Kia's flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV) hybrid model, the Sorento Hybrid, surpassed 10,000 monthly sales in the Korean market.
According to Kia (000270.KS) on Tuesday, the Sorento Hybrid sold 10,241 units in the domestic market last month. Over the same period, total sales of the Carnival, known as Korea's "national dad car," reached 4,995 units, meaning a single trim of the Sorento Hybrid outsold all Carnival models combined by more than two-to-one.
The Sorento Hybrid is the first eco-friendly model from Hyundai Motor and Kia to exceed 10,000 monthly domestic sales.
Total Sorento sales last month, including gasoline models, reached 12,078 units, with the hybrid model accounting for about 85% of the total. More than eight out of every 10 Sorentos sold were hybrid models.
Launched in 2020, the Sorento Hybrid sold 24,278 units in its first year, followed by 32,982 units in 2021 and 49,411 units in 2022, with sales steadily increasing. In 2023, driven by the launch of "The New Sorento," an updated model with enhanced features, annual sales reached 57,109 units, surpassing 50,000 for the first time. The model then sold 67,874 units in 2024 and 69,862 units in 2025, ranking as Korea's best-selling car for two consecutive years.
Cumulative sales from January to April this year reached 31,084 units. Total Sorento sales exceeded 10,000 units for two consecutive months, with 10,870 units in March and 12,078 units in April.
Strengthened product competitiveness and growth in the eco-friendly vehicle market are cited as the driving forces behind the strong sales. Kia applied an Electric-Vehicle Motion Control (E-VMC) system based on the drive motor to enhance ride comfort. The flagship "E-Ride" technology suppresses vertical vibrations when the vehicle passes over speed bumps, while "E-Handling" adjusts the load on the front and rear wheels when entering and exiting corners to improve grip and cornering performance.
Growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles amid high oil prices also supported sales. Korea's eco-friendly vehicle market grew approximately five-fold, from 110,343 units in 2019 to 547,877 units last year. Hybrid sales reached 100,030 units in the first quarter of this year, surpassing 100,000 units in a first quarter for the first time.
"The Sorento Hybrid has maintained excellent product competitiveness as Korea's leading RV (recreational vehicle) model," a Kia official said. "We plan to continue enhancing its features to meet customer demand."
