A Question That Saab Owners Could Not Answer Casually
The question sounded simple: Which non-Saab car would most Saab owners secretly respect?
For ordinary car owners, that might produce a predictable list: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Toyota, maybe Porsche. For Saab owners, it turned into something else. The answers were not only about badges. They were about seating position, winter confidence, old-school engineering, cabin logic, turbo character, wagon usefulness, safety, restraint, eccentricity, and the difficult problem of replacing a car brand that no longer builds cars.
We read through every comment and reply, tallied every brand mentioned, and pulled out the lines that explain not just which cars people named, but why. Here’s what the SaabPlanet community told us. Multi-brand answers were counted once per brand, so a reply such as “Volvo and Subaru” counted for both. Model-only answers such as V70, XC70, WRX, W123, 164, or 911 were normalized under their brands where the reference was clear.
The winner was not close.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Vote: Volvo First, Subaru Second, Alfa Third
- 2 Volvo: The Other Swede, but Not Always the Same Tribe
- 3 Subaru: The Practical Oddball Saab Owners Understand
- 4 Alfa Romeo: The Emotional Alternative
- 5 Citroën and Lancia: The Engineer’s Answer
- 6 Polestar: The Modern “Almost Saab” Argument
- 7 Lexus, Mazda, Honda and Toyota: Respect Without Romance
- 8 The Germans: Respected Selectively, Not as a Group
- 9 What the Answers Say About Saab Owners
- 10 The Final Answer
The Vote: Volvo First, Subaru Second, Alfa Third
Counting every brand mention across the thread – original comments and nested replies – produced a clear ranking. A handful of marques dominate the conversation by a wide margin:
| Rank | Brand | Mentions | Share of brand-naming comments |
| 1 | Volvo | 249 | 43.5% |
| 2 | Subaru | 80 | 14.0% |
| 3 | Alfa Romeo | 70 | 12.2% |
| 4 | BMW | 42 | 7.3% |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz | 35 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Audi | 29 | 5.1% |
| 7 | Lexus | 24 | 4.2% |
| 8 | Polestar | 23 | 4.0% |
| 9 | Lancia | 21 | 3.7% |
| 10 | Citroën / Jaguar / Porsche | 20 each | 3.5% each |
The numbers confirm what many Saab owners probably expected but might not openly admit at a club meet: Volvo is the default non-Saab answer. Not always with passion, sometimes with resignation, sometimes with a raised eyebrow – but with a level of respect no other brand approached.
Yet the discussion becomes more interesting after Volvo. Subaru, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Lancia, Polestar, Lexus, Mazda, Honda, old Mercedes, and selected BMWs appeared for very different reasons. Saab owners were not looking for a substitute badge. They were looking for a set of values.
Volvo: The Other Swede, but Not Always the Same Tribe
Volvo’s lead was overwhelming. Owners named the 240, 740, 850R, V70R, XC70, V90, V60 Cross Country, S60, S80, XC90, and older wagons again and again. The most repeated pattern was not simply “Swedish car.” It was estate car, safety, longevity, comfort, winter use, and understated durability.
Several former Saab owners described moving from a 9-5 estate to a Volvo XC70, V70, or V90. Others admitted that they owned both brands at the same time. The affection was strongest for older Volvos, especially the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s cars. The brick-era cars and P2 wagons appeared more often than the newest touchscreen-heavy Volvos.
That distinction matters. Saab owners did not vote for Volvo because Volvo is premium. They voted for Volvo when it behaved like a serious tool: a wagon with proper seats, real luggage space, a strong engine, and a cabin that does not treat the driver as an afterthought.
But the Volvo vote also carried tension. Some comments described Volvo as Saab’s cousin. Others rejected that completely, arguing that Volvo was always more conservative, less playful, and less driver-focused. One reader summed up the split neatly: Volvo could be respected, but it did not necessarily create the same emotional attachment.
That is probably why Volvo won the count but not the argument.
