Company History

SAAB originally began as a Swedish aerospace company in 1937, and is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget. The engineers at SAAB first used their aviation background to construct unique automobiles during the late 1940s. Saab has continued to make high quality vehicles over the decades is known as one of the few luxury European car lines in production today.

After 1990, the SAAB aviation company no longer owned Saab the auto division. It is currently owned by General Motors, but has maintained its European design. A few of their popular models include the 9-3 and 9-5.

Popular Models

9-3:

Saab has provided several options for the 9-3 in an effort satisfy the needs of many drivers with one model. The 9-3 comes as a compact convertible as well as a compact sedan. The sedan version comes in three different trim packages, the Linear, Arc, and Aero. The Linear package 9-3 powered by a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, giving it 175 horsepower. For those who want more power, the Arc or Aero versions are the solution; both come with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine providing 210 horsepower. All versions come with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Colin Hefferon of About.com, cars.about.com, writes that the Aero provides comfort, convenience, and a touch of non-conformity. He writes that the body styling separates itself from the BMW 3-series and those who take after it. Hefferon is as pleased with the interior as he is with the exterior, writing that the seats provide comfort and support. A few drawbacks noted by those at Edmunds, www.edmunds.com, include a harsh ride over bumps and a lack of stiff suspension on the Aero model.

9-5:

The 9-5 is Saab's contribution to the midsize car category. Like the 9-3, SAAB has tried to make several different models. It comes as either a midsize wagon and midsize sedan. The sedan comes in two models, the Arc and the Aero. Both come with a 2.3 Liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The amount of horsepower varies depending on the model. The Arc is powered by 220 horsepower while the Aero has 250 horsepower. The transmission is also different. The Aero comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the arc comes with a 5-speed Sentronic automatic transmission. The interior is as well designed as what's laying underneath the hood. The ample cabin room and luxurious leather provides a comfortable ride for all those inside. Those at Edmunds report that the 9-5 received best-in-class crash scores. However, they say that the suspension is too soft.

For more information on Saab Automobile, visit Saab's official website at www.saab.com. See Carguide123's specific model articles for more information about a particular model.