The records keep adding up for Kia America in 2026, but its August sales now stand head and shoulders above the rest. The Korean marque sold 83,793 vehicles in the U.S. last month, setting an all-time monthly sales record in the process. So far this year, Kia has sold 590,377 vehicles, an all-time year-to-date record. High demand for Kia hybrids and best-ever August sales for six key models contributed to these impressive results. The new Seltos is also off to a strong start, with massive growth over last year.
Kia’s Record August
Kia
The 83,793 vehicles sold by Kia in August is a modest 1% gain over August 2025, but that’s all that was needed to set a new record. The automaker’s year-to-date sales are up by 3%, too, although it’s still roughly 30,000 cars behind Hyundai. Hybrids were a large part of Kia’s sales success, as these models saw a 99% increase in August versus a year prior. Kia has one of the most extensive hybrid lineups in the industry, with electrified versions of the Sportage, Carnival, Sorento, and Telluride.
“The broad appeal of our products and the breadth of our powertrain offerings directly contributed to the high demand for our models and Kia’s record-breaking sales performance,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America.
Six models Set August Sales Records
2027 Kia Telluride HEV
Kia
Across Kia’s lineup, six nameplates set new records in August, as follows:
- Seltos (+65%)
- Carnival (+13%)
- K4 (+7%)
- Telluride (+4%)
- Sportage (+4%)
- K5 (+4%)
The best-selling Kia in August was the Sportage, at 18,723 units. It was followed by the K4/Forte (12,881), Telluride (12,693), and Sorento (9,880).
The all-new Kia Seltos is off to a strong start. Revealed in April 2026, Kia sold 9,214 units of the Seltos last month, making it one of the brand’s fastest-growing models. Last year in August, Kia sold 5,574 of these crossovers. The increase in Seltos sales fills the gap left by the discontinued Soul, which was previously Kia’s cheapest crossover.
The 2027 Kia EV3 is another newcomer, with only six examples sold in its first month on sale. However, we expect numbers to climb quickly as production ramps up.
Why It Matters
Kia
Kia’s lineup has seen plenty of activity over the last 12 months or so, with several key nameplates ushering in new-generation models. These include the Telluride, Seltos, and K4, along with the first-ever Kia EV3 electric crossover. It’s always a risk when manufacturers replace buyer favorites with all-new products, but so far, every model from this group has impressed us.
Kia is killing it with brave designs and class-leading technology, but it hasn’t come at the expense of real substance and value. A robust hybrid lineup—including several plug-in models—has allowed the brand to capitalize on the demand for more efficient cars. The one weak spot relates to EVs, but the rest of Kia’s lineup has more than compensated for the decline in EV demand. August is likely not the last record-breaking month for the automaker in 2026.
Related: Hyundai Vs. Kia Reliability: The Winner Is Closer Than You Think
