Saab 92 review

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Saab 92 0.8 Road Test

Test date 28 October 1949 Price as tested £400

For Performance, economy, space, equipment

Against Slightly harsh ride

The vehicle tested was one of 20 demonstration prototypes, and I found it very difficult to find fault on any major point. This latest recruit to the ranks of the world's small cars was planned back in 1945 when Saab started looking round for a profitable sideline to supplement their normal output of jet-propelled aircraft.

It was decided that the sideline should be small, economical cars of advanced construction, which, in addition to fulfilling a post-war need for a home-produced Volkswagen, would be capable of sustaining high average speeds over really rough roads and coping with the worst weather that the Swedish winter could offer.

Basically, the Saab 92 has much in common with the German DKW which, until the war, was one of the most popular cars in Scandinavia. Not only does it have a front-wheel-driven two-stroke engine of similar design, but also much of the experience gained in handling and servicing has gone into the general layout. However, the Saab 92 is in no way a copy of the DKW, but rather, it is a worthy successor.

At first glance it is obvious that the car owes a lot to its aircraft upbringing. This is typified by its teardrop styling, which has been adopted to allow the car to slice through the atmosphere. On a small, high-performance vehicle the reduction of weight is of the utmost importance, and aerodynamic principles have been applied to the Saab 92 without at all giving the impression of freakishness or reducing passenger comfort. The absence of protuberances will be distinctly pleasing to British eyes.