Kia’s K4 and Forte Steal the Show in January Sales, Outpacing SUVs

American automotive media outlet Carscoops reported that Kia’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for January were the K4 and Forte (the North American name for the K3). This result is surprising given the shrinking sedan market amid the rising popularity of SUVs.

Kia sold a combined 11,616 units of the K4 and Forte last month, narrowly outpacing the Sportage, which sold 11,357 units. The consistently popular Telluride secured third place with 8,771 units sold. The strong performance of the K4 and Forte played a crucial role in Kia’s record-breaking January sales in North America.

Kia reported total sales of 57,007 units in January, a 12% increase year over year and a new January sales record for Kia America. Five models—Carnival, K4/Forte, Telluride, Sportage, and EV6—achieved their best-ever January sales figures.

Industry analysts attribute the K4’s success to its attractive design and competitive pricing. Starting at $21,990, the K4 offers a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in most trims. The higher-end K4 GT-Line Turbo features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower. Carscoops noted that the diverse powertrain options enhance the K4’s market appeal.

The K4 isn’t Kia’s only sedan success story. The K5 also saw a 32.5% year-over-year increase in January, with 4,357 units sold. This performance underscores the continued strength of Kia’s sedan lineup in an SUV-dominated market. Carscoops emphasized that Kia’s sedan success demonstrates the importance of automakers maintaining diverse lineups to meet varied consumer preferences, even in the current SUV-centric landscape.

The K4, which succeeds the K3, was launched last September as a gasoline-powered compact sedan. It shares the third-generation platform with the Hyundai Elantra. However, due to weak sedan sales in its home market, Kia opted not to release the K4 in South Korea. Instead, the compact SUV Seltos and the upcoming electric sedan EV4, scheduled for release in the first half of this year, will fill that market segment.