Kia’s Hybrid and EV Sales are Nearly Doubling Annually, Helping Automaker Break All-time Sales Record Set in 2016

Jan 19, 2022

Fast-growing Kia surpasses 700,000 vehicles sold for first time and completes best sales year in company history, besting record set in 2016 by 8.3%. Success is fueled by hybrid and battery-electric vehicle sales, which nearly doubled year-over-year.

2021 Kia Seltos - Photo by Kia

Key Points

Kia Forte, Niro EV, Seltos, Sportage, and Telluride break all-time annual sales records, with Kia’s 2021 sales increasing 20% over 2020.
Automaker noted big jump in demand in 2021 for Kia’s hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, with sales up 97% year-over-year.
Kia Telluride and Seltos SUVs were repeat category winners of Kelley Blue Book’s “2021 Best Buy Awards.”
December 2021 sales of nearly 50k units pushed company’s annual total past 700k mark for the first time in company history.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified a maximum all-electric range of 310 miles for the 2022 Kia EV6.

Kia Forte, Niro EV, Seltos, Sportage, and Telluride Helped Automaker Break Annual Sales Records in 2021

Kia America announced December 2021 sales of 48,506 units, pushing the company’s annual total past the 700,000 mark for the first time in company history. Kia’s 2021 performance represents a 20% increase over last year with five of the brand’s most popular sedan, SUV, and crossover models–Forte, Niro EV, Seltos, Sportage, and Telluride–reaching all-time annual sales records.

In addition, 2021 saw a big jump in demand for Kia’s hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, with sales up 97% year-over-year.

2022 Kia EV6 - Photo by Kia

“Announcing best-ever annual sales is always a moment of pride, but for Kia to reach such heights in light of the ongoing pandemic and supply chain issues clearly illustrates the strength of our product lineup,” says Kia America’s V.P. of Sales, Eric Watson. “With arrival of the all-new, all-electric EV6 and all-new Sportage in the first half of 2022, it is clear we are ‘firing on all cylinders…and battery cells.’”

2021 Kia Telluride - Photo by Kia

Kia Banks Next Big Hit on New EV6, which is Hitting the Market with Certified Maximum All-electric Range of 310 Miles

In addition to reporting its record-breaking 2021 sales, Kia recently announced a number of significant new awards across its lineup, including Edmunds naming the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV the “Top Rated SUV” for the third consecutive year. And the Kia Telluride and Seltos SUVs were repeat category winners of Kelley Blue Book’s “Best Buy Awards.”

However, the most notable recent news from Kia revealed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified a maximum all-electric range of 310 miles for the 2022 Kia EV6 (when equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive). The all-electric EV6 lineup includes the EX, EX+, and GT-Line models, which feature AWD capability, ultra-fast DC charging, vehicle-to-load functionality, and sustainable-friendly materials throughout the cabin. The EV6 also offers a wide array of advanced driver assistance and safety systems.

2022 EV6

The EPA rating represents an impressive overall efficiency of 4.0 miles/kWh. EV6 models fitted with all-wheel drive are EPA-certified at 274 miles of all-electric range, and the 58.0-kWh EV6 EX is rated at 232 miles of all-electric range.

Photos: Kia

Owner Reviews

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Ceff on January 19, 2022

Best bang for your buck SUV on the market: 2021 Seltos

Got this so we have a baby/kid friendly car as we are starting a family soon and I made it very clear I wanted something cheap, maintenance free, good on gas (I average 27 local 30 highway 33 highway w/ cruise), fun to drive (dual clutch turbo is fun but has some jumpiness to get used to), with lots of cargo space (I’ve moved a big arm chair w/ tall side table, a dining room table with 6 chairs, and a dresser with mirror), backseat room with vents and charging port for friends and long trips, top of the line sound, tech, and safety for a reasonable price. All of these features were perfect on an 8 hour road trip I took the week I bought the car.

Jerome T on January 19, 2022

2021 Seltos - Introducing the car of your dreams, explore with confidence.

Honestly I see no problems with this amazing car. It has surround sound capabilities as well as heated front seats. It has a luxurious smell that entices you the second you open the door. The ergonomic cup holders make dining and driving easy as pie. Definitely a family car that can seat eight and can double as a date night car to get it on. The entertainment system is the icing on the cake which can make long car trips with the kiddos a breeze. The car will definitely be worth the purchase.

