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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  doesnt dissapoint - 1996 Saab 900
  By tg240kmh - October 23 - 3:59 pm

  I bought my mothers 1996 Se with a turbo and what I can say in the beginning,I bought the car mostly because it was all i could afford.At first i didnt want to touch it.Right now its going through some problems.I recently had to by an alternator belt to bypass the a/c compressor.Im having to deal with lagging power due to broken exhaust studs(sad but true).My mom bought it with one hundred,sixty-seven thousand miles on a turned odometer from Plotty"s Auto Sales.Some miraculous sign.I have never seen the check engine light once.I have put a lot of time and money into her and I must say Im hitched on this company.The reviews put me on the spot to show my gratitude.Saabs are very reliable.

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  I love my Saab - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By John - October 23 - 6:43 am

  Saabs get a bad rap for their interiors. I love the interior of mine. In my opinion the scandinavian/cockpit inspired styling beats BMW, Acura, and Audi. I get a zen like tranquility sitting in it. The outside styling is great too.

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  9-7x is a great luxury SUV - 2006 Saab 9-7X
  By JC - October 21 - 5:36 am

  I was looking for something to replace my troublesome Volvo XC90, which I liked, but had just way too many issues with. Since I own a 9-3 Sport Sedan, I took the Saab for a drive. I bought it the same day. After driving the X5 and Cayenne, the 9-7x is good competition for both, but provides a slightly more liveable ride while giving good handling response, better than in most SUVs. Cargo room is also better in the Saab, and while it doesnt have a third row, it gives second row passengers more room than those trying to cram in three rows of seats. The interior is also nicely finished, better than any recent GM product Ive been in. Its a great buy and I highly recommend it.

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  Saabs Back! - 2004 Saab 9-3
  By Greg Waldron - October 19 - 2:00 am

  A very quick and responsive car - great fun to drive. Drives more like an Audi or BMW than a Saab - its completely lost that old "rubbery, tippy" sensation. Feels a bit "tinny" compared to the Germans, though. Perhaps this is a result of being built on GMs new "world car" platform. The engine is pure Saab Turbo - a great motor! Saab are closing the performance sedan gap with the Germans - they are closing in on best-in-class with this model and with the current price differential against the the Audi A4 3.0 and BMW 330 its a good value.

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2005 Saab 9-3
  By Dian - October 16 - 4:46 am

  This vehicle is by far the best Ive ever owned. The only things that could top it would be if it had the V6 turbo engine. It is not as common as the BMW which every other person seems to drive here, so you are more unique when on the road. Unfortunately for me, I have to sell it as I am moving overseas and left hand drive cars are not allowed there. When I return, I will pick up the latest model via the European Delivery Program so I can once again enjoy the thrill of the Saab Aero convertible. It is great to drive.

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  2002 SAAB 9-3 - 2002 Saab 9-3
  By elle1 - October 8 - 10:00 am

  A good, reliable car all around. However, a very creaky, noisy car. It sounds like Im driving a taxi cab. Lots of rattles. Had to take the car in to the dealership several times to fix a rattle in the back seat. Finally they were able to fix it after the third try. Turned out it was a bolt that the factory hadnt tightened. Performance wise its been great. However, already had to replace my breaks two years into my lease. Love the Turbo button. I had a Cadillac before and the Saab, though premium, definitely doesnt have the bells and whistles the Cadillac had.

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  Very SAFE Car! - 1999 Saab 9-5
  By SafeSAAB - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 9-5 used after trading in a BMW. A few weeks ago I was cut off by a moron and impacted the vehicle at over 45mph. Both airbags deployed. My child was in his carseat in the back. The accident as extremely violent and when I opened my eyes I expected serious injuries to all 4 passengers. The Saab held up very well despite being totalled. No one was seriously injured which is a testament to the superb design and solid construction of this car. I am getting another!

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  The Aero Soars - 2003 Saab 9-5
  By hr_consultant - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 02 Aero for 6 months and I have not had one problem with it. Ive not experienced any turbo lag at any speed, as a matter of fact, there is torque in every gear. Saab has included ESP (electronic Stability Program) that virtually eliminates torque steer. I have to be careful, Im generally way over the freeway speed by the time I shift into fourth! Unique look and feel, I always get lots of positive feedback when anyone asks about the car. After all that cool technical stuff, one of the things that gets the biggest reaction is when the cupholder opens, go figure.

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  Great convertible - 2006 Saab 9-3
  By Rich - September 30 - 12:03 am

  We bought our 93 2.0 turbo 4 cyl standard transmission convertible used with 33,000 miles 2 months ago. The previous owner kept it in excellent condition and I think we got a terrific price at less than 1/2 of its original price. The car is solid, the doors are heavy, outside noise is minimal and the road noise is less than our Volvo S60. The stick shift is smooth and the steering tracks very tight with minimal lean in the turns. The top is a marvel to watch and is water tight while driving. The trunk space is flexible so if you need more space put up the top. I am 62" and I can fit in the back seat fine. The seats are more comfortable than our previous Mercedes.

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  Great SUV - 2008 Saab 9-7X
  By Nick Resetar - September 20 - 8:43 pm

  Awesome SUV. If you need a real SUV like I do for towing, you cant beat the 9-7x. The standard features blow away the competition. The handling is great. This is no more an exercise in badge engineering than Lexus it to Toyota or Honda to Acura etc. You really need to drive it and look at the standard features. 15k at least under the competition similarity equipped. Leased for .9% here in Canada. Great deal.