Cars of the world
Korean Cars
Korean marques and the models we cover. Jump to a make, or choose a model to explore its history.
89 models
Korean makes
Models
Asia Motors Fiat 124 (Asia-assembled)
South Korea's first licensed-assembly sedan — Asia Motors built roughly 6,775 Fiat 124s under a Fiat license from 1970 to 1975.
Asia Motors Rocsta
Asia Motors' compact Jeep-style 4x4 (1990–1997) — sold in South Korea, the UK, Australia, and the Philippines with Mazda-derived petrol and diesel engines.
Asia Motors Retona
The Rocsta's successor — a larger, more modern compact 4x4 introduced under the Asia badge in 1997 before being rebadged as Kia Retona after the Hyundai acquisition.
Asia Motors Topic
A Mazda Bongo-based light passenger van sold under the Asia badge through the 1990s — a common taxi and shuttle vehicle in South Korea.
Asia Motors Towner
A Daihatsu Hijet-derived microvan (1992–1999) — Asia Motors' smallest commercial passenger vehicle, known for its boxy proportions and wide export reach, including Brazil.
Daewoo LeMans
Daewoo's first nameplate — an Opel Kadett E built under licence, sold in North America as the Pontiac LeMans.
Daewoo Espero
Daewoo's first in-house sedan — a Bertone-styled body over the LeMans platform, signalling Daewoo's Italian-design era.
Daewoo Lanos
Daewoo's first truly original compact — a Giugiaro-designed subcompact/compact sold worldwide, later built under licence in Ukraine for years after Daewoo's collapse.
Daewoo Nubira
The mid-range of Daewoo's late-1990s original trio — a compact sedan, wagon, and hatchback developed under Dr. Ulrich Bez.
Daewoo Leganza
Daewoo's executive sedan of the late 1990s — a Giugiaro-styled flagship developed in just 30 months, aimed at European and US mid-size buyers.
Daewoo Matiz
Daewoo's iconic Italdesign city hatchback — a global bestseller that lived on as the Chevrolet Spark long after the Daewoo brand disappeared.
Daewoo Magnus
A Daewoo-developed executive sedan that evolved from the Leganza, later facelifted into the Tosca under GM Daewoo.
Daewoo Lacetti
The compact successor to the Nubira under GM Daewoo — globally rebadged as the Chevrolet Optra, Suzuki Forenza, and Holden Viva, with the hatchback evolving into the Chevrolet Cruze.
Daewoo Winstorm
Daewoo's only compact SUV — a GM Theta-platform crossover sold internationally as the Chevrolet Captiva.
Genesis G80
Genesis's mid-size luxury flagship — the G80 evolved from the Hyundai Genesis sedan into a fully realized luxury car across two distinctive generations.
Genesis G90
Genesis's ultra-luxury flagship sedan — the G90 was the brand's first model and a direct replacement for the Hyundai Equus.
Genesis G70
Genesis's entry-level performance sedan — the G70 won 2019 North American Car of the Year and established the brand in the competitive compact luxury class.
Genesis GV80
Genesis's first SUV — the GV80 debuted for 2021 and immediately became a benchmark mid-size luxury crossover.
Genesis GV70
Genesis's compact luxury SUV and its US best-seller — the GV70 won 2022 Motor Trend SUV of the Year and accounts for roughly one in three Genesis sales.
Genesis GV60
Genesis's first purpose-built EV — the GV60 rides on Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP platform and delivered the brand's electric ambitions in a compact, design-forward package.
GM Korea Spark / Matiz
GM Korea's long-running micro-car — born as the Daewoo Matiz in 1998 and sold globally as the Chevrolet Spark until 2022.
GM Korea Aveo / Sonic (Kalos / Gentra)
GM Korea's B-segment subcompact — launched as the Daewoo Kalos in 2002, then sold worldwide as the Chevrolet Aveo and later Sonic.
GM Korea Lanos
A Giugiaro-designed compact hatchback and sedan — Daewoo's global small car before GM's 2002 takeover.
GM Korea Nubira
Daewoo's C-segment compact sedan, hatchback, and wagon of the late 1990s — replaced by the Lacetti under GM Daewoo.
GM Korea Lacetti / Cruze
GM Korea's global compact breakthrough — the Lacetti became the Chevrolