Kia records best June as hybrids surge

Kia reported its best June sales on record, with 70,507 vehicles sold in the U.S. last month—a 10% jump from June 2025. New cars are more expensive than ever, but that’s not slowing down buyers, especially those who want a Kia.

Hybrids led the growth. The Sportage, Sorento, and Carnival hybrids saw sales climb 165%, 114%, and 56%, respectively. The Telluride and Seltos also posted strong gains, rising 24% and 56%, further reinforcing Kia’s momentum in SUVs and crossovers. Only the EV6 and K4 saw declines in June, with the EV6 dropping from 680 units in June 2025 to 584 this year, while the K4 remained a high-volume seller despite its monthly dip.

For the first half of 2026, Kia sold 430,727 vehicles, up 3.4% from the same period last year. This marks the brand’s best-ever first-half performance. The Niro and K5 also contributed to the gains, with the Niro reaching 2,048 June sales and the K5 climbing to 6,378, both outpacing their 2025 figures.

The EV9 was a bright spot. June sales reached 1,299, a significant increase from 913 in June 2025, pushing first-half totals to 7,035—up from 4,938 in the first six months of 2025. Meanwhile, the EV6 sold 584 units in June, down from 680 a year earlier, and its year-to-date total of 4,043 trails its 2025 performance of 5,875.

The K4, despite its June decline, remains a volume leader with 73,579 units sold through the first half, while the Soul saw a modest drop to 4,737 in June, though its year-to-date total of 26,126 still reflects steady demand.

Across the lineup, the Sportage and Telluride continue to dominate, with 15,995 and 11,432 June sales, respectively. The Sportage’s year-to-date total of 94,907 leads all models, while the Telluride’s 73,602 units through June highlight its status as a top seller. The Sorento and Carnival also posted gains, with the Sorento reaching 8,602 June sales and the Carnival at 6,986, both building on their 2025 performance. The Seltos followed with 6,627 June sales, up from 4,259 a year prior, and a year-to-date total of 32,504.