Toyota, Honda, ‘shock’ to Korean cars … ‘extraordinary’ Sportage, ‘advance’ towards the national car [세상만車]

▲ Drive Kia Sportage [사진출처=기아]

– This is the result of the analysis of the state of sales by type of car for the first half of 2021-2022 (January to June), which Maekyung.com and the Kaizuyu Data Research Institute compiled on the basis of data from the Ministry of Land , Infrastructure and Transport on 8.

The Sportage sold 38,397 units last year. During the same period, Tucson sold 48,648 units.

In terms of domestic car sales, Sportage is 14th and Tucson is 9th. Judging from last year’s performance alone, it’s a win for Tucson.

In terms of sales growth, Sportage wins. Sportage increased by 106.3% and Tucson by 36.7% respectively from the previous year.

If you look at the state of sales after the launch of the new 5th generation Sportage, the situation is different. 16,078 units were contracted on the first pre-procurement day. It easily broke Tucson’s record of 1842 units on the first day of pre-contract for a domestic semi-midsize SUV.

On the first day, the gusts were reinforced by typhoons. In November last year, it sold 7,598 units, ranking # 1 in monthly sales four months after its release.

Grandeur, which ranked first in sales for five consecutive years in the same month, was ranked second with 6764 units, Sorento ranked sixth with 4447 units, and Tucson was ranked 12th with 3745 units.

Sales in the first half of the year increased by 307.7% compared to the previous year

▲ Kia Sportage LPG model [사진출처=기아]

– The increase in sales of the new Sportage has accelerated this year. In the first half of this year, Grandeur (33,396 units), Sorento (31,677 units), Avante (28,663 units), Carnival (28,186 units) and Sportage (27,873 units) were on the order of sale.

Among them, the new Sporty, but sales have increased compared to the same period last year. Other car models fell by 22-40% due to a shipment disruption caused by the shortage of semiconductors for vehicles. On the other hand, Sportage was up 307.7%.

The secret of its popularity is its unconventional and future-oriented design, the expansive interior space that is second to that of a midsize SUV, and the high-tech safety and comfort that goes beyond the car class.

Until Ssangyong Torres appeared in the 30 million-win SUV market, it was considered a unique presence.

▲ Hyundai Tucson [사진출처=현대차]

– The Sportage is also the only model in Korea to have all four engine lineups. After the petrol model, the diesel model and the hybrid (HV) model, the LPG model was added last July.

Looking at the proportion of contracts per engine last month, hybrids accounted for 40%, gasoline 32%, LPG 23% and diesel 5%.

The Sportage was popular not only between the ages of 20 and 30, but also those between the ages of 40 and 50, who are known to be the main buyers of semi-midsize SUVs.

If you look at last month’s contractors by age, 21.6% between 20 and 23.3% between 30, 20.6% between 40, 20.9% between 50 and 13, 7% among 60. By sex, 71% were male and 29% female.

Influenced by Toyota Rav4 and Honda CR-V

▲ 1st generation Sportage [사진출처=기아]

– Sportage, the “world’s first urban SUV”, is well received abroad. In addition to strengthening the value of the Kia brand in the global market, it also contributes to sales growth.

The Sportage concept car, which was exhibited at the 1991 Tokyo International Motor Show, launched the theme of the “urban type” in the global SUV market.

Unlike existing SUVs which are large and sturdy and focused on off-road rather than on-road, it has been well received for its compact and curvy design. It was also selected as one of the 10 best models of the Motor Show.

The first generation of Sportage appeared as the world’s first urban SUV two years later. Toyota and Honda, which became global carmakers, were shocked.

This is because it has an exterior that reflects the sophisticated curves not seen in existing SUVs at the time and an interior comparable to that of a sedan.

Toyota and Honda have given up their pride in Kia’s ability to develop new cars, which they thought was inferior. He quickly compared the Sportage and released urban SUVs in 1994 and 1995 one after another. The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, recognized as the best-selling cars worldwide.

▲ Honda CR-V [사진출처=혼다]

– Toyota and Honda were strong. On the paved road from Sportage, Rav4 and CR-V sprinted. Rav4 joined the “club of 10 million”, the world’s best-selling automotive standard in 2020. The CR-V also sold more than 9 million units, reaching nearly 10 million units.

Although it fell short of heavy laggards, the Sportage evolved into the 2nd generation in 2004, the 3rd generation in 2010 and the 4th generation in 2015, setting the stage for Kia’s position as an “SUV celebrity” in the global market. .

Last year, Kia’s global sales exceeded 6 million units for the first time. As of July this year, there were 650 million units.

The Sportage has established itself as Kia’s most successful car model in the United States, a battleground for global auto brands.

Last April, Kia helped to surpass 10 million cumulative sales 29 years after entering the US market in 1993.

Sportage played the role of “the last straw” of the 10 million. This is because it is the best-selling Kia model in the United States in the same month. The Sportage sold 11,380 units, K3 9798 units and Telluride 8233 units respectively.

Raising Kia’s status in the global market

▲ Toyota Rav4 hybrid [사진출처=도요타]

– The Sportage has been recognized for its excellence in quality and performance, as it continues to win in tough and demanding global automotive tests this year.

In a recent comparative evaluation of hybrid SUVs conducted by Auto Bild, a German automotive media that has a major influence on European consumers, the Sportage beat the Toyota Rav4.

Autobilt gave Sportage a high score, saying it was “a generation ahead of the Rav 4,” which took the lead in the global hybrid SUV market.

Autobilt evaluated seven factors: bodywork, practicality, powertrain, driving performance, connectivity, eco-friendliness and economic feasibility.

The Sportage outperformed the Rav4 in four categories: bodywork, practicality, driving performance and connectivity. In terms of eco-friendliness, a draw was recorded. The overall score was 563 points, beating Rav 4, which received 540 points.

Autobilt said: “The Sportage is reliable and economical with a fuel consumption of 7.1 liters per 100km, which is almost similar to the official fuel efficiency.

▲ Kia Sportage [사진출처=기아]

– The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) also took first place in Auto Motor Mount Sport’s PHEV SUV rating, one of Germany’s top three media, along with Autobilt in June, beating Toyota Rav4, Opel Grandland and Volvo XC40.

In February of this year, Sportage won the family SUV category in the “Women’s World Car of the Year 2022 (WWCOTY)” selected by the world’s automotive journalists.

WWCOTY selects the winning car by evaluating safety, driving, technology, design, efficiency, comfort, environmental impact and value for money by 56 automotive journalists from 40 countries across five continents.

The Sportage was subsequently rated for its excellent safety.

It was selected as the “Top Safety Pick (TSP)” in the accident assessment results announced in February by the American Highway Safety and Insurance Association (IIHS).

In July, it earned top marks in the New Car Safety Assessment of the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

[최기성 매경닷컴 기자]

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]

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