Auto industry's midsize SUV segment to see heated competition amid new model releases

By Chang Dong-woo

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The automotive industry in South Korea is expected to see strong competition in the midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment in the second half of the year amid new releases in the popular family leisure car market segment.

Kia Corp. this week launched its revamped 2025 Sorento SUV with enhanced features, such as haptic feedback on the steering wheel and LED lighting on the sun visor, which are now standard across all trims.

The company aims to maintain the lead in the midsize SUV segment with the Sorento. According to Kia, the Sorento has remained the bestselling model in its category, with a cumulative sales figure of 60,686 units from January to August this year.

Kia also plans to release a face-lifted version of its popular Sportage SUV in the fourth quarter.

Hyundai Motor Co. also recently launched a revamped version of its midsize SUV Santa Fe with a suite of option upgrades and a new pricing scheme to enhance the vehicle's value proposition.

KG Mobility, formerly known as Ssangyong Motor, has also launched its new coupe-type midsize SUV Actyon. It combines the practicality of an SUV with the stylishness of a coupe.

Renault Korea, the South Korean unit of French automotive group Renault S.A., has also recently introduced the Grand Koleos, a new hybrid SUV, to capitalize on the high demand for family SUVs in the country.

The Grand Koleos features a family-friendly 4,780-millimeter body length and a 2,820-mm wheelbase, offering generous second-row space and comfortable leg room.

The sales of midsize SUVs have grown this year despite an overall drop in sales of the SUV market as a whole.

According to industry data, combined midsize SUV sales of the five major automakers in South Korea totaled 121,457 in the first half of the year, up 16.6 percent from a year earlier.

In the same period, large SUV sales dropped by 12.7 percent, while those of small SUVs fell 10.8 percent.

Industry watchers expect the introduction of new models from KG Mobility and Renault Korea to further strengthen the concentration of demand in the midsize SUV Segment.

"As the economic downturn persists, consumers tend to gravitate more towards a few popular models rather than a wide variety of options," an industry official said, adding, "Traditional midsize SUV leaders like the Sorento and Santa Fe are now facing challenges from new models such as the Grand Koleos and Actyon."

odissy@yna.co.kr
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