Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs Help Lead Automaker to Record-Breaking Sales
You could say Kia is having a record-breaking year so far, thanks to some of its most popular SUVs. Both the Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs have surpassed 2022 sales numbers already, and neither sport utility vehicle is showing signs of slowing down. What sets the 2023 Kia Telluride and 2023 Kia Sportage apart? Value, value, and more value.
Both the Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs are having a good start to the year
Kia shared its sales numbers for the first quarter of 2023, noting that it was even breaking its record from 2022. For Q1, Kia moved 184,136 units in total, a 15% increase over the previous high from two years ago. In March alone, Kia sold 71,294 cars, trucks, and SUVs, up 19.8% over the same time in 2022. This was led by the Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs, with the Telluride up 23% and the Sportage up 37%. The Kia Carnival also saw an 81% increase over last March, and the Forte was up 14%. Some of Kia’s EVs also saw a 10% jump.
Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations at Kia America, said, “Kia’s record first quarter is a direct result of our consistent efforts to build our brand, improve residual values, and deliver world-class models with cutting-edge design and innovative technology.” He went on to say that Kia will continue to make great cars, SUVs, and EVs that suit many drivers’ needs.
While numbers show that Kia has been in tune with what drivers want from a vehicle, the awards certainly don’t hurt. The Telluride even took home MotorBiscuit’s SUV of the Year award, but that’s not all the accolades it has.
The Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs led Kia to its best first quarter
The Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs have won many awards so far this year. The 2023 Car and Driver Editors’ Choice Awards list honored the Sportage, Sorento, Carnival, Niro Hybrid and PHEV, K5, Soul, and Rio. Both the Telluride and EV6 also made the Car and Driver 10Best list, with the Telluride winning for the fourth year in a row. It has only been on the market for four years, which is another great achievement. In addition, the Kia Telluride won the Best Three-Row SUV for Families from U.S. News.
| Model | March 2023 | March 2022 | Year to Date 2023 | Year to Date 2022 |
| EV6 | 988 | 3,156 | 3,392 | 5,281 |
| Rio | 2,439 | 2,829 | 7,008 | 6,507 |
| Forte | 11,891 | 9,609 | 30,526 | 23,498 |
| K5 | 5,774 | 5,470 | 14,288 | 17,822 |
| Stinger | 958 | 1,026 | 2,046 | 3,107 |
| Soul | 6,907 | 5,175 | 16,984 | 14,124 |
| Niro | 2,736 | 3,964 | 9,827 | 9,226 |
| Seltos | 6,156 | 4,947 | 13,894 | 11,119 |
| Sportage | 12,965 | 7,778 | 31,684 | 16,460 |
| Sorento | 6,886 | 6,238 | 20,166 | 17,923 |
| Telluride | 10,585 | 7,668 | 27,190 | 22,076 |
| Carnival | 3,009 | 1,664 | 7,131 | 4,051 |
| Total | 71,294 | 59,524 | 184,136 | 151,194 |
Watson said, “Kia’s transformation will continue to accelerate as production availability of important SUVs and in-demand electrified vehicles improves throughout the year.” While the Telluride and Sportage SUVs have been big sellers this year, Kia also has many popular vehicles in other categories.
One other interesting tidbit in the numbers above includes the Kia EV6 numbers dropping by almost 70%. This could be due to changes in the $7,500 rebate or a lack of inventory, but it shows one of the biggest drops out of the entire lineup.
Don’t overlook the Sorento and the Forte
Even though the Kia Telluride and Sportage SUVs have led the way so far, the Sorento and Forte have also seen a jump in popularity. The Kia Sorento is another midsize SUV option, while the Forte is one of Kia’s compact sedans for 2023.
Kia is also ahead of 2022’s numbers by more than 30,000 units sold. While some automakers have struggled with production due to semiconductor chip shortages, Kia has figured out a way through. Drivers appreciate all of the features and standard safety systems included in the Kia vehicles, which offer value and peace of mind that shoppers recognize.
