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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  Must Buy - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Must Have - February 9 - 10:13 pm

  I bought this Saab last year and I am very pleased with it: Great Value, 30 MPG, turbo performance, great standard options including leather heated seats, traction control and much more...

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  I see another one about once a month... - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By 3saabmike - February 7 - 4:00 pm

  I love this SUV. I needed an SUV for work as I demonstrate medical equipment and have to carry around equipment that weighs 300 pounds and is about the size of a small dresser, so I looked at the SAAB and was impressed. I had driven a Trailblazer for 100k miles before this and there is no comparison. I like the sophisticated looks and the fact that when it breaks I can take advantage of lower priced GM parts bin stuff. This is the main reason I didnt buy the Cayenne. I am at 40,000 miles right now and nothing has gone wrong. The only thing that wore prematurely were the brake rotors at 22,000 miles, which wasnt bad as it only cost a few hundred bucks to fix.

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  Everything but a cupholder - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By strech - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Really a fun car to drive and own. Have found the engine and ride to be exactly what I was looking for. Capacity is un-matched - holds lots of stuff with the rear seats down = 4 kegs for a family reunion. Wish it had better and more drink holders though.

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  First Saab - 2003 Saab 9-3
  By Saab Convert - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I have had more comments on this car than any other car I have owned in my life. People like the cosmic blue color and the favorable comments have ranged from 17 year olds to a 55 year old driving a new Lexus. Extremely comfortable and well designed interior.

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  My 1st 4-door - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By Cheryl763 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Having to give up my 2-door sport vehicle and buy a 4-door family sedan for the first time, we looked at upscale sedans. I drove the Saab last & loved it. The seats are comfortable & the trunk space roomy. The car has nimble handling & a pleasure to drive. I opted for the manual tranmission & premium package. The turbo engine makes up for the VTEC engine that I had. The visability is great, as there are limited blind spots. Having the ignition in the floor is odd, but it is a neat feature. Other then that, the car is truly a dream to drive and own! Guilford Saab is a great dealer, highly recommend both them and the car.

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  She keeps on going and going... - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By wb - January 28 - 4:43 am

  I have 75,000 miles on my 2002 Saab and the past 20,000 have been the most exciting... with the stainless steel exhaust system, K&N filter and chip for the engine, my Saab is as fast as anything that Ive driven, and she gets 35 mpg almost all of the time. Drop her into second and floor it? Woosh!

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  A Sweet Swede - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Sold on Saab - January 27 - 5:50 am

  I bought it new and its still under warranty. Love the design and utility. Ive driven it across country and back twice in great comfort and safety. Superb handling allowed me to avoid being rear-ended by another driver. Handled a blizzard in Chicago in February. Routinely get 33 mpg on freeways using cruise control. Great buy compared to BMW or Audi - thousands less. HID headlights are the best Ive ever seen with. Real red walnut trim is classy. Only issue is self-locking doors; they sometimes engage/disengage/engage several times when starting; dealer cant seem to correct this. Will definitely consider another Saab when Im ready for another new car.

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  Great Deals on SAAB right now - 2009 Saab 9-3
  By Jean - January 25 - 2:53 am

  I purchased a SAAB yesterday - first time buyer. I am extremely happy with the sales price. The cash rebates are amazing. Coming from a Mini Cooper S, the fun factor is not there since the Mini is so much fun. But the 4 doors and huge space in the trunk and backseat are nice to have again. I feel very safe in the car and it has some get up and go! But the best part is still the price!!

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  Lori - 1999 Saab 9-3
  By Lori2 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Great car, reliable, and fun!

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Tim - January 23 - 9:30 am

  Bought this car almost two months ago. Too early to know for sure, but so far best car I have owned. It has snowed every week since I bought it, so I havent been able to "joy ride" much, but the Front Wheel Drive handles snow well. The interior is my personal favorite. I liked the interior more than the 3-series and the C-class at the dealer. The trunk is huge for a little car. Overall we love it.