Kia Sets September and Third-Quarter Sales Records as Hybrid Sales Jump 152%
Kia just turned in the best September and the best quarter in its history. Kia America reported September sales of 77,009 vehicles, up 18% compared with September 2025, and pushed third-quarter sales to 236,659 units, a new record for any quarter.
Hybrids did a lot of the heavy lifting. Kia’s hybrid sales more than doubled in September, and eight models posted double-digit gains as the brand chases its fourth straight annual sales record.
Eight Models Post Double-Digit Gains in September
Kia’s September growth was spread across nearly the entire lineup. The redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos led the way with a 66% jump to 7,682 units, followed by the Niro (+47%), K4 (+43%), and Telluride (+42%).
The Sorento climbed 37%, the Carnival rose 21%, the K5 gained 15%, and the Sportage added 10%. That last number looks modest, but the Sportage remains Kia’s best seller by a wide margin. At 16,033 units, it accounted for roughly one of every five Kias sold in September.
Retail sales also set a September record at 70,429 units, up 19%.
Hybrid Sales Jump 152%
Kia’s hybrid sales rose 152% in September, and total electrified sales climbed 60%. Both set September records for the brand.
The all-new Telluride Hybrid, which launched earlier this year, led the charge. Meanwhile, the Sorento Hybrid climbed 112%, the Sportage Hybrid rose 53%, and the Carnival Hybrid gained 47%.
Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations at Kia America, credited “Kia’s wide range of models and powertrains, which offer vehicles for every driver at every stage of life.” For families, that matters. Kia now offers hybrid versions of the three-row Telluride, the Sorento, the Sportage, and the Carnival, which Green Car Journal just named its Green Minivan of the Year.
Best Quarter in Kia History
For the quarter, Kia sold 236,659 vehicles, up 8% over its previous third-quarter record. Retail sales reached 221,664 units, a 9% increase and another quarterly high.
Through the first nine months of 2026, Kia has sold 667,386 vehicles, up 5% compared with 636,148 at this point last year. The Sportage, K4, and Telluride have each topped 110,000 sales so far this year, and the Seltos is up 45% year to date.
EV Sales Slide as the EV3 Arrives
Kia’s EVs moved in the opposite direction. EV9 sales fell 37% to 1,955 units, and EV6 sales dropped 61% to 835 units.
On the other hand, the new 2027 Kia EV3 added 514 sales in September, its first real month on the books. The EV3 also just earned Green Car of the Year honors from Green Car Journal. Kia reported no Soul sales in September, compared with 4,069 a year ago.
Much like sister brand Hyundai, which also set September and third-quarter records, Kia is leaning on hybrids as EV demand cools.
Kia Sales by Model
Here is how every Kia model performed in September and through the first nine months of the year, based on Kia America’s sales report. Kia did not break out third-quarter results by model.
| Model | Sept. 2026 | Sept. 2025 | Change | YTD 2026 | YTD 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage | 16,033 | 14,515 | +10% | 145,746 | 134,102 | +9% |
| K4/Forte | 12,658 | 8,829 | +43% | 111,212 | 107,643 | +3% |
| Telluride | 11,927 | 8,408 | +42% | 110,038 | 92,498 | +19% |
| Sorento | 8,939 | 6,502 | +37% | 77,205 | 74,012 | +4% |
| Seltos | 7,682 | 4,635 | +66% | 58,207 | 40,065 | +45% |
| Carnival | 6,804 | 5,603 | +21% | 61,540 | 51,205 | +20% |
| K5 | 6,070 | 5,290 | +15% | 58,681 | 52,581 | +12% |
| Niro | 3,592 | 2,446 | +47% | 22,064 | 20,109 | +10% |
| EV9 | 1,955 | 3,094 | −37% | 12,429 | 12,448 | 0% |
| EV6 | 835 | 2,116 | −61% | 6,264 | 11,077 | −43% |
| EV3 | 514 | 0 | N/A | 520 | 0 | N/A |
| Soul | 0 | 4,069 | −100% | 3,480 | 40,408 | −91% |
| Total | 77,009 | 65,507 | +18% | 667,386 | 636,148 | +5% |
What Comes Next for Kia
Kia carries plenty of momentum into the final quarter. The redesigned 2027 Telluride just earned a 2026 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for models built after June 2026. That gives Kia five TSP+ winners, along with the K4, EV9, Sorento, and Sportage.
With 2027 K4 pricing now official, the Telluride Hybrid ramping up, and the new Seltos selling strong, Kia looks well positioned to close out 2026 with a fourth consecutive annual sales record.