Kia’s EV bet is paying off as sales surge with a lineup ranging from SUVs to vans

Kia has quietly become a dark horse in the EV space, with a full lineup of models that range from electric sedans to vans and everything in between.

Kia’s EV plans unfold as sales pick up

Kia said on Monday that global sales rose 1% in April, to 277,188 vehicles. The Korean automaker credited its growing lineup of electric and hybrid vehicles for the strong performance.

For the first time in 28 years, Kia outsold Hyundai in its home market last month. The achievement is the first time since Hyundai took a controlling stake in Kia that the “younger sibling” outsold it.

While a fire at a parts supplier impacted Hyundai’s output in March, Kia said sales growth in Korea was largely driven by new electric vehicles, including the EV3, EV5, and the PV5 electric van, all of which saw higher demand last month.

The EV3 was among Kia’s top-selling vehicles in Korea last month, with 3,898 units sold, while EV5 and PV5 sales reached 2,262 and 3,308, respectively. In the first four months of 2026, Kia has sold over 10,000 EV5s.

April marked Kia’s third consecutive month selling over 10,000 EVs in its home market. Kia and Tesla are the only brands that have sold over 10,000 EVs in Korea in a single month.

Hyundai’s top-selling EV in Korea last month was the IONIQ 5 with 1,674 deliveries. Combined, Hyundai and Kia sold nearly 18,500 electric vehicles in their domestic market, the third-highest so far. Kia accounted for 13,596, while Hyundai contributed the other 4,851.

While Kia’s overseas sales fell 0.7%, electric and hybrid vehicles posted higher sales growth amid higher gas and oil prices.

In the US, several hybrid SUVs, including the new Telluride, Sportage, and Sorento, set new April records. Meanwhile, sales of Kia’s three-row electric SUV, the EV9, rebounded by 481% to 1,349 units.

Despite the Trump Administration’s policy changes, EV9 sales are surprisingly up in the US from last year. Through the first four months of 2026, Kia sold 4,089 EV9s in the US, up from 3,988 in the same period last year.

A full lineup from sedans to vans

Kia has mostly focused on hybrid SUVs in North America, but it’s promoting EVs in Europe and other overseas markets. Kia now offers a full lineup of electric vehicles, including the EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, EV9, and PV5.

According to SMMT registration data, Kia sold nearly 9,000 vehicles in April, ranking second behind Volkswagen (12,884).

Kia sold its 100,000th electric vehicle in the UK last month since launching the first-generation Soul EV in November 2014.

“We now have one of the industry’s most complete EV lineups and have reached this landmark achievement, further cementing ourselves as a leading player in the EV market,” Kia UK’s CEO, Paul Philpott, said.

As of April 1 2026, Kia’s EV sales in the UK include:

In Australia, Kia is the third-best-selling EV brand behind BYD (14,406) and Tesla (8,485) with 3,593 deliveries through April 2026. The EV5 is Kia’s top seller and the sixth-best-selling model in the country, with 1,942 units sold, trailing the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X, Geely EX5, and BYD Atto 2.

While those in the US won’t see the entry-level EV2, or likely the EV4 and EV5, the EV3 will finally go on sale later this year.

After the EV3 went on sale in Europe in late 2024, it quickly became a hit with a segment-leading range of up to 375 miles and an affordable price starting around 36,000 euros ($38,300). In its first year, the Kia EV3 was the third-best-selling EV in the UK. It ranked 10th in Australia behind the EV5 at fourth, which trailed only the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, and Tesla Model 3.

Kia said the EV3 is an “entry-level EV SUV that offers many of the advanced amenities of the EV9,” after it made its North American debut last month.

In the US, the 2027 Kia EV3 will go on sale later this year with five trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and a flagship GT variant.

The base Light model is powered by a 58.3 kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor, providing an estimated 220 miles of range. The Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT trims will be available with a long-range 81.4 kWh battery, delivering an estimated range of up to 320 miles in the Front Wheel Drive (FWD) models.

All-wheel drive (AWD) will be offered as an option on Wind and Land trims and standard on the GT-Line and GT variants.

The base EV3 Light with the 58.3 kWh battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes, while the 81.4 kWh battery takes about 31 minutes.

Kia has yet to reveal prices, but the 2027 EV3 is expected to start at around $35,000 or less, placing it as one of the most affordable EVs in the US alongside the new Nissan LEAF and Chevy Bolt EV.

If you don’t want to wait for the EV3, Kia is currently offering a $10,000 customer cash discount or 0% APR for 72 months, plus $5,000 bonus cash, on 2025 and 2026 EV9 and EV6 models. You can use the links below to find available Kia and Hyundai EVs near you.

• Kia EV9 near you
• Kia EV6 near you
• Hyundai IONIQ 5