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South Korea January 2026: Kia topples Hyundai to #1, monopolises podium

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South Korea January 2026: Kia topples Hyundai to #1, monopolises podium - Carr.pk

The Kia Sorento confirms it is the favourite of South Korean customers.

The South Korean new light vehicle market is up 13.5% year-on-year in January to 120,446 units. This includes 99,495 domestic manufacturers (+9.5%) and 20,951 foreigners (+37.6%). This month Kia (+12.3%) topples traditional leader Hyundai (+11.6%) to rank #1 brand for the first time since exactly a year ago in January 2025. Genesis (-1.7%) disappoints at #3, lodging its lowest monthly volume since last July at 8,671. BMW (+5.2%) overtakes Mercedes (+35.1%) to #4 while KGM (+38.6%) is up two spots on last month to #6 with 2.6% share vs. 1.8% last month. Renault Korea (-13.9%) is relegated to #7. Tesla shoots up 39220% to #8 but still only holds 1.6% of the market vs. 3.6% over the Full Year 2025. Audi (+164.7%), Toyota (+44.7%) and Lexus (+30%) also impress while newcomer BYD is in the Top 10 for the third month in a row at #10.

Looking at domestic models, the Kia Sorento (+12.5%) is back to #1 for the 4th time in the past 5 months, confirming the annual top spot it has held for the past two years. The Kia Sportage (-8.1%) is up to #2 for the 2nd time in the past 3 months, as a reminder it last ranked #1 in November 2021. The Carnival (-13%) completes a podium 100% Kia but disappoints year-on-year. Four Hyundais follow, with the Palisade (+98.1%) and Sonata (+42.1%) lodging the best performances but the Avante (-4%) and Grandeur (-12.2%) in negative. Notice also the Kia Niro (+248.7%), Kona (+47.7%) and Morning (+40.6%).

As for foreign models, the Mercedes E-Class (+54.4%) remains on top above the BMW 5 Series (+8.1%) while the Tesla Model Y takes the third spot. The Mercedes GLC (+26.2%) repeats at #4 ahead of the Lexus NX (+194.9%) up from outside the December Top 50 directly back to #5 while the BMW X3 (+29.5%) is up five ranks on last month to #6. Below, the new BYD Sealion 7 is up two spots to #7 while the BYD Atto 3 cracks the Top 10 for the first time at #8. Note the Telsa Model X is up to #24 with 210 sales and the Model S up to #35 with 140 units.

Previous post: South Korea Full Year 2025: Kia Sorento repeats at #1, Hyundai Avante up to #2

One year ago: South Korea January 2025: Kia Sorento lodges 5th straight win in slow market

Full January 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea January 2026 – brands:

Pos Brand Jan-26 % /25 Dec
1 Kia 43,129 35.8% + 12.3% 2
2 Hyundai 41,537 34.5% + 11.6% 1
3 Genesis 8,671 7.2% – 1.7% 3
4 BMW 6,270 5.2% + 5.2% 5
5 Mercedes 5,121 4.3% + 35.1% 4
6 KG Mobility 3,187 2.6% + 38.6% 8
7 Renault Korea 2,239 1.9% – 13.9% 6
8 Tesla 1,966 1.6% + 39220.0% 7
9 Lexus 1,464 1.2% + 30.0% 14
10 BYD 1,347 1.1% new 10
11 Volvo 1,037 0.9% + 0.4% 9
12 Audi 847 0.7% + 164.7% 16
13 GM Korea 732 0.6% – 39.8% 11
14 Porsche 702 0.6% + 9.0% 13
15 Toyota 622 0.5% + 44.7% 12
16 Mini 567 0.5% + 142.3% 15
17 Land Rover 224 0.2% – 31.1% 18
18 Volkswagen 217 0.2% + 68.2% 17
19 Jeep 117 0.1% – 2.5% 19
20 Honda 104 0.1% – 41.2% 20
21 Ford 64 0.1% – 82.5% 28
22 GMC 62 0.1% + 342.9% 30
23 Cadillac 50 0.0% + 92.3% 22
24 Peugeot 33 0.0% – 13.2% 21
25 Bentley 28 0.0% + 180.0% 25
26 Ferrari 27 0.0% – 15.6% 29
27 Polestar 27 0.0% – 73.8% 24
28 Lincoln 23 0.0% – 82.8% 26
29 Lamborghini 21 0.0% – 63.8% 23
30 Rolls-Royce 11 0.0% + 57.1% 31
31 Maserati 0 0.0% – 100.0% 27
 – Total local manufacturers 99,495 82.6% + 9.5%  –
 – Total foreign manufacturers 20,951 17.4% + 37.6%  –
 – Total market 120,446 100.0% + 13.5%  –

South Korea January 2026 – domestic models:

Pos Model Jan-26 /25 Dec
1 Kia Sorento 8,388 + 12.5% 2
2 Kia Sportage 6,015 – 8.1% 3
3 Kia Carnival 5,278 – 13.0% 5
4 Hyundai Avante 5,244 – 4.0% 4
5 Hyundai Sonata 5,143 + 42.1% 11
6 Hyundai Grandeur 5,016 – 12.2% 1
7 Hyundai Palisade 4,994 + 98.1% 6
8 Kia Ray 4,446 + 14.7% 10
9 Hyundai Tucson 4,269 + 17.4% 7
10 Kia Seltos 3,698 – 14.8% 9
11 Hyundai Santa Fe 3,379 – 29.9% 12
12 Hyundai Porter 3,320 – 0.4% 8
13 Hyundai Kona 3,163 + 47.7% 16
14 Genesis G80 2,993 + 9.6% 14
15 Kia K5 2,752 + 6.5% 15
16 Genesis GV70 2,702 – 1.4% 17
17 Kia Bongo 2,425 + 0.2% 18
18 Genesis GV80 2,386 – 11.4% 19
19 Hyundai Staria 2,328 – 6.3% 21
20 Kia K8 2,135 – 7.1% 20
21 Kia Morning 2,087 + 40.6% 25
22 Kia Niro 1,991 + 248.7% 26
23 Hyundai Bus/Truck 1,769 + 85.4% 24
24 Renault Korea Grand Koleos 1,663 – 18.5% 13
25 Hyundai Casper 1,128 + 21.8% 23
26 KGM Musso 1,123 new 34
27 Kia PV5 1,026 new 38
28 Hyundai Venue 891 + 28.4% 22
29 Kia EV5 847 new 46
30 Kia EV3 737 + 71.8% 43
31 KGM Actyon 632 + 32.2% 28
32 Chevrolet Trax Crossover 607 – 36.3% 27
33 KGM Musso EV 527 new 53
34 Genesis G90 489 – 11.7% 30
35 KGM Torres 427 – 21.9% 33
36 Kia EV4 396 new 49
37 Kia Tasman 376 new 37
38 Renault Korea Arkana 369 + 35.7% 29
39 KGM Tivoli 367 + 25.3% 31
40 Hyundai Ioniq 5 314 + 318.7% 47
41 Hyundai Ioniq 6 245 + 1941.7% 55
42 Hyundai Ioniq 9 224 new 44
43 Kia EV6 214 + 197.2% 48
44 Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech 207 new 32
45 Kia K9 143 + 16.3% 40
46 Kia Bus/Special 135 + 33.7% 35
47 Chevrolet Trailblazer 121 – 21390.5% 41
48 KGM Rexton New Arena 87 – 20.2% 45
49 Hyundai Nexo 85 + 254.2% 36
50 Genesis G70 83 – 22.4% 42
51 Kia EV9 40 + 8.1% 50
52 Hyundai ST1 25 + 257.1% 51
53 KGM Torres EVX 24 + 100.0% 57
54 Genesis GV60 18 + 800.0% 56
55 Chevrolet Colorado 4 – 71.4% 54

South Korea January 2026 – foreign models:

Pos Model Jan-26 /25 Dec
1 Mercedes E Class 2,220 + 54.4% 1
2 BMW 5 Series 1,951 + 8.1% 3
3 Tesla Model Y 1,559 n/a 2
4 Mercedes GLC 809 + 26.2% 4
5 Lexus NX 802 + 194.9% n/a
6 BMW X3 689 + 29.5% 11
7 BYD Sealion 7 656 new 9
8 BYD Atto 3 634 new 13
9 BMW X5 602 + 6.7% 12
10 BMW 3 Series 568 + 46.4% 10
11 Lexus ES 513 – 18.8% 7
12 Mercedes GLE 488 + 32.6% 5
13 BMW 7 Series 482 + 4.1% 15
14 Mercedes S Class 461 + 55.7% 6
15 BMW X7 399 + 1.0% 16
16 Volvo XC60 388 – 6.7% 8
17 BMW X6 297 – 7.2% 29
18 Mercedes CLE 277 + 12.1% 20
19 Mini Cooper Hatch 273 + 82.0% 14
20 BMW X4 223 – 3.5% 17
21 Porsche Taycan 218 + 78.7% 23
22 Audi A5 218 n/a 27
23 Volvo XC90 218 + 186.8% 38
24 Tesla Model X 210 + 4100.0% 46
25 Toyota RAV4 175 + 326.8% 22
26 BMW i5 173 + 88.0% 24
27 Porsche Panamera 170 – 21.3% 39
28 Volvo XC40 166 – 15.3% 25
29 Volvo S90 162 – 1.2% 37
30 Mercedes G Class 158 – 42.1% 19
31 Mercedes GLS 145 + 12.4% 26
32 Audi A3 145 n/a 50
33 BMW X1 143 – 12.8% 31
34 Porsche Cayenne 141 – 42.2% 32
35 Tesla Model S 140 n/a n/a
36 Toyota Alphard 137 + 47.3% 45
37 Porsche 911 135 n/a 49
38 BMW 4 Series 127 + 21.0% 41
39 Audi Q3 110 + 161.9% n/a
40 VW Golf 104 n/a 35
41 Mercedes CLA 103 + 66.1% 48
42 Toyota Camry 101 – 19.2% 30
43 Mini Aceman 100 new n/a
44 Jeep Wrangler 98 + 6.5% 33
45 Mini Electric 94 new n/a
46 Land Rover Defender 93 + 6.9% n/a
47 BMW iX 93 new n/a
48 Audi Q8 92 + 283.3% n/a
49 VW Atlas 90 new n/a
50 Audi Q5 89 n/a 36

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