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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  Great value - 2007 Saab 9-3
  By bruce elliott - February 9 - 8:50 pm

  I have had the Ann. edition with auto for about 3 weeks. I really like this car and continue to be impressed by new discoveries. This car represents excellent value in the wagon category. Surprising lack of torque steer for a front driver. This is my first Saab and first FWD car. I always liked AWD and RWD better for driving but Saab has done a great job. Its quiet and comfortable and has effortless speed. If it proves reliable it will be fabulous.

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  2004 Saab 9-3 Linear - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By sk1395 - February 8 - 4:43 pm

  All in all i think this is a good car. The interior is a little cheap with the finish flaking off. Also ive had to have the speakers in the front replaced twice now. My lock system failed during one very cold Wisconsin winter. All I can say is buy the Saab extended warranty! I didnt have to pay for anything to get fixed!

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  Unique, Handsome...but competitive? - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By damonTodd - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Came from a 1991 Saab 900 that I loved. 9-3 hatch is no where as versatile compared to classic 900 or other hatchbacks in market. There is a large ridge that creates a bottleneck in the loading area. I cannot fit half of the things in my 9-3 I fit in my 900. Mid range power is amazing. Great highway car -- mediocre city/town car. Turbo lag is ridiculous. Im experienced with manual trannies and I still have trouble getting quick launches. Throw the car into a curve and it feels overpowered for the suspension. If you dont pay dealer prices it can be a good,quirky buy. But give saab and others a good test drive.

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  Bring back the hatchback!!!! - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By turkeyrun - February 1 - 8:53 pm

  This is my fourth Saab. Will buy another. Minor problems are constantly buying lightbulbs. Major problem in this car was a starter. But love the "old look." That was a classic style.

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  Great Car - High MPG and Performance - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By RAQues - January 30 - 11:40 pm

  This car has great lines, handling and performance. With the turbo charged four cylinder engine you get both great gas mileage and performance. If you want to accelerate off the line there is a half second delay before the turbo kicks in and snaps you into the back seat. Open the sun roof and take it though the corners and you have to be impressed.

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  Me and my Aero - 2008 Saab 9-3
  By beefa - January 19 - 4:14 pm

  Absolutely love this car. Had mine for two years now as a daily driver. I put 100 miles a day on the car and my drive is the best part of my day. Great performance out of the 2.8T 6 cyl, matched with the manual 6 speed. The car accelerates effortlessly. No slowing down in the corners, the car holds the road while the seats keep me steady and comfortable. This truly is a FUN car to drive. Gas mileage is better than expected.

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  Conservative hotrod - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By L. Zeitlin - January 14 - 2:16 pm

  The Saab Aero 92x is just the thing for senior citizens who want to recapture their youthful love affair with high performance automobiles yet not flaunt their second childhood in front of their neighbors. Encased in an attractive, upscale yet conservative, body lies the mechanicals of the firebreating Subaru WRX. This implies wonderfully responsive AWD handling, breathtaking midrange acceleration, near felony range top speed, and good reliability. And when you park the car you go back to being a responsible member of society. The only giveaway is the turbo scoop on the hood. There are few downsides except the requirement for premium gas. This is the penalty for the adventure.

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  Good SUV, but short-lived - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By Saab Guy 2500 - January 5 - 3:00 pm

  I bought my 2006 9-7X 5.3i a little over a year ago with 56,000 miles. It has been a good vehicle, but I recently have had several complications with it. When it turned about 65,000 miles, I noticed that there was a lot of wind noise on the highway. It sounded like the windows were not shut. I had the doors bent and seals replaced, and that fixed that. Then while gassing it up one day, I started it to find that the gas gauge read that it was empty and I had just filled it full. This was quite a spendy procedure to fix, as the gas tank had to be dropped from underneath. Also, the ride tends to be rough and bouncy. My biggest complaint is the poor MPG (I average 13 in town, 17 on highway).

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  Saab 4 U - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Saab 4 U - January 5 - 10:00 am

  Wonderfull in winter weather. Great response for a 4 cyc. Great fuel milage.

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  Was nice until Saab went bankrupt - 2008 Saab 9-5
  By labluebabe - December 26 - 2:49 pm

  40k MSRP new, its lost $27k trade in value in 4 years. Thanks for going bankrupt SAAB, now our car is near worthless and were upside down on the loan! There are no replacement parts, there are no authorized service dealerships in the USA anymore, and theres nobody who is willing to buy this car off us at a reasonable price (because its unreasonable to want a car that you wont be able to fix when something breaks). It drove fine, has quite a few features but its become an antique in just 4 years. All the new cars out now have nice touchscreens and bluetooth and backup cameras.