Jordan W on January 19, 2022

2021 seltos: technology pros.

This compact SUV has a ton of pickup. I was worried about going from a Honda sedan to an SUV that I wouldn't get the same amount of pickup, but I am pleasantly surprised. The seltos comes with a ton of awesome features like a cordless phone charger and apple carplay. I do wish that there was an option for a sunroof and the two tone paint job. Also wish there was an automatic back hatch open and close feature.

Raina R on January 19, 2022

2021 Telluride: I really love the shade coverings for the windows. I love the seats too.

The tires spin a little if I press on the gas too fast. For instance if I am at a light and I want to go right when it turns green it is like the tires do not grip the road. Aside from that the gas mileage is poor. It seems like I fill up my tank and it gives me about 460 miles then within a few days in at 200. There is no way I drive 200 miles in a few days. Maybe 20. So I do not understand that part.

Ruth R on January 19, 2022

My Kia seltos 2021 is a beautifully designed vehicle with plenty of space.

My Kia seltos is very reliable. It is a four cylinder vehicle but feels like a six cylinder. It has beautiful interiors and it is very spacious and comfortable with a nice size back compartment to fit large objects, plenty of groceries. The two front seat are equipped with heating system, it has Abigail monitor display. The car’s exterior has a sporty look to it and it feels amazing when driving it.

Chelse V on January 19, 2022

The features of the 2021 telluride sx are more than I could have asked for in a vehicle.

This SUV was truly designed with a mom and family in mind, the added features in this model will no doubt make life easier. The safety features are also fantastic and I have enjoyed getting used to them and utilizing all the technology this vehicle offers. The mileage has also been great and it is an extremely smooth and quiet ride, my husband enjoys driving it as much as I do.

Teyah A on January 19, 2022

2021 Kia Forte: Great overall car with significant bells and whistles!

Great on gas! I can get up to 400 miles by filling my tank up for about $22. I love the safety features; there’s an option to have alerts if you've gone out of your lane and an option to be alerted when there are cars in your blind spots. The rear camera is always helpful as well! The car has a decent amount of space (trunk included) and is fairly comfortable to drive.

Karen S on January 19, 2022

Best car ever! 2021 Telluride

This car is fantastic! It has tons of safety options, it lets you know who is on the side of you when turning. The lane departure warning is fantastic, the car literally drives itself. The interior colors you can change, being able to see your speed in the dashboard window is amazing. I could go on and on, you just need to see it to believe it.

Bre H on January 19, 2022

I have the 2021 Kia seltos s and it is amazing.

Amazing car! A good sized car if you are looking for a new SUV. Has a lot of features that I am still getting used to, but so worth it. The large screen is amazing for when traveling for work, or a quick road trip with friends. I will say the high-tech vehicle does prevent you from any reckless driving or even preventing any car accidents.

Daniel Y on January 19, 2022

2021 Seltos: Overall great car! Missing some amenities.

I like the car it rides very nice but the care lacks many comforts. Hard plastic trim, no auto start, seat is manually adjusted, etc. But like I said it rides nice, is peppy for its size. The inside is roomy. The vehicle is all wheel drive and can be locked on or left to auto turn on. Transmission can be turned from eco to sport.

Zachary H on January 19, 2022

Absolutely love my 2021 seltos.

I was looking for a smaller SUV that had better gas mileage. I couldn't be happier with my seltos. I actually test drove it and bought it all in the same day. My car search stopped when I found it. It is the perfect size. Spacious enough to handle what I need it to, and the actual mpg I get usually averages out to around 27 mpg.

Kayla D on January 19, 2022

The reliability and safety of the 2021 Sportage is the highlight!

I love this car! Most comfortable and safe SUV I have drove. I travel a lot for work and this vehicle has made that a lot easier. It is very reliable and good on gas as well. If I were buying a car all over again I would pick this one again. And if I was referring someone to get a car, I would encourage them to get this vehicle!

Maria D on January 19, 2022

My 2021 Kia seltos is the most modern, and affordable SUV vehicle I have ever owned!

