As the subsidiary of Hyundai, India’s second-largest carmaker, Kia has fared significantly well. Today, Kia is among the front runners in the industry and considerably ahead of many foreign carmakers that have been operating in India far longer than it has. The Korean carmaker has limited cars on sale and like their Hyundai siblings, Kia cars are known for leading the race in terms of technology and refinement of engines. In recent times, Kia has also given a sincere focus towards passenger safety and elevated the safety quotient of its cars by equipping them with as many safety features as possible. Last month, Kia sold 21,400 units and took the sixth-largest share of the industry. Here is the list of top-selling Kia cars of March 2024.
Model | Units Sold in March 2024 | Units Sold in March 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Kia Sonet | 8,750 | 8,677 | 1% |
Kia Seltos | 7,912 | 6,554 | 21% |
Kia Carens | 4,737 | 6,102 | -22% |
Kia EV6 | 1 | 0 | - |
Kia Sonet
Competing in the hot-selling compact SUV segment, the Kia Sonet has always been the most high-tech car and one of the best-selling compact SUVs. After its recent facelift it has become even more technologically rich and this has boosted its sales a great deal. Another thing that favours the Sonet is its fashionable appearance which makes it more appealing than its sibling and rival Hyundai Venue. Moreover, like the Venue, the Kia Sonet has a variety of engine and transmission combinations to cater to diverse preferences. Nearly a year ago, the Sonet surpassed its elder sibling, Seltos to be titled as the best-selling Kia car and the case is still the same. Last month, the Sonnet collected sales of 8,750 units, seeing a 1 percent uptick over its sales during the same month last year.
Also Read: Comparison: Sonet vs Venue
The Kia Sonet is powered by a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. For transmission options, a 6-speed iMT is available with the turbo-petrol engine and the diesel engine, however, the diesel engine gets the addition of a 6-speed manual gearbox. For automatic transmission options, a 7-speed DCT automatic and a 6-speed torque converter automatic are offered with the turbo-petrol engine and the diesel engine respectively.
Kia Seltos
Kia’s first car in India, the Seltos was launched in 2019. The Korean mid-size SUV has made a name for itself as the strongest rival of the segment leader, Hyundai Creta. Since the Creta is its direct sibling, the Seltos shares most of its components, features, engines, and some interior bits. In terms of sales, the Seltos has long been one of the best ones but the ever-increasing competition and Creta’s recent facelift have taken some sales away in recent times. However, it is still one of the best-selling SUVs. In March 2024, the Kia Seltos sold 7,912 units and registered a 21 percent growth over the 6,554 units it sold in March 2023.
The Kia Seltos comes with three engine offerings: a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT, a 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to either a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual) or a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT automatic.
Kia Carens
The Kia Carens saw tremendous success after being launched in 2022 and even remained one of best-selling cars for quite some time. However, the demand for 6- and 7-seater MUV has been on a decline, given the ever-rising competition from Maruti and even Toyota. Last month, the Carens sold 4,737 units, seeing a 22 percent drop in its year-on-year performance. Nonetheless, these sales figures do not correspond with the competency of Carens, which is the most feature-rich car in its segment and packs more space than its arch-rivals Ertiga and Rumion.
Sharing its powertrains with Kia Seltos, the Carens is offered with three engine options: a 1.5-litre petrol engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 1.5-litre diesel engine comes mated to a 6-speed iMT and 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine comes mated to a 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT automatic.
Kia EV6
Rounding off the list is the Korean automaker’s first all-electric crossover in India, the Kia EV6. This stylish Korean EV is huge and comfortably accommodates 5 passengers. Moreover, following Kia’s core tradition, the EV6 features a host of features like a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, dual-zone climate control, and ventilated and powered front seats to serve an entertaining ride. With that being said, what makes the EV6 special is its range of 708 km on a single charge and this is one of the longest EV ranges available in India. All the same, ever since the arrival of a significantly more affordable rival, Hyundai IONIQ 5 the competition for EV6 has grown and has declined its demand. Last month, the EV6 sold only 1 unit.
The Kia EV6 comes with a 77.4 kWh battery pack and has two powertrain choices: a single motor rear-wheel drive that produces 229 PS power and 350 Nm torque, and a dual motor all-wheel drive that produces 325 PS power and 605 Nm torque. The EV6 has an ARAI-claimed range of up to 708 km.
