 - October 14 - 4:52 pm

  I am the original owner. The car now has 132000 miles on it. Two years ago, in the winter, I drove it ALONE 4545 miles from Charlotte NC to Anchorage Alaska and that includes driving the Alcan Highway and then repeating the journey back home 6 months later. I now have driven it 2768 miles across country to Portland. This car never even "burped". I love this car. If I had any complaint, it would be the SIDs pixels going out.

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  Another Awesome Saab! (2004 9-3 Arc) - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Domer90 - October 14 - 5:23 am

  This is my 3rd Saab and I love it as much as my first 1985 900S. The 9-3 is smaller than my 9-5, but has a more comfortable interior with two cup holders and a better instrument pannel. The techtronic shifter manual override is sweet for those times when the auto just doesnt cut it off the line. The Arc is quick, but opt for the Aero if you want blazing speed. Euro styling with the control of FWD in the snow and rain. Bought it off GM lease with no major repairs but that is no surprise to me having had two others both with over 130,000 K. I LOVE THIS CAR. Goes 110 MPH with ease. It is a Saab through and through and is not for those who like to be convential. Enjoy it!

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  9-3 Viggen - Wolf in Sheeps Clothing - 2001 Saab 9-3
  By dwatech - October 10 - 1:06 pm

  This is my second Saab. My 99 9-5 was comfortable luxury at a great (used) price. The Viggen has all the comfort and luxury and outstanding performance too. The turbo kick at almost any speed is exhilirating. Torque steer is an issue, but there are aftermarket cures for that. Exterior look of the car is very "euro" and hatchback yields excellent cargo capability. Interior is comfortable, lack of cupholders just emphasizes that you should be driving the car when you are in it, not drinking (or talking on the phone). No automatic available anyway, so keep your hands free for driving! Viggens have a loyal following too, so expect used prices to be pretty stable.

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  Could be better - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By CP - October 10 - 4:43 am

  It is a great car, but have had problems with steering wheel locking and key not working car at all,this has happened a few times, they said nothing could be done about it .. problem for that year? Have had electrical quirks, and had to have key reprogrammed. It has speed unreal, can go so fast in seconds. Seats are extremely comfortable, and the gas mileage has been fantastic. It is like the car that keeps giving in the fuel department! The quirks are annoying to say the least for such low mileage, but if I had not had a problem with the above mentioned, the car would rate a 10 in my book hands down.

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  Bought off E-bay - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By OB - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Nice styling, car is very fast in stock trim and handles well. Radio/CD player are descent. Ihad problems with paint peeling in the rear wheel wells,exhaust went, and so did the head gasket. I hope these arent common with all of them.

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  Another Saab - 2005 Saab 9-5
  By Rick - October 9 - 9:36 pm

  This is our 4th Saab and believe it to be the best of the bunch. We just stepped down from owning an Aero due to the requirement for premium gas. The Arc only requires regular unleaded. We do not find much difference in the Arcs ability versus the Aero. However, we are not aggressive drivers anyway.

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  Fun car - 1996 Saab 900
  By trexturk - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This car is very fun and fast. I like the design and platform of this car.

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  Viggen underappreciated for price - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Miles Parker - October 9 - 10:00 am

  At list, the Viggen isnt a very good deal, but at the price we paid, its awesome. We bought our Viggen for a bit more than the price of a loaded Maxima or Passat, or a pretty base A4. For that we got a car with huge interior, gorgeous styling, awesome acceleration, rewarding and engaging handling, really well thought out details, and that lovely Saab leather smell. For 10k less than an S4 Avant less we got similar performance, much more room, and a unique car. Yes, it is an older design, and there are some quirks, but you can take advantage of that and make a screaming deal. Remember when youre comparing cars to compare at the price youll actually end up paying.

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  Used to love it - 1996 Saab 900
  By formersaabfan - October 8 - 2:00 am

  I have a 900SE turbo, black on black, beautiful and incredibly fun to drive. It was a great car for the first 4 yrs or so, but has absolutely fallen apart in the last 1.5 yrs. Furthermore, the Saab dealerships to which I have taken it for service in Atlanta (Jim Ellis, and Kelley before that) have been difficult to deal with, and have not actually fixed the car. I am about to trade the car, and unfortunately, due to my recent experiences with the dealerships, I wont consider the 9-5 as a replacement, even though recent reliability reports suggest a significant improvement since my model year. I am buying a BMW.

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  Archangels drink tea with Milton Berle - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By egospoon - October 8 - 2:00 am

  Great, except that there REALLY needs to be an AWD version.