Hyundai Motor's Sonata to top sales chart this year

Hyundai Motor's seventh generation Sonata / Korea Times file

By Kim Bo-eun

Hyundai Motor's mid-sized sedan, the Sonata, is set to be the top-selling vehicle in Korea this year.

Up until November, 95,760 Sonatas were sold, outselling the 1 ton pick-up truck Porter (91,327) and the compact Avante (86,968).

Sales of the Sonata are expected to exceed 100,000 by the end of the year.

It will be the second consecutive year since 2014 for the model to have topped the sales chart. The Sonata was the best-selling car from 1999 through 2010, but the Avante held the number one spot from 2011 to 2013.

According to Hyundai Motor, the Sonata regained popularity after the new model was launched.

The model, first introduced in 1985, is now in its seventh generation. The most recent model was launched in March 2014.

Meanwhile, nine of the top 10 best sellers are cars manufactured by Hyundai and Kia.