SUV Sales for November 2023: Kia Sonet Dominates, Outsells Toyota Raize 9 Times

The contrast could be clearly seen in the subcompact SUV segment in November 2023. While the Kia Sonet showed growth, the Toyota Raize experienced a decline in sales. Moreover, the Toyota Raize was once again left far behind by its South Korean competitor.

Sales of subcompact SUVs in November 2023 (unit: vehicles)

Kia Sonet: 1,204 vehicles

In November 2023, the Kia brand sold a total of 1,204 Sonet vehicles in Vietnam, representing a 4.5% growth. Although the growth rate was modest, the Kia Sonet remained the leader in the subcompact SUV segment and ranked 7th among the best-selling cars in the overall market. Furthermore, the Kia Sonet outsold the Toyota Raize by a factor of 9.

From the beginning of the year until now, Vietnamese consumers have purchased a total of 10,012 Kia Sonet vehicles, which is twice the number of Toyota Raize sold. With these results, the Kia Sonet secured a spot among the top 10 best-selling cars in Vietnam for the entire year 2023.

The Sonet continues to be the best-selling model for the Kia brand in Vietnam up to this point, surpassing its sibling, the Seltos. This achievement is thanks to its attractive price ranging from 519 to 574 million VND for three different variants of this subcompact SUV. In addition to its affordable price, the Kia Sonet features a stylish exterior design and a relatively well-equipped interior.

Specifically, this South Korean model comes with full LED headlights with automatic on/off function, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support, automatic climate control with rear seat vents, a sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a 6-speaker sound system.

Under the hood, the Kia Sonet is powered by a 1.5L Smartstream gasoline engine with a maximum output of 113 horsepower and peak torque of 144 Nm. The engine is paired with either a Smartstream IVT intelligent continuously variable transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission.

Toyota Raize: 139 vehicles

While the Kia Sonet experienced positive growth, the Toyota Raize saw a 52.5% decline in sales, with only 139 vehicles sold. This brings the total number of Toyota Raize vehicles sold in the first 11 months of 2023 to 4,098.

Compared to the Kia Sonet, the Toyota Raize has some major disadvantages, such as having only one variant priced at 552 million VND. Additionally, this Japanese model does not enjoy the 50% reduction in registration fees as it is imported completely built-up from Indonesia.

Of course, the Toyota Raize also has its own advantages, including its reputable brand, sporty and dynamic design. The equipment of this subcompact SUV is quite diverse with full LED headlights, 17-inch sporty alloy wheels, steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, push-button start, and automatic air conditioning.

Moreover, it is equipped with safety features such as hill start assist control (HAC), blind spot monitoring (BSM), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), front/rear parking sensors, and 6 airbags.

Under the hood, the Toyota Raize is powered by a turbocharged 1.0L gasoline engine with a maximum output of 98 horsepower and peak torque of 140 Nm. The engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

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