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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  Best 4 seater convertible in its class - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Patrick Lo - February 24 - 2:00 am

  Great interior with lots of features. Comfortable seats, rear seating with room for 2 adults. Lots of power when turbo kicks in. Great exterior styling, not your average european / German car.

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  Why is my wife hogging my car? - 2005 Saab 9-2X
  By JWF - February 20 - 9:33 am

  Guess mainly because of the inherent reliability. No way is this car gonna leave her stranded. In more than 3 months of owing the Saabie I have not had to open the hood once! And when the time comes for the 1st maintenance service, its gonna be free! Yaayyy! Off course, the GM discount did not hurt either!

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  beautiful - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By matt daddy - February 18 - 2:00 am

  i love my new black saab. make sure though, that you get a few things. otherwise, it will just be a simple car. you must get the touring package. save up if you need to, because it makes a huge difference. the dual auto ac is very stylish. also, definitely get at least the 16, if not 17 inch wheels. this car is fantastic. people actually enjoy my saab, and are surpised to be. they have finally made a car that is more for the classy (not quirky) driver. i love the speed for the 4 cylinder its got.

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  Shes my Saababy - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By AT Hiker - February 17 - 7:36 am

  Shes so sweet ... shes so fine ... and Im glad that she is mine! I had a 1995 Saab SE Turbo convertible that I loved so much that when she started to get "long in the tooth" I traded her in on this newer version. Fast! Fun! Luxurious yet has a true sports car feel! Unbelievable gas mileage (30s on the highway) and I constantly get comments from old and young alike, "Nice car"! She is everything a summer car should be.

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  Sven the Incredible - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By wspcarguy - February 14 - 6:16 am

  I bought my 1999 Saab 9-3 in Sept 99 and have never regretted it. Sven the Saab has never left me high and dry (unless the fuel pump or battery died). Super comfy for all riders and far better MPG than listed on the sticker. Easily averaged over 30 mpg on the hwy.

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  Very Nice, Not Perfect - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Spaul - February 13 - 10:00 am

  After 5 months Ive come to enjoy this quirky ride. Get the ARC / VEC now that you can. Excellent value, great range (forget about getting more than 30 MPG if you drive with zest) The 9-3 is all about handling and the left lane, so good be be careful about going 80 MPH without realizing it. As advertised, much more torque for passing than taking off. Huge performance difference between auto and auto-stick! Most of the 100s of bells and whistles are a waste of electrons - 1/2 of the functions wont work in the US.

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  Great little wagon - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By CA Saabi - February 13 - 8:50 am

  This is a great wagon, which offers a great deal of cargo room for its size. Also we have averaged 23 mpg (blended), which much better than I expected given the amount of city driving I do.

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  Unique enough to be a SAAB - 2005 Saab 9-7X
  By Viggen23 - February 11 - 5:53 pm

  This was a great first attempt by Saab to enter the SUV market. It is basically like a mini-Cadillac Escalade. Great unique styling sets it apart. On a 1000 mile road trip from OR to CA I didnt see another one on the road. Very plush and comfortable on the inside. As a true Saab afficionado, the ignition location in the center makes me feel like this is the real deal and not just a re-badge. Plenty of power, but acceleration up hills is a bit lackluster, I wish it had a turbo like my old 9-5. Fuel economy on the road trip was the as- advertised 21 mpg, luckily it runs on regular unleaded. All in all, great car with plenty of comfort and room to haul your stuff, plus the ability to tow.

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  Its a blast to drive - 2004 Saab 9-5
  By Rob - February 10 - 6:23 am

  This Aero really MOVES! I cant seem to keep it under 100 mph. Its fun to drive. I looked at the Audi A6 and the Volvo S60R, test drove them all extensively, but the fun factor and interior room in the 9-5 sold me. I wanted a winter worthy car and front wheel drive is, for most practical highway purposes, as useful as AWD. Great gas mileage on the 9-5 to boot. Just watch out for tickets!

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  Swedish quality - Worth every penny - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By carb1776 - February 10 - 3:10 am

  This is my first Saab, bought it new. Looked at Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, liked the Saab the best. At 65 mph this sports car get 26-28 mpg, 22 in city. Quick acceleration for passing. Car really holds the road in bad rain and snowy weather. Would buy again! Interior is clean and sporty! Large trunk.