This year, domestic automakers including Hyundai Motor and Kia will roll out a slew of new models in eco-friendly segments such as electric vehicles and hybrids. The outlook reflects expectations that eco-friendly vehicles will continue to grow as electric vehicle subsidies expand and demand for hybrids rises quickly. New sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are also set to debut in succession.
According to the auto industry on the 1st, the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), in its report "Assessment of the Automotive Industry in 2025 and Outlook for 2026," projected that domestic full-line brands will launch a total of 16 new models this year, including facelift (partial-change) versions. That is six more than the 10 new models released last year.
◇ In the first half, Kia's new Seltos takes the field… KGM pickup truck and Renault's midsize-plus SUV, too
Among the new cars due in the first quarter, the model drawing the most attention is Kia's small SUV, the Seltos. The Seltos unveiled its second-generation model in Dec. 2024, six years after the first generation launched in 2109.
A notable change in the second-generation Seltos is the addition of a hybrid model. The Seltos hybrid features an in-cabin V2L (vehicle to load) function that until now had been available only in electric vehicles. V2L allows the car to draw power to operate external electronic devices, making it useful for camping and other outdoor activities. The 1.6 turbo gasoline model delivers a maximum output of 193 horsepower and peak torque (the force that turns the wheels) of 27.0 kgf∙m.
KG Mobility will reveal pricing this month for the pickup truck Musso, a model that succeeds the Musso Sports, and will begin full-scale sales. It will be offered with two powertrains—diesel (maximum output 202 horsepower) and gasoline (maximum output 217 horsepower)—and comes equipped with SUV-level convenience features. It aims for broad driving convenience from daily commuting to leisure and off-road.
Renault Korea also plans to soon unveil the Project "Aurora2" model and begin preorders. The Aurora project is a strategy under which Renault Korea leads the development and production of three new models introduced by Renault Group.
Renault Korea launched the midsize SUV Grand Koleos in 2024 as the Project "Aurora1" model. The Grand Koleos accounted for 80% of Renault Korea's domestic sales last year, becoming its mainstay model. The model to be unveiled this time is expected by the industry to be a midsize-plus SUV larger than the Grand Koleos.
Looking at all models coming in the first half, attention is focusing on the Staria EV, Hyundai Motor's first electric multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The Staria is a successor to the Starex, a people mover with up to 15 seats that Hyundai Motor introduced in 2021.
The Staria EV is expected to be equipped with an 84 kWh battery. Its range on a single charge is 324 kilometers. A fast-charging function is also anticipated; in that case, it would take 20 minutes to charge a battery at about 10% to 80%.
Hyundai Motor also plans to unveil in the first half a partial-change version of the seventh-generation Grandeur, a midsize-plus sedan. The seventh-generation Grandeur was launched in Nov. 2022. A partial-change model of Kia's small SUV Niro, released in 2022, is also expected in the first half of this year.
◇ In the second half, Genesis GV90 draws attention… Avante and Tucson also enter new generations
In the second half, fully redesigned new cars will be released one after another. Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group's premium brand, will unveil the GV90, its first large electric flagship SUV since its launch. Fully redesigned versions of Hyundai Motor's core volume models, the Avante and Tucson, will also arrive. A partial-change model of Hyundai Motor's Santa Fe is slated for release in the second half as well.
Genesis unveiled "Neolun," the concept model for the GV90, at the 2024 Busan Mobility Show. At the time, Neolun drew attention with the B-pillar separating the front and rear seats removed and coach doors that open facing each other for the front and rear. The industry expects coach doors to be included in upper trims of the GV90.
A GV80 hybrid model is also expected to launch in the second half. As Genesis' first hybrid SUV, it is likely to adopt Hyundai Motor's next-generation hybrid system, the "P1+P2 parallel architecture." In that case, it would secure higher acceleration performance and long-distance efficiency than the existing 2.5 gasoline turbo model.
Hyundai Motor's new eighth-generation Avante compact sedan will also make its appearance in the second half. Spy shots suggest the new Avante will carry over the main image of the current model while emphasizing a sharper, more dynamic design. The body is also expected to grow, with improvements in technology and product value.
Hyundai Motor's compact SUV Tucson will also get a full redesign six years after 2020. Observers say the new Tucson will adopt a host of future mobility technologies, including a next-generation hybrid system and next-generation infotainment. First launched in Mar. 2004, the Tucson surpassed a global cumulative sales total of 10 million units in Aug. last year, 21 years later.
In addition, KG Mobility is preparing to launch in the second half a new midsize-plus SUV under the project name "SE10." The vehicle is being developed in collaboration with Chery Automobile Co. and is also expected to offer a hybrid model. The industry expects the vehicle to launch at the end of the year.