In an expected shift in South Korea’s SUV market, the all-new Hyundai Palisade has climbed to the No. 2 spot in domestic sales for May, marking its strongest monthly performance since launch. With 7,682 units sold, the Palisade is now narrowly behind the long-time best-seller, Kia’s Sorento, which led the market with 7,734 units — a margin of just 52 vehicles.
This is a significant moment, as the Sorento has maintained the No.1 position for over a year, dominating the highly competitive mid-to-large SUV segment. The All-New Hyundai Palisade impressive performance in May signals a possible shift in market dynamics, with strong consumer interest following its recent update.
Hyundai Motor Sales Breakdown (May):
- Total domestic sales: 58,966 units (-5.2% YoY)
- SUV/RV sales: 23,232 units
- Palisade: 7,682
- Santa Fe: 4,969
- Tucson: 4,088
- Kona: 1,922
- Casper: 1,270
- Passenger cars: 15,923
- Avante: 6,438
- Grander: 4,597
- Sonata: 4,134
- Commercial vehicles:
- Porter: 4,498
- Staria: 3,282
- Buses/Trucks: 2,400
- Genesis premium brand: 9,517
- G80: 3,712
- GV80: 2,354
- GV70: 2,435
Kia Sales Overview:
- Total domestic sales: 45,003 units (+1.7% YoY)
- Top seller: Sorento – 7,734 units
- Other key RVs:
- Carnival: 6,651
- Sportage: 5,295
- Seltos: 4,257
- Passenger cars:
- Ray: 4,000
- K5: 3,028
- K8: 2,627
Market Insight:
The Palisade’s rapid rise is one of the most notable developments in Korea’s auto market this year. While the Sorento still holds the crown, the Palisade is now in direct contention, reshaping competition in the large SUV segment.
