I think the term “Saiyan Race” is probably misleading, since it seems to describe the species as a whole rather than a single race. Looking at the way Saiyans are divided in the series, it makes more sense that there were originally multiple Saiyan groups or bloodlines, with one eventually rising to power and ruling over the others.
Low-Class Saiyans
Turles mentions that he resembles Goku because low-class Saiyans have very little genetic diversity. That’s an interesting detail, especially since the only clear low-class Saiyans we really see are Goku, Bardock, and Turles. All three share similar facial features and builds, which lines up with Turles’ statement.
Low-class Saiyans are generally considered weak by Saiyan standards. Goku was born with a power level of only 2, while Bardock was treated as unusually strong for his rank. This suggests low-class Saiyans were expected to stay at the bottom regardless of individual potential.
Middle-Class Saiyans
Characters like Raditz and Nappa are consistently identified as middle-class warriors. They look noticeably different from low-class Saiyans, which could imply greater genetic diversity within this group.
Turles’ comment about low-class Saiyans lacking diversity might indirectly suggest the opposite for higher classes. Middle-class Saiyans seem to make up most of the average fighting force we see in the series, strong enough to conquer tougher planets, but still below the royal class. Even Bardock’s squad appears to fit more into this category in terms of combat ability, despite Bardock himself being low-class.
This would explain why most Saiyans we encounter don’t resemble Goku or Turles.
Elite Saiyans
The elite class seems even more exclusive, with only Vegeta and King Vegeta III being clearly identified as elites. Interestingly, Tarble, Vegeta’s own brother, isn’t considered elite, which suggests rank isn’t automatically inherited.
This raises the possibility that Saiyan class is heavily tied to genetics or lineage rather than family alone.
Super Saiyan God, Yamoshi, and Vegeta’s “Birthright”
At some point in Saiyan history, the elite bloodline likely took control over Saiyan society. This could explain why Vegeta is so obsessed with the idea of becoming the Super Saiyan. It wasn’t just pride, it may have been tied to an actual historical belief within his family.
The ancient Saiyans shown in flashbacks mostly resemble typical middle-class Saiyans, except for figures like Yamoshi and the original Super Saiyan God, who both share a more distinctive appearance actively ressembling Vegeta.
If Yamoshi was an ancestor of Vegeta’s royal bloodline, that would explain why the legend of the Super Saiyan was treated almost like a family prophecy. In that case, Vegeta’s belief that becoming the Legendary Super Saiyan was his birthright wasn’t just arrogance, it was based on centuries of inherited tradition.
Raditz, Tarble, and Saiyan Hybrids
Raditz and Tarble not resembling their brothers can also fit this idea. Since Saiyan siblings can apparently end up in different classes, genetics may be more complicated than simple inheritance.
Raditz, a middle-class Saiyan, could have inherited more traits from Gine, while Goku may have taken after Bardock. The same logic could apply to Vegeta and Tarble, assuming their mother wasn’t elite.
Hybrids like Gohan, Trunks, and Goten obviously look different due to having human mothers, so they don’t really fit into the same class system visually.
What does this imply?
Unlike human military systems, where rank is based on skill, experience, and leadership, Saiyan society appears to classify individuals largely by birth and genetics.
That’s what makes their hierarchy so unusual. Bardock was implied to have surpassed King Vegeta in strength at one point, yet his social status never changed. This suggests Saiyan rank wasn’t merit-based at all.
Because of that, the idea that low-class Saiyans are naturally inferior may just be propaganda created by the ruling elite.
This points to the possibility that Saiyan society had a history of internal conflict, potentially even a civil war between different Saiyan groups or bloodlines. If the elites won, they could have rebranded themselves as the superior class while labeling their rivals as “low-class” and keeping them oppressed afterward.
That would also explain Vegeta’s constant fixation on bloodline, status, and his open contempt toward Goku. His attitude doesn’t just come from pride, it feels like something deeply embedded in Saiyan culture hence Turles' constant mention of being a low-class Saiyan.
If this happened, the conflict may have taken place around the time the Saiyans conquered Planet Plant and established royal rule under King Vegeta I. This wouldn’t be the same “good Saiyans vs evil Saiyans” conflict referenced elsewhere in Dragon Ball lore, but a separate internal struggle after the arrival on the new planet to find a new ruler that shaped Saiyan society into the rigid class system seen later since Saiyans are just refered to as the Blood of the Tainted and the Blood of the Defeated before hand where we know the Blood of the Defeated went extinct.
Under this theory, low-class Saiyans like Bardock’s line weren’t inherently weak, they were simply treated that way by a system built on bloodline hierarchy and discrimination, while the middle class likely sided with the elites due to their closer status and shared cultural connection to royal and spiritual history to the ancient revered Super Saiyan God, Yamoshi.
Edit:
Middle-Class Saiyans are most likely heterogenous and of multiple origins hence their genetic variety. Probably multiple Saiyan tribes all grouped together to classify them. That means they weren't as important as the low-class Saiyans who as explained, probably had much internal conflict and war with Elite race of Saiyans.
This also makes Goku as the Legendary Super Saiyan much more special, since he came from an opressed race and then became the prophecy of his historical enemies.