Kia still outsold Hyundai in Australia

2022 is the first year that best selling brand hyundai in Australia. If the first few months of 2023 are any indication, it may not be the last.

Kia sold 6403 vehicles in March, up 5.8% from the same month in 2022. With sales of 18,409 vehicles in January, February and March, this figure is up 5.5% year-to-date. .

In contrast, Hyundai sold 5369 vehicles in March, down 17.6% year-on-year in 2022. Its sales of 16,682 vehicles so far in 2023, down 3.5% year-to-date.

Kia has beaten its internal rival — both brands are part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group — every month of this year.

In the first quarter of 2023, Kia sold 18,409 vehicles compared to 16,682 Hyundai vehicles.

Last year, Hyundai’s sales fell 22.7% to 73,345 units, while Kia’s increased 15.4% to 78,330 units.

The two brands occupy many of the same segments, but there are a number of vehicle segments that each brand dominates.

For example, Kia has a small car with the Picanto and a full-size car with the Stinger, while Hyundai has a cargo van with the Staria Load and a mid-size sedan with the Sonata.

In the first quarter of 2023, Hyundai i30 beat rival Kia Cerato (sales 4499 vs 1147), while Ioniq 5 EV outsold rival EV6 platform (288 vs 159) rival Stonic of the Venue (1665 versus 1449), and the Tucson midsize crossover outsold the related Sportage (4493 versus 3348).

But Kia has the upper hand in the small SUV segment, with the updated Seltos beating the aging Kona (2137 vs 2002) and the Carnival beating the upstart Staria (3038 vs 344).

The Kia Sorento outsold Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Palisade combined, with sales of 3165 units compared to the Hyundais’ 817 and 1452 respectively.

Kia will have a new full-size electric SUV later this year with limited supply EV9with rival Hyundai Ioniq 7 not coming out until 2024.

The brand will also roll out updated versions of the Sorento and Picanto, though it will lose the popular Rio and Stinger.

Hyundai recently achieved its third EV with the Ioniq 6, while one of its best sellers – the Kona – is get a redesign This year will offer hybrid vehicles in Australia for the first time.

That will help fill the void left by the discontinued Ioniq hybrid.

The upcoming upgrade of the i30 Sedan will also offers a hybrid option.

Hyundai also has an updated version of the Sonata coming in the second half of this yearalthough it will continue to be offered exclusively in the hot N Line version in Australia.

THAN: Kia sales in Australia in 2022
THAN: Hyundai sales in Australia in 2022