Last Month's Domestic Bestselling Car Sorento... Grandeur Likely for the Year

Last month, the best-selling car in South Korea was Kia's mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) Sorento, with 9,364 units sold, marking an increase of over 40% compared to the same period last year. The demand remains strong due to the release of the partially redesigned new model. The hybrid version sold 7,440 units, accounting for nearly 80% of all buyers.

The new Sorento released last August / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The second best-selling vehicle was Hyundai's 1-ton truck Porter, with 9,255 units sold. This model is widely used by self-employed workers and for transportation, maintaining steady sales. Its sibling model, Kia Bongo, sold 5,855 units, ranking seventh. The third best-selling vehicle was Hyundai's mid-large SUV Santa Fe, with 8,780 units sold. As a completely redesigned new model, sales more than tripled compared to last year. Similarly, the hybrid version accounts for 80% of sales.

The fourth place went to Hyundai's mid-large sedan Grandeur, which sold 7,980 units last month, bringing the cumulative sales this year to 104,652 units. With only one month left in the year, it is likely to be the annual best-selling model. Fifth place was Kia Sportage (5,982 units), and sixth was Kia multipurpose vehicle (MPV) Carnival (5,857 units). Hyundai's mid-size Avante (5,828 units), compact SUV Casper (5,701 units), and Sonata (4,895 units) followed in eighth to tenth places.

Among the top 10 best-selling models, Hyundai accounted for six and Kia for four. Most of the best-selling models feature electrified lineups such as hybrids. Except for Casper and Carnival, all of the top 10 models have electric or hybrid versions. Although the Carnival added a hybrid version through a partial redesign, it has not yet been reflected in sales figures.