My Kia seltos is the best SUV I have had. It is up to date on tech with apple carplay. I currently have 0 performance issues especially since it is a brand new car. It has three different driving settings: normal, smart, and sport. Driving 'smart' is my favorite because at the red light the car will turn off and save me gas!

Cait G on January 19, 2022

2021 Kia seltos - small SUV with a big punch!

The Kia seltos model has impressive interior materials with lots of standard and available technology with a touch-screen radio system. While it has plenty of cargo space for a compact SUV it does have a limited space for back seat passengers. Rides smoothly when on residential roads but tends to ride a rougher on highways.

Maggie W on January 19, 2022

Great vehicle for family! 2021 Telluride

Front windshield cracked less than a month into owning vehicle, comfortable drive, very many electrical/technology features, car is spacious and as a driver I do feel safe driving in it. Plenty of room in the back for passengers. Vehicle offers lane assistance, front collision crash notification and many other features.

Hunter P on January 19, 2022

Pro's vs con's on the 2021 Kia seltos.

Drives well. Driving around sharp curves it handles more like a larger SUV than a smaller SUV. Gas mileage could be better. Light system is a bit confusing. Wireless charging pad sometimes is hard to get working. I like that there is three total USB charging ports. Not as much storage area as usual SUV's though.

Avery A on January 19, 2022

Quality of a 2021 Kia Seltos drive on rocky roads.

The car I purchased was fully loaded, making it a easy to operate and advanced vehicle. I love the interior black leather and it is a very smooth ride. Even with bumpy and cracked roads it is very unnoticeable. This Kia also has a lot of space not only in the trunk but also in the legroom area of the back seat.

Nessa M on January 19, 2022

Kia seltos for 2021 is the best.

I love my Kia seltos! It's so sleek and sporty looking while also very spacious and smooth driving. It has a touch screen with apple carplay which makes it easily accessible to use your music, maps, hand free phone calling and voice to text response. Spaciest trunk and net to hold things down.

Jaden T on January 19, 2022

An interesting detail is the 2021 Seltos is really fast.

I have had no problems with my car so far and it has been a great car. One thing I noticed instantly was how comfortable it was and how good the engine sounded. The car has great features and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new car. And it is affordable and reliable.

Leslie B on January 19, 2022

Honest review on Kia seltos 2021.

The 2021 Kia seltos is a really comfortable car. It drives really smoothly and has a lot of safety features. I use it as my “mom car” as I now have two daughters that both require car seats. I would totally recommend this car. Definitely a 10/10. Not too big not too small.

karli J on January 19, 2022

We love the speaker system that came in our 2021 Seltos! Sound comes out clear!

I love my Kia! It is very reliable and runs great! Whenever we need services done on it, they are quick and affordable! We have loved all the features that it comes with especially the seat warmers! That is a big bonus and reason we chose our car! We 100% stand by Kias!

Jennifer M on January 19, 2022

First time 2021 Sportage owner very pleased with purchase.

I absolutely love my Sportage. The back up camera is great to have. The lane assistance is great. It gets great gas mileage. I do hate the that it did not come with a CD player. The all wheel drive is awesome to have. There is a decent amount of room in the trunk.

mary B on January 19, 2022

I love the Kia app and the schedule start feature for this 2021 Telluride

There have been no problems with this vehicle. I absolutely love it more than any other vehicle I have owned and I have owned several Mercedes. It rides smooth, has a ton of features most vehicles do not have. It is very reliable. The interior is very elegant.

Lucia G on January 19, 2022

The 2021 Seltos that we drive is a grey color 4 door the set are comfortable.

I haven't had any problem with my vehicle it's really comfortable it has a lot of room in the back set, it's been a couple months since my husband and I got the car and we love it. The ac in the car works really good and you can connect your phone to the car.

Catalin Manea on January 19, 2022

Excellent vehicle: 2021 Telluride

I am an owner of Kia and Hyundai and will be for life. I have been driving my new Telluride for a few weeks now and it is impressive in any way.

Joe Black

Joe is a longtime auto enthusiast who has been writing about cars, trucks, and motorcycles since 2015. He enjoys attending worldwide car shows, with SoCal's Luftgekühlt and Sunset GT among his favorite events to cover. Joe is a proud Prius owner whose byline has appeared on popular auto sites like Harley-Davidson Forums and Ford Truck Enthusiasts.