Hyundai And Kia's Hybrids Are Crushing It Amid The Gas Crisis
Hybrids like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sportage are proving mighty popular as gas prices remain over $4 a gallon.
- The Hyundai Ioniq 5 continues to be one of the best-selling non-Tesla EVs.
- Hybrid trims of the models like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage saw record monthly sales.
- The Kia EV9 comfortably outsold the mechanically similar Hyundai Ioniq 9.
The impressive sales streak for Hyundai and Kia's electrified vehicles rolled into May, with both brands posting record numbers across their electrified lineups.
Hyundai reported total sales of 87,468 units in the U.S. last month, a 3% growth year over year. The automaker said electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric models, helped drive this growth.
It's a trend analysts have tied, at least in part, to elevated gas prices stemming from the conflict in Iran. Hyundai CEO José Muñoz said in a Bloomberg Television interview in April that high gas prices were a “strong driver” for the sales of electrified models.
2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Nowhere was that clearer than in Hyundai's hybrid lineup, which had its best month ever, with sales surging 90% compared to the same period last year. The Tucson (+10%), Santa Fe (+29%), Elantra (+29%), and Sonata (+250%) all set new May records. Hyundai bundles pure gas and hybrid sales together, so the exact sales numbers for the hybrid trims are unknown.
EV sales were also up 10%, driven largely by the Ioniq 5, which continues to be one of the brand's brightest stars and one of America's best-selling non-Tesla EVs. Hyundai moved 5,002 units of the electric crossover, a 28% jump year over year. The three-row Ioniq 9 added 1,145 units, a 279% increase, though that comparison comes with an asterisk. Last year's numbers were low as production was still ramping up at Hyundai's Metaplant factory in Georgia.
2026 InsideEVs Breakthrough Awards Editor's Choice: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The one notable soft spot was the Ioniq 6, whose sales fell 85% to just 176 units. That decline isn't entirely surprising. Hyundai is winding down the sedan in the U.S. market. Model year 2025 units will remain available until dealer inventory runs out, but the company won't be importing 2026 versions.
Kia also had a strong showing. Last month was the brand's best-ever retail sales month, with 80,502 units sold, an 11% year-over-year gain. Hybrid trims of the Sportage, Carnival, and Sorento each set May records. Like Hyundai, Kia's electrified lineup as a whole also had its best month in company history. However, the bulk of those electrified sales came from hybrids, not fully electric models.
On the EV side, the EV6 slipped 11% to 708 units. The three-row EV9, meanwhile, punched well above expectations with 1,647 units, outselling the mechanically identical Ioniq 9.
The company plans to launch the smaller, more affordable EV3 in the U.S. before the end of the year. If it lands at the right price point, it could be exactly the shot in the arm Kia's fully electric lineup needs.
Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
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