The Kia Sorento is once again the best-selling vehicle at home.

The South Korean new car market is in difficulty in January at -8.5% year-on-year to 106,081. This is partly due to the Lunar New Year falling in January this year. The total volume includes 90,852 local brands (-11.6%) and 15,229 foreigners (+16.4%). Despite a harsh fall, Kia (-14%) starts the year at #1, its first win since last July and 4th victory in the past 13 months. Hyundai (-3.2%) resists much better but is relegated to 2nd place overall. Genesis (-22.2%) sinks but stays #3 with 7.9% share. BMW (+37.6%) is the best-selling foreign manufacturer this time at #4 overall, overtaking Mercedes (+29.3%). Even though it is up 58.1% year-on-year, Renault Korea goes from 5% share in December to 2.3% this month. KG Mobility (-38.9%) and GM Korea (-58%) both freefall below. Notice also Volkswagen (+143.4%), Audi (+78.8%) and Ford (+59.8%) albeit with tiny volumes.

Over in the domestic models ranking, for the 2nd month in a row Kia monopolises the podium with the Sorento (-19.7%), Sportage (+10.3%) and Carnival (-13.9%). It’s the 5th month in a row and the 14th time in the past 17 months that the Sorento ranks #1 at home. The Hyundai Grandeur (+57.1%) ensures the Top 4 is identical to December’s. Great progression as well for the Hyundai Avante (+23.1%), Kia Seltos (+10.1%) and Hyundai Sonata (+629.8%). #5 in November and #9 in December, the new Renault Grand Koleos falls to #21 in January. The Hyundai Venue (+114.9%), Palisade (+44.8%), Genesis GV70 (+22.7%) and Kia Morning (+22.2%) also impress further down.

Looking at foreign models, the BMW 5 Series (+60.2%) passes the Mercedes E Class (+120.6%) with the Mercedes GLC (+99.7%) and Lexus ES (+13.7%) in tow. Three BMWs follow: the X5 (-3.6%), X3 (+36.8%) and 7 Series (+432.2%). There are three recent launches in the Top 50: the Mercedes CLE (#16), Polestar 4 (#34) and Volvo EX30 (#50).

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

One year ago: South Korea January 2024: Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe top declining market

Full January 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 54 All domestic models and Top 50 foreigners below.

South Korea January 2025 – brands:

PosBrandJan-25%/24DecFY241Kia38,41234.6%– 14.0%222Hyundai37,23033.5%– 3.2%113Genesis8,8247.9%– 22.2%334BMW5,9605.4%+ 37.6%645Mercedes3,7903.4%+ 29.3%556Renault Korea2,6012.3%+ 58.1%477KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong)2,3002.1%– 38.9%768GM Korea1,2151.1%– 58.0%899Lexus1,1261.0%+ 12.8%111110Volvo1,0330.9%+ 7.0%91011Porsche6440.6%– 4.9%141412Toyota4300.4%– 45.3%121213Ford3660.3%+ 59.8%181814Land Rover3250.3%– 4.4%171715Audi3200.3%+ 78.8%131316Mini2340.2%– 56.9%151617Honda1770.2%+ 0.0%192018Chevrolet1340.1%– 13.5%242219Lincoln1340.1%– 53.0%222120Volkswagen1290.1%+ 143.4%161521Jeep1200.1%– 43.7%211922Polestar1030.1%new202423Lamborghini580.1%+ 728.6%262624Peugeot380.0%– 62.4%232325Ferrari320.0%n/a – –26Cadillac260.0%– 54.4%272527GMC140.0%– 22.2%282828Maserati140.0%– 12.5%292929Bentley100.0%– 23.1%252730Rolls-Royce70.0%– 22.2%303031Tesla50.0%+ 400.0%108 –Total local manufacturers90,85281.8%– 11.6% – – –Total foreign manufacturers15,22913.7%+ 16.4% – –

South Korea January 2025 – domestic models:

PosModelJan-25/24DecFY241Kia Sorento7,454– 19.7%112Kia Sportage6,547+ 10.3%243Kia Carnival6,068– 13.9%324Hyundai Grandeur5,711+ 57.1%455Hyundai Avante5,463+ 23.1%796Hyundai Santa Fe4,819– 39.9%837Kia Seltos4,342+ 10.1%1078Kia Ray3,876– 6.2%12119Hyundai Tucson3,636– 29.4%61010Hyundai Sonata3,620+ 629.8%5811Hyundai Porter3,335– 22.4%11612Genesis GV702,739+ 22.7%171713Genesis G802,730– 21.9%131214Genesis GV802,692– 41.4%181615Kia K52,583– 22.6%221816Hyundai Palisade2,521+ 44.8%212217Hyundai Staria2,484– 17.1%141418Kia Bongo2,419– 21.3%191519Kia K82,297– 21.3%201920Hyundai Kona2,141+ 8.4%162021Renault Korea Grand Koleos2,040new92122Kia Morning1,484+ 22.2%152423Chevrolet Trax Crossover953– 57.6%242324Hyundai Casper926– 69.2%231325KGM Rexton Sports817– 40.0%262926Hyundai Venue694+ 114.9%333927Kia Niro571– 54.0%252528Genesis G90554– 27.9%273329KGM Torres547– 62.6%322730KGM Actyon478new343731Kia EV3429new312832KGM Tivoli293– 53.3%293533Renault Korea Arkana272– 72.1%353234Renault Korea QM6263– 54.4%303435Chevrolet Trailblazer199– 56.8%364036Kia K9123– 29.7%374437KGM Rexton109– 39.4%414638Genesis G70107– 57.5%394239Hyundai Ioniq 575+ 92.3%282640Kia EV672+ 148.3%403141KGM Korando44– 57.7%454742Chevrolet Traverse39– 67.2%424843Kia EV937– 91.8%434544Hyundai Nexo24+ 1100.0%484145Renault Korea SM620– 78.7%465046Chevrolet Colorado14– 63.2%525247Chevrolet Tahoe14+ 100.0%535548Hyundai Ioniq 612+ 200.0%383849KGM Torres EVX12– 55.6%443650GMC Sierra10– 28.6%515451Hyundai ST17new474952Renault Korea Master6n/a505353Genesis GV602– 71.4%495154KGM Korando EV0new5456

South Korea January 2025 – foreign models:

PosModelJan-25/23DecFY241BMW 5 Series1,804+ 60.2%222Mercedes E Class1,438+ 120.6%113Mercedes GLC641+ 99.7%454Lexus ES632+ 13.7%n/a65BMW X5564– 3.6%976BMW X3532+ 36.8%11127BMW 7 Series463+ 432.2%10158Volvo XC60416+ 3.5%689BMW X7395+ 2.1%141410BMW 3 Series388+ 87.4%81011Mercedes GLE368– 30.7%451112BMW X6320+ 25.0%192013Mercedes S Class296+ 48.0%15914Mercedes G Class273+ 320.0%72615Lexus NX272+ 12.9%51616Mercedes CLE247new422517Porsche Cayenne244– 31.8%221918BMW X4231– 27.4%121719Ford Explorer222+ 170.7%274020Porsche Panamera216+ 517.1%314321Volvo XC40196+ 78.2%262822BMW 1 Series188+ 394.7%504823Volvo S90164+ 5.8%213024BMW X1164+ 33.3%243225Mini Cooper Hatch150– 42.5%132126Mercedes GLS129– 2.3%464427Toyota Camry125– 20.9%163128Porsche Taycan122+ 183.7%234729BMW 2 Series120+ 313.8%n/an/a30Lexus RX116+ 0.0%283631BMW 2 Series Active Tourer108+ 134.8%375432BMW 4 Series105+ 78.0%363833Honda Accord104+ 79.3%305534Polestar 4103new18n/a35Range Rover99– 18.2%353936Mercedes C Class97– 60.2%n/a1837Toyota Alphard93+ 50.0%n/an/a38Jeep Wrangler92+ 33.3%484639BMW i592– 51.6%n/a5140Mercedes A Class90– 51.6%382941Chevrolet Traverse90– 15.1%n/an/a42BMW 6 Series89– 28.2%331343Land Rover Defender87+ 17.6%475344Mini Countryman84– 39.6%172445Volvo XC9076– 39.7%394246Lincoln Nautilus72– 54.1%n/an/a47Volvo V6071+ 97.2%n/an/a48Toyota Sienna64– 16.9%n/a6049Ford Ranger63– 37.6%n/an/a50Volvo EX3062new – –

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers