As the subsidiary of Hyundai, India’s second-largest carmaker, Kia has fared significantly well. Today, Kia is among the front runners in the industry and considerably ahead of many foreign carmakers that have been operating in India far longer than it has. The Korean carmaker has limited cars on sale and like their Hyundai siblings, Kia cars are known for leading the race in terms of technology and refinement of engines. In recent years, Kia has also given a sincere focus towards passenger safety and elevated the safety quotient of its cars by equipping them with as many safety features as possible. Last month, Kia sold 25,025 units and took the sixth-largest share of the industry. Here is the list of top-selling Kia cars of January 2025.
Overview Table
Model | Units Sold in January 2025 | Units Sold in January 2024 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Kia Sonet | 7,194 | 11,530 | -38% |
Kia Seltos | 6,470 | 6,391 | 1% |
Kia Syros | 5,546 | ||
Kia Carens | 5,522 | 5,848 | -6% |
Kia Carnival | 293 |
Kia Sonet
![Kia Sonet](https://d2m3nfprmhqjvd.cloudfront.net/blog/20240110164148/new-Kia-Sonet-1160x653.webp)
In current times when most cars are focused on catering to the contemporary demands, it is the cars like Kia Sonet which modernise the industry. Launched nearly four years ago, the Sonet had set the benchmark of premium quotient in compact SUVs, elevating the quality of the entire segment. While it shares its platform with its sibling, Hyundai Venue, the Sonet is a more eye-catching offering and one of the most feature-rich cars in the segment. Moreover, like the Venue, the Kia Sonet has a variety of engine and transmission combinations to cater to diverse preferences. Nearly a year ago, the Sonet surpassed its elder sibling, Seltos to be titled the best-selling Kia car and the case is still the same. All the same, the last month was not as healthy for the Kia Sonet, as the Korean compact SUV saw a 38 percent decline in year-on-year sales, selling 7,194 units. A possible reason behind this decline can be the launch of Kia Syros, which is a more compelling offering and slotted right above the Sonet.
Also Read: Comparison: Sonet vs Venue
The Kia Sonet is powered by a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. For transmission options, the naturally aspirated engine gets a 5-speed manual gearbox, and the turbo-petrol engine gets a 6-speed clutch-pedal less manual (iMT) or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Whereas, the diesel engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, 6-speed clutch(pedal)-less manual (iMT), or 6-speed torque converter automatic.
Kia Seltos
![Spinny Assured 2023 Kia Seltos](https://www.spinny.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Spinny-Assured-2023-Kia-Seltos.webp)
The first impression is the last impression in many cases and being Kia’s first car in India, the Kia Seltos did an excellent job of introducing Indians to the Korean carmaker. It was lapped up in a way that it managed to outshine its Hyundai Creta for a few months and this feat has never been achieved by all other cars in the segment. Today, when the Kia Seltos is not at the peak of its popularity, it is still pulling significant volumes. In January 2025, the Seltos sold 6,470 units, and with a 1 percent rise in year-on-year sales, it once again emerged as one of the best-selling SUVs. Much like its sibling Creta, the Seltos is acclaimed for its upmarket features, refinement of engines, and invaluable dependability.
The Kia Seltos comes with three engine offerings: a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT, a 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to either a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual) or a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT automatic.
Also read: Top selling Maruti Cars in India
Kia Syros
![Kia Syros](https://www.spinny.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kia-Syros-1160x653.webp)
The new kid on the block, Kia Syros is an instant hit from the Korean carmaker. In its debut month, the Kia Syros has sold 5,546 units, which are fantastic figures for a new car. With such sales, it has become the third-best-selling Kia car and one of the best-selling compact SUVs. Clearly, Kia has engineered the Syros masterfully. Slotted right between the Kia Sonet and Kia Seltos, the Kia Syros offers an appealing middle point and addresses a key shortcoming of the Sonet – space. The Syros is significantly more spacious than the Sonet, and brings a host of features which include the coveted panoramic sunroof and Level-2 ADAS safety suite.
The Kia Syros is powered by a 1-litre turbo petrol engine and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine. While a 6-speed manual transmission is offered with both engines, a 7-speed DCT automatic is offered with the petrol engine and a 6-speed torque converter automatic is available with the diesel engine.
Also read: Top selling Tata cars in India
Kia Carens
![Spinny Assured Kia Carens](https://d2m3nfprmhqjvd.cloudfront.net/blog/20240119171839/Spinny-Assured-Kia-Carens-1160x653.webp)
The Kia Carens saw tremendous success after being launched in 2022 and even remained one of the best-selling cars for quite some time. However, the demand for this 6- and 7-seater MUV has been on a decline, given the ever-rising competition from Maruti and even Toyota. In January 2025, the Carens sold 5,522 units, seeing a 6 percent drop in its year-on-year performance. Nonetheless, these sales figures do not correspond with the competency of Carens, which is the most feature-rich car in its segment and packs more space than its arch-rivals Ertiga and Rumion.
Sharing its powertrains with Kia Seltos, the Carens is offered with three engine options: a 1.5-litre petrol engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 1.5-litre diesel engine comes mated to a 6-speed iMT and 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine comes mated to a 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT automatic.
Also read: Top selling Mahindra cars in India
Kia Carnival
![New 2024 Kia Carnival](https://www.spinny.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kia-Carnival-1160x653.webp)
The Kia Carnival’s re-entry in India after a gap of nearly a year caught many headlines a few months back. As an uber-premium MUV for the elites, the Carnival has seen significant success in India and so is apparent in sales of the first few months after its comeback. The Carnival sold 293 units in January 2025, which is impressive for a car priced at Rs 63.90 lakh (ex-showroom). As always, the Carnival offers high-end comfort in its lounge-like cabin which features seven seats: two captain seats in the middle row and a bench seat in the last row. These premium seats in combination with upmarket interiors and features like two single-pane sunroofs, 3-zone auto AC, a powered tailgate, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and more offer a delightful atmosphere.
The latest Kia Carnival is available with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic.