The Kia Sorento recorded 6,397 domestic sales in August 2026. In Kia’s monthly results announced on September 1, the Sorento was confirmed as the company’s best-selling model in South Korea.
Key Change
Sorento sales in August increased by 244 units from 6,153 in July. The month-over-month increase was approximately 4.0%. Because these monthly sales figures are based on the manufacturer’s announcement, they may differ from retail registration figures.
The Sorento was Kia’s best-selling model in South Korea in August.
Current Status
Kia sold 40,213 vehicles domestically, 225,413 overseas, and 1,049 special-purpose vehicles in August, for a total of 266,675 units. Domestic sales fell 7.6% year over year, while overseas sales increased 7.4% and global sales rose 5.0%.
Kia’s domestic sales in August were 5,880 units higher than Hyundai Motor’s 34,333 units. After leading Hyundai Motor in July, Kia also ranked first in monthly domestic sales in August, marking two consecutive months in the top position.
Impact
The overall market did not move in the same direction. The five automakers—Hyundai Motor, Kia, KGM, GM Korea, and Renault Korea—sold 79,601 vehicles domestically in August, down 28.3% from the same month a year earlier.
Hyundai Motor cited production disruptions caused by a strike and pent-up demand for new vehicles as factors behind the decline in domestic sales in August. However, no causal relationship has been confirmed showing that Hyundai Motor’s strike directly increased Sorento sales. The results should therefore be viewed by distinguishing the Sorento’s sales growth from the domestic-market decline and changes in automaker rankings.
Next Checkpoint
Kia’s next monthly sales announcement will show whether the Sorento’s upward sales trend continues. The date of the next announcement cannot be confirmed until an official notice is issued.
Kia’s official model page describes the Sorento as a midsize SUV and, as of August 1, 2026, lists the 2.5 gasoline turbo Prestige model at a starting price of 36.31 million won.
Source Check
- [Kia sells 266,675 vehicles in August 2026](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=1041609) — Checked September 1, 2026
- [Kia sells 298,037 vehicles in July 2026](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=1039841) — Checked September 1, 2026
- [Hyundai Motor sells 288,574 vehicles in August 2026](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=1041607) — Checked September 1, 2026
- [Official Kia Sorento pricing page](https://www.kia.com/kr/vehicles/sorento/price) — Checked September 1, 2026
- [Kia ranks first in domestic sales for two consecutive months as August sales by five automakers plunge 28.3%](https://zdnet.co.kr/view/?no=20260901162757) — Checked September 1, 2026