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

The Kia Sorento is #1 at home for the second year in a row.

Discover over 35 years of South Korean Historical Data here.

1,675,692 new light vehicles hit South Korean roads in 2025, a 3.3% year-on-year improvement. This includes 1,368,561 local vehicles (+0.7%) and 307,131 foreigners (+16.7%). Hyundai (+3.5%) follows the market to retain the brands top spot with 35.5% share, distancing sister brand Kia (+1.1%), a little shy. Genesis (-9.4%) underperforms in third place and falls to 7.1% share, one percentage point below its 2024 level. BMW (+4.6%) and Mercedes (+3.1%) remain the best-selling foreign manufacturers rounding out the Top 5 but Tesla (+101.4%) more than doubles its year-ago volume and climbs two spots to #6. Renault Korea (+31.3%) is also in excellent shape at #7. Lexus (+6.6%) slips inside the Top 10 at #10 and newcomer BYD lands at #16 but peaked at #10 in November and December.

Over in the local models aisle, the Kia Sorento (+5.8%) brilliantly repeats at #1 and topped the monthly charts no less than 9 times. It crosses the 100,000 annual sales milestone for only 2 units. The Hyundai Avante (+39.5%) surges 7 spots to #2, dislodging the Kia Carnival (-5.5%) while the Kia Sportage (+0.4%) and Hyundai Grandeur (+0.2%) retain their 2024 ranking at #4 and #5 respectively. The Hyundai Palisade (+190.5%) soars 16 ranks to #6 thanks to the new generation. Notice also the Renault Grand Koleos (+85.5%) up to #14 and the Kia EV3 (+65.1%) up to #22. The Kia Tasman disappoints at #32.

In the foreign models ranking, the event of the year is the triumph of the Tesla Model Y, up 169.3% to over 50,000 units which would place it just outside the Top 10 in the overall charts including locals. Far below are the Mercedes E Class (+10.6%) and BMW 5 Series (+16.1%), the only additional nameplates with over 10,000 sales. The Mercedes GLC (+7.7%) overtakes the Tesla Model 3 (-16%) for 4th place while the Mercedes GLE (+36.9%), BMW X3 (+32%) and 3 Series (+22.4%) all take off.

Previous year: South Korea 2024: Kia Sorento first non-Hyundai #1 in 26 years

Two years ago: South Korea 2023: Hyundai Grandeur reclaims lead

Full December 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 56 All local models and Top 50 foreigners, Full Year 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 69 All local models and Top 50 foreigners below.