Subaru: The Practical Oddball Saab Owners Understand
Subaru finished second, and its appeal is easier to understand once the comments move past brand rivalry. Saab owners repeatedly mentioned Outback, Forester, WRX, Legacy GT wagon, Crosstrek, Impreza, BRZ, and the unavoidable 9-2X “Saabaru.”
Subaru’s attraction is not luxury. It is mechanical personality and bad-weather competence. A Subaru is often chosen by owners who still want a car that feels slightly outside the mainstream, especially if it has a boxer engine, manual gearbox, turbocharged performance, or wagon practicality.
The Saab 9-2X makes this connection more literal. The 9-2X was assembled in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries and based on the Subaru Impreza, with Saab-specific changes to body details, suspension tuning, and interior treatment. The Aero version’s WRX connection is exactly why the “Saabaru” nickname still appears whenever Saab and Subaru are mentioned together.
Several comments were not sentimental at all. They were practical: Subaru gives all-wheel drive, space for dogs, winter confidence, and a kind of honest usefulness that many modern crossovers only imitate. Others said Subaru lacks Saab’s elegance but comes closest in personality and capability.
That is the key: Subaru is not the replacement for a 9-5 Aero. It is the answer from owners who miss Saab’s blend of usefulness and nonconformity.
Alfa Romeo: The Emotional Alternative
Alfa Romeo came third, and the tone changed completely. Volvo was the rational answer. Subaru was the pragmatic oddball answer. Alfa Romeo was the heart answer.
Comments around Alfa used words like soul, beauty, character, passion, and driver’s car. Models mentioned included the 164, 156, 159, 147, 75, Giulia, Stelvio, Milano, and older 1960s and 1970s Alfas. Several Saab owners said Alfa was the only modern brand that still felt like it built cars for reasons beyond a spreadsheet.
For Saab readers, the Alfa 164 reference carries extra weight. The Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema, and Alfa Romeo 164 were part of the Type Four / Tipo Quattro project, one of the most fascinating platform-sharing stories of the 1980s. SaabPlanet has previously covered the Saab-Fiat relationship and the Saab-Lancia 600 connection, including the Type Four link between the 9000, Thema, Croma, and 164.
The Alfa vote shows that Saab owners do not only respect safety and practicality. They respect cars that feel engineered by people with opinions. Alfa Romeo earns that respect because it is still allowed to be imperfect, emotional, and specific.
That matters in a world where many cars feel like the same product with different lighting signatures.
Citroën and Lancia: The Engineer’s Answer
Citroën and Lancia did not reach Volvo or Subaru numbers, but their comments were among the most revealing. These were not casual suggestions. They came from people who understood why Saab was different.
Citroën was praised for front-wheel drive, engineering independence, advanced suspension, unusual controls, early innovation, and refusal to follow German premium rules. Models named included the DS, DS21, DS23 Pallas, CX, XM, C6, Traction Avant, and 2CV. One comment described Saab as the Swedish Citroën. That is not a bad summary. Both brands spent decades proving that logic and eccentricity can live in the same car.
Lancia drew a similar kind of respect. The Delta, Thema, Integrale, Prisma, and Stratos appeared in the discussion. For Saab owners who know the history, Lancia is not just another Italian name. The Lancia Delta was sold in Sweden as the Saab-Lancia 600, and the later Type Four project connected Saab, Lancia, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo in a way that still interests technically minded enthusiasts.
The Lancia and Citroën votes were not about reliability or ownership convenience. They were about imagination. Saab owners clearly recognize that.
Polestar: The Modern “Almost Saab” Argument
Polestar’s result was smaller than Volvo’s, but more strategically interesting. Many Saab owners see Polestar as one of the few modern brands with a credible Swedish performance identity, especially the Polestar 2.
The comments often mentioned design, driving feel, and the sense that Polestar might represent a direction Saab could have taken in the EV era. There is also a Trollhättan connection. Polestar expanded R&D activity into the former Saab/NEVS environment in Trollhättan, and Joakim Rydholm – known for chassis and driving dynamics work and a Saab Automobile background from 1996 to 2007 – is part of the Polestar driving-feel story.
That does not mean Polestar is “the new Saab.” Saab owners are too sharp for that shortcut. Some comments pushed back hard on Polestar’s Chinese ownership and customer-service reputation. But the fact that Polestar appeared this often shows that Saab owners are still searching for a modern car with Swedish engineering flavor, restrained design, and a chassis tuned by people who care about feel.
Lexus, Mazda, Honda and Toyota: Respect Without Romance
The Japanese brands formed another cluster. Lexus, Mazda, Honda, and Toyota were usually praised for engineering quality, reliability, cleverness, and ownership sanity.
Lexus appeared as the “if I give up fighting old-car battles” choice. Several comments said Lexus offers exclusivity and engineering discipline, even if its philosophy is different from Saab’s. Toyota was usually respected rather than loved: Prius, Crown, RAV4 plug-in hybrid, Corolla Cross, Avensis. The tone was practical – reliable, durable, but not always emotionally interesting.
Mazda and Honda received more enthusiast-coded praise. Mazda was linked to the Miata, RX-7/RX-8, Mazda3, and the idea that small cars can still be tuned for feel. Honda was connected to innovation, Civic cleverness, CR-V dependability, S2000 driver appeal, and long warranty confidence.
These brands did not threaten Saab loyalty. They offered a way out for owners tired of parts hunting, rust repair, and aging electronics.
The Germans: Respected Selectively, Not as a Group
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche all scored strongly, but the comments were selective. Saab owners rarely said “BMW” or “Mercedes” in a broad lifestyle sense. They named specific cars: E39 5-Series, E30, BMW 2002, M5, W123, W124, W126, W140, CLK, E-Class diesel, Audi S2, Ur-Quattro, TT, RS5, Porsche 911, 944 Turbo, 928S, Cayenne.
That distinction is important. Saab owners respect the engineering peaks, not the showroom hierarchy.
The BMW E39 drew a particularly interesting debate. One commenter called it the car that took market share Saab needed. Others agreed it was excellent, while still preferring the 9-5 as a daily driver. Mercedes drew respect mostly for older cars, especially W123 and W124 models, where seating, durability, and mechanical honesty still matter. Audi appeared mostly when quattro, five-cylinder engines, TT design, or understated wagon usability entered the discussion.
Porsche, meanwhile, was treated differently. It was not a Saab substitute. It was respected as pure engineering and character – especially older 911s, the 944 Turbo, and the 928.
What the Answers Say About Saab Owners
The results reveal a clear hierarchy of Saab-owner values.
First, the car must have a point of view. Volvo, Subaru, Alfa, Citroën, Lancia, Polestar, Lexus, and old Mercedes all offer that in different ways.
Second, function still matters. Wagons, hatchbacks, estates, all-wheel drive, good seats, visibility, safety, and cargo space appeared constantly. Saab owners do not usually separate character from usefulness.
Third, mainstream premium is not enough. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi were respected when a specific model earned it. They were not automatically respected because of badge status.
Fourth, quirkiness alone is not enough. Saab owners may enjoy strange cars, but the comments favored cars with engineering substance behind the strangeness.
That is why Volvo won, Subaru followed, and Alfa Romeo came third. Those three answers represent the three main branches of Saab loyalty after Saab: rational Swedish durability, practical nonconformity, and emotional engineering.
The Final Answer
So, which non-Saab car would most Saab owners secretly respect?
Statistically, the answer is Volvo – and by a large margin.
But the better answer is this: Saab owners respect cars that still feel designed by engineers, not committees. They respect cars with useful bodies, serious seats, winter capability, restrained design, turbo character, mechanical honesty, or a stubborn refusal to become generic.
That is why the thread did not simply produce a list of “best alternatives.” It produced a portrait of Saab ownership itself.
A Saab owner might park a Volvo XC70 in the driveway, keep a Subaru Outback for winter, admire an Alfa Giulia from across the street, defend a Citroën CX at dinner, and still refuse to sell the 9-5 Aero.
That is not contradiction. That is the Saab condition.
