Anyone else see Saab in this design? Even before we saw that many other brands copied the details from Saab cars, especially KIA. Even the names are similar, KIA own wagon called “KIA Optima Sportwagon“, while all of us known Saab Sportcombi and Sportwagon.
The KIA Optima Sportswagon is Kia’s first midsize wagon and will debut at the Geneva auto show on March 1. European sales will begin in the fourth quarter of 2016.
…there’s a lot of “Saabishness” going on. Even more striking resemblance to a Saab interior with the Optima interior too.
In fact, the similarity KIA car with Saab is intentional – “Unhappy Saab owners are likely to be interested in the new Optima saloon and Sportwagon”, according to Kia UK MD Michael Cole.
“This is the first modern D-sector car for Kia and I think it has the right blend of style, equipment, performance, comfort and rarity to appeal to Saab drivers,” he said at the press launch for the new four-door model 2012.
Once, while presenting the sedan Optima model 2010, he said: “I feel Saab owners have no-where to go at the moment,” said Mr Cole. “They like a quality car which is different to the rest and Optima appeals to individuals and the user-chooser company sector who something different.”
Kia is launching a new wagon version of its Optima midsize model. The Optima Sportswagon will compete in Europe against cars such as the VW Passat and Ford Mondeo wagons in the key business fleet sector.
The funny thing is that I drove a brand new Kia Optima in 2015 and it was complete and utter garbage. The interior quality is pathetic, no other word for it, the visibility out the front is a complete disaster – like looking through a letterbox. Same view out the rear. The 1.7 diesel engine sounds like an old-school tractor. The car is a major step down, even from Hyundai.
So, even if they have a passing resemblance to Saabs, they are, in my view, the least ‘Saab-ish’ cars of all. My 9-5 is starting to give me headaches, and I feel like I have nowhere else to go. Eff the stupid Swedish government. Their ineptitude was boundless, and to this day, I know of companies who are going out of business directly because of Saab’s failure. Eff GM. Eff Sweden’s politicians.
Thanks Luke for a presented Experience, in relation to the Swedish government, you’re absolutely right!
I find it hard to believe that any previous proud owner of a SAAB would be mildly inclined to buy a KIA. To put it blandly, the superior quality of SAAB’s interiors are no match for KIA’s.
PS: Yes, I am a proud owner of a SAAB 9-3 Sportcombi, living in Germany.
Allright, I once had a Saab 9-3 SE, it was good. Now I have a KIA Magentis, it is also good but the visibility is something I dont like…. But the Kia magentis is soo damn big inside…. Really… Especially in the back! ENORMOUS! That is a plus.
Will I consider a Saab again? YES! I am now in the market for an saab 9-5 AERO wagon, most fun sleeper car ever built!
Check out a LR discovery (newest version) next to a Saab 95 estate / wagon 2nd face lift, very similar side profile except one is an SUV…
They’ve been copying them since the late 90’s with the Elantra hatchback that looked eerily similar to to the NG900/OG9-3
La SAAB è inimitabile.
Saab is saabtastic
The Saabs are way better designs
They may look alike but SAAB will always be a better car
Swedish will say No….kia….
I think Lynk & Co is more like it! And cevt engineers include engineers from Saab
The Saabs are way better designs! And which car-brand has not taken inspiration from Saab…? ( Technical or designwise)
It is as similar as many other wagons… I like how it looks but I also like some other wagons, so there is nothing special about it. I see no similarities. Droping roof line may be one, maybe shrinking side windows… but it exists in so many cars that you cannot say it is a distinct feature of Saab 9-3.