SEOUL - Kia's Sorento SUV has emerged as the best-selling car in South Korea for the first half of 2024, leading a market that heavily favored larger vehicles over sedans during this period.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Sorento topped sales charts with 49,588 units sold from January to June. It was closely followed by the Kia Carnival minivan and Hyundai Motor's Santa Fe SUV, which sold 44,868 and 39,765 units, respectively. The Kia Sportage SUV and Hyundai's Porter pickup truck also made the top five, indicating a strong consumer preference for SUVs and larger vehicles. Notably, this period marked the first time since 2000 that no sedans featured in the top five sales spots. Sedans like Hyundai's Grandeur and Avante still performed well, securing spots in the top ten.
Industry experts anticipate that the preference for SUVs will persist through the second half of the year, potentially positioning the Sorento to clinch the title of the best-selling vehicle for the entire year.