Similar to the brand's ION Coupe, to ease climbing into the back seats the SKY incorporates rear access doors, which are basically reverse opening rear doors that form a clamshell with the front doors when opened - previously called 'suicide' doors. Recently made popular with light pickup trucks this system is currently all the rage for show and production cars, showing up on everything from low budget Saturns to the new Rolls-Royce Phantom - haughty company indeed. To give credit where credit is due Saturn was one of the first companies in recent memory to use rear access doors on cars.
While this innovation is practical, except when entering or exiting in close proximity to a neighboring car (it's easy to get trapped between both doors), it is styling that will ultimately sell a new car. Smith calls the look "honest, optimistic and expressive", words usually used to describe Miss Congeniality rather than the Prom Queen. But first and foremost the design team wanted the SKY to exude practical functionality, the 'honest' part of the equation.
That's not saying it isn't good looking. Having seen the SKY up close and personal it's an attractive and distinct design, two components that don't always harmonize when the final product is unveiled, rotating on the show stand for all critical eyes to see. It pulls cues from the current ION, especially the upswept character lines that span the doors mid profile.