Kia October Sales Hit a Record 80,008 as Hybrid Sales Jump 114%
Kia just strung together its sixth straight month of record sales. Kia America sold 80,008 vehicles in October, a 16% jump over its previous October record, while retail sales climbed 20% to 68,926 units. That makes these the best Kia October sales in the brand’s history, and hybrids did a big share of the work.
The record month also came with news for shoppers. The all-new, all-electric 2027 Kia EV3 is now in showrooms nationwide, and Kia confirmed pricing for the gas-powered 2027 Sorento, with the base LX going up just $200.
Kia’s Best October Ever
October marks six consecutive record months for Kia. Through the end of October, the brand has sold 747,394 vehicles this year, up 6% compared with the same stretch of 2025, and Kia says it is on pace for a fourth straight annual sales record.
Retail sales, which count vehicles sold through Kia’s nationwide network of dealers, hit 68,926 units. That is the best October retail performance Kia has ever posted. In other words, the growth is coming from everyday buyers walking into showrooms.
Hybrid Sales More Than Double
Kia’s hybrid sales jumped 114% compared with last October, and its electrified vehicle sales climbed 112%. Both set new category records for the brand. Here is how the three hybrid family haulers performed:
- Sorento Hybrid: up 122%
- Carnival Hybrid: up 88%
- Sportage Hybrid: up 57%
Even better for Kia, the Sportage Hybrid and Carnival Hybrid each turned in their best sales month ever, not just their best October. If you have been eyeing a hybrid minivan for school pickup and weekend road trips, you clearly are not alone.
Five Models Set October Records
Five Kia models set best-ever October sales records:
- Telluride
- Seltos
- Carnival
- K4
- Sportage
Meanwhile, eight models posted year-over-year sales growth in October:
- EV9: up 111%
- Telluride: up 63%
- EV6: up 58%
- Seltos: up 43%
- Sorento: up 31%
- Carnival: up 17%
- K4: up 14%
- Sportage: up 12%
The redesigned Telluride and Seltos stand out. Earlier this fall, Holli took the wheel of the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro on the Texas Truck Rodeo rally course, and we also spent time in the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line. Not every nameplate grew, though. K5 sales slipped 8%, Niro sales fell 33%, and the Soul recorded no October sales after selling 3,991 a year ago.
The 2027 Kia EV3 Arrives in Showrooms
The 2027 Kia EV3 is the most attainable model in Kia’s electric lineup. It starts just under $30,000 for the Light FWD, and the Wind FWD and Land FWD offer up to an EPA-estimated 321 miles of range. As we explained when Kia announced 2027 Kia EV3 pricing, it is essentially the electric counterpart to the Seltos.
Kia’s larger EVs had a strong month as well. EV9 sales more than doubled, up 111%, and EV6 sales rose 58%. For more on the EV6, check out our look at 2027 Kia EV6 pricing.
For most families, home charging is what makes EV ownership easy. If an EV3 is on your shopping list, a Level 2 home charger such as the Lectron EV charger is worth a look.
Disclosure: Lectron is a GT: Garage Talk® partner, and the Lectron link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
2027 Kia Sorento Pricing Barely Budges
Kia also confirmed pricing for the gas-powered 2027 Sorento, and the base LX goes up by only $200. As we covered in our 2027 Kia Sorento pricing story, the LX now starts at $32,590. Changes are minimal for 2027, since the midsize SUV carries over several updates from the previous model year.
The most notable change is paint. Black Jade Green, which has performed well on the new Telluride, joins the Sorento palette, while Jungle Green goes away. You can build your own on Kia’s consumer site.
Kia October 2026 Sales by Model
Here is how every Kia model performed in October and year to date:
| Model | Oct. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Change | YTD 2026 | YTD 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage | 17,977 | 16,057 | Up 12% | 163,723 | 150,159 | Up 9% |
| Telluride | 14,009 | 8,571 | Up 63% | 124,047 | 101,069 | Up 23% |
| K4/Forte | 11,391 | 9,955 | Up 14% | 122,603 | 117,598 | Up 4% |
| Sorento | 8,782 | 6,698 | Up 31% | 85,987 | 80,710 | Up 7% |
| Seltos | 8,052 | 5,622 | Up 43% | 66,259 | 45,687 | Up 45% |
| Carnival | 7,751 | 6,605 | Up 17% | 69,291 | 57,810 | Up 20% |
| K5 | 7,045 | 7,631 | Down 8% | 65,726 | 60,212 | Up 9% |
| Niro | 1,816 | 2,698 | Down 33% | 23,880 | 22,807 | Up 5% |
| EV9 | 1,406 | 666 | Up 111% | 13,835 | 13,114 | Up 5% |
| EV3 | 976 | 0 | New | 1,496 | 0 | New |
| EV6 | 803 | 508 | Up 58% | 7,067 | 11,585 | Down 39% |
| Soul | 0 | 3,991 | Down 100% | 3,480 | 44,399 | Down 92% |
| Total | 80,008 | 69,002 | Up 16% | 747,394 | 705,150 | Up 6% |
Our Take on Kia’s Record October
Six record months in a row is no fluke. What stands out to me is where the growth is coming from: the Telluride, the Seltos, and a hybrid lineup that now covers the Sportage, Sorento, and Carnival. Those are family vehicles, and they are the ones families are buying.
I am also glad to see the EV3 finally reach dealers. A sub-$30k electric SUV with up to 321 miles of range is a big deal for families who want to try an EV without stretching the budget. Add a Sorento that barely moved on price, and Kia heads into the end of the year with something for nearly every budget.
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