skytop

I went to the gym today and when I came out, a Kia SUV parked next to me. I was stunned to see how really alike they appeared. Is the Kia a fraternal sibling to the MB? Did I spend $40,000. additional only to end up with a Kia cosmetic twin?
You be the judge.
By the way, the Mercedes ML350 is the white SUV.

https://mbworld.org/forums/members/s...white-suv.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/members/s...517-twins.html

QuadBenz

I've always thought that about the two, especially in the front.

MAmendola

At first glance maybe. However, cosmetics aside, no comparison. My neighbor has a 4 door Hundai that at first glance looks like a Jag. Beyond that it's no jag.

Copy cats and look alikes will always exist. I have a Harley. Cant tell you how many bikes look like my FatBoy. But up close you can tell which is which, not to mention the sound. My new ML350 was delivered to the dealer yesterday and I went to see it. Believe me it is not a KIA, not even close.

You made the right decision. Not only will you blow away the KIA but the ride and comfort is unparralled.

Mark

wonsuk_utmb

...was in fact the mercedes, you would probably think the same thing.

mtrandpm

They "look" SO similar on the outside. Unbelievable.

am_beagle

You can tell the differences when your fatboy has to stay in the shop and others roaming the roads. Their mechanical features are far more superior comparing to HDs.
Even when HD tried to copycat them with Buell Motorcycles, it just dies young.
I'm not trying to offend you. It's just the fact.

1st amg

Nice attempt, but that KIA in no way will match or surpass the ML in any catagory, you just cant compare the two. The status alone is money in the bank for me, yeah call me vain, but lets face it, most of us here have some pride in what we drive, otherwise we would all be driving KIA. So, I dont think you spent an extra 40grand to get a "fraternal" sibling. Enjoy your ML.

BruNo

if im not mistaken, the kia sorento was out on the market 1-2years ahead of the ML, so who copied who???

MAmendola

I'm not offended. I have ridden over 30,000 trouble free miles on my HD. I am turning in my 06ML 350 next week as my 09 ML350 is in. For the past two years I have had recurring transmission problems with the 06. MB can't figure out how to fix it. I finally referred them to a post I found on this site. All is well however, even MB has issues. I would not own anything other than a MB or a Harley.

lkchris

It wouldn't be the first time a Korean company has copied Mercedes.

C-rod

of the business............Each manufacturer trying to sell thier cars..Most SUV's have the same generic styling........l have a friend that owns a Serrento and he has mentioned that our vehicles look very similiar and l agree with him, until he entered my vehicle and thats where the comparsion ended ...Enough said !!!!!

eaadams

Sorrento: gross vehicle weight rating (lbs): 5622 = Not IRS Section 179 eligible and therefore more expensive for me than an ML.

I will say that one of these passed me going South on I-5. It had some blond Arizona State girls in it. It was black. Had Arizona State decal on window, a hawaii flower decal, and they had seats that were surfer / blue on white covers. I followed for a while because I was impressed with how good it looked at night. A great kids car.

360º

i once had a nightmare that i drove one of these kia's

am_beagle

Moreover, several years ago, Mercedes sold its W163s (engines, frames, transmissions....) to another Korean SUV company, SSangyong I believe, to let them market the w163s in Asia, mostly China and SE Asia countries. That model is Rexton with 3 engines of 2.7 gas, diesel and diesel turbo. All use the Mercedes 5-speed Tiptronic.

dgiturbo

I was overseas recently and saw one of those Rexton vehicles. At first glance I did think of my ML, but I had never heard of that manufacture before. I guess selling/licensing your products to others is the way of the present.

eaadams

Apparently there is a parking lot in SoCal next to a Hyundai building where you can see hundreds of Merc's in various states of disassemble. This is the reverse engineering division of Hyundai USA.

I'm googling for an address now.