If the auto industry is facing a potential downturn, it’s not affecting Kia in the slightest yet. The automaker just posted its best monthly sales report ever, selling more than 80,000 vehicles in a single month for the first time in history.
Sales for the brand were up 10.4 percent last month compared to August 2024, and they’re up 8.4 percent for the year. Kia has sold well over half a million cars so far this year, and August’s sales are a continuation of the automaker’s very strong year.
Kia has called its sales results from the first six months of 2025 “a milestone,” and it seems like sales are booming. Nearly every model is up compared to last year, except for Kia’s EVs, which continue to lag.
Ups & Downs
While several Kia models experienced significant increases compared to August 2024, sales for the K4/Forte, Seltos, and Sorento actually declined by a few hundred units. Sales of all three vehicles are up for the year, which can’t be said for Kia’s EVs.
While the EV9 had its best sales month ever in August, up 12 percent, they’re down through the first eight months of the year—13,874 in 2024 versus 9,354 in 2025. The EV6 was also down for the month, and it remains well below last year’s sales figures. Kia had sold 14,373 EV6s by this time last year.
The Sportage, the brand’s best-selling vehicle, had its best sales month ever in August, up 19 percent compared to the same month last year. The Telluride and Carnival also saw a significant increase, up 19 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Even sales for the K5 sedan were up 13 percent.
Model
August 2025 Sales
Year-To-Date Dales
Sportage
18,023
119,587
Telluride
12,177
84,090
K4/Forte
12,091
98,814
Sorento
8,626
67,510
Carnival
6,522
45,602
K5
6,847
47,291
Seltos
5,574
35,430
Soul
5,548
36,339
Niro
3,124
17,663
EV9
2,679
9,354
EV6
1,796
8,961
Total
83,007
570,641
‘Sales of Kia’s sedans, SUVs, and electrified models are generating double-digit growth, and coupled with Kia’s 10 percent increase in retail sales, these are clear indicators of the strength of the Kia brand and how our diverse product offerings continue to meet customer needs.’ —Eric Watson, Kia America Vice-President, Sales Operations
An Affordable Lineup
Kia offers six models that start at under $30,000, giving consumers options that include sedans, hybrids, and crossovers. It’s a compelling lineup, especially after sales of cheap cars exploded last year. New car prices remain as high as ever, and cheap cars, new and used, continue to disappear.
The automaker has recently made the Seltos more affordable by introducing a new entry-level variant with front-wheel drive. The Carnival remains the cheapest minivan on sale, starting at just under $40,000, and the K4 sedan starts at just over $23,000.
If you’re looking for something affordable in a sea of high prices, it’s hard to ignore Kia’s lineup, and clearly, many buyers are taking notice.
