South Korea Full Year 2012: Hyundai Avante and Sonata lead

Hyundai Avante

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Sales of new local models reach 1,402,065 units in South Korea in 2012, down 6% on 2011. The Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) is the most popular model in the country for the 2nd year running with 111,290 sales and 7.9%, down 15% on 2011. 2012 marks the first time in over 15 years that a model other than the Hyundai Sonata manages to stay atop the South Korean ranking for two consecutive years… The Sonata actually enjoyed a small revival this year, up 2 spots and 1% to #2 at 103,994 units and 7.4%, with the Kia Morning rounding up the podium with 94,190 sales and 6.7%, down 20%.

Kia K3

The Hyundai Grandeur is down 18% to #4, the Hyundai Porter down 12% to #5 and the Kia K5 down 11% to #6. Thanks to its new generation, the Hyundai Santa Fe is up 11 spots and 162% on 2011 to #7 at 68,382 units and even topped the ranking in June. If we look at the monthly rankings, 2012 was actually quite an eventful year with the Avante leader 5 times, the Sonata 4 times, and the Morning, Santa Fe and Grandeur once. With the Sonata and Santa Fe only the Chevrolet Spark gains ground this year in the Top 10 at #8 and +1%.

SsangYong Korando Sports

Further down, the Kia Ray is up 850% to #14 for its first full year of sales, the Hyundai Accent is up 29% to #17, the Kia K3 is the best performing all-new model for 2012, landing directly at #18 with 25,810 sales and peaking at #6 in October while the SsangYong Korando Sports ranks #20 with 20,380 units also in its first year. Notice also the SsangYong Korando C up 57% to #25, the Hyundai i30 up 318% to #28 and the Chevrolet Malibu up 334% to #29.

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Previous year: South Korea December 2011: Kia Ray directly #12, Hyundai i30 up

Full Year 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.