Kia Sportage Sets the Pace in September Sales
September 2024 saw the Kia Sportage shine bright in a competitive field. Out of the 249,842 vehicles Kia delivered worldwide, the Sportage alone made up a sizeable 47,207 units. That’s almost one in every five Kias sent to new owners last month. The impact was impossible to ignore, especially in the UK, where 7,482 Sportages landed in driveways—amounting to 16% of all Sportages sold globally during the month. That’s not just a UK win, but a statement about where SUV preferences are strongest in Europe.
Kia didn’t just rely on its top performer. The Seltos and Sorento SUVs chipped in with muscle as well. The Seltos saw 23,303 units sold, while the Sorento kept pace closely at 23,069 units. Between these three core models, Kia is showing it understands what today’s drivers want: versatility, enough cargo space for a busy life, and a look that fits in on city streets or rural back roads.
Global Trends and Regional Challenges
If you zoom out to the bigger picture, September’s results flash a few warning lights. Kia sold 211,002 vehicles outside of Korea, marking a 2.7% drop compared to last year’s figures for the same month. At home, Korean sales stumbled even harder, falling by 13.6% to 38,140 units. The numbers fit a global pattern for traditional automakers facing softening demand in some areas, supply chain headaches, and fierce competition from both established brands and upstart challengers.
Looking at 2024 so far, the momentum seems a bit sluggish for Kia. Over the first nine months, total global sales slid by 1.5% from last year’s pace. While that doesn’t spell disaster, it’s worth watching as car buyers face higher interest rates and economic uncertainty in several big markets.
It’s important to note that these figures are preliminary and haven’t yet undergone a full audit. Special purpose vehicles—like commercial or government fleet sales—don’t appear in these stats, so the real landscape could shift a bit when the dust settles.
Even with these twists and turns, what stands out is how the Sportage manages to keep Kia’s showroom floors busy, especially where SUV love runs deep. Alongside the Seltos and Sorento, the brand’s SUV lineup refuses to go quietly, proving that some things—like the appeal of a reliable and comfortable ride—don’t change as quickly as the market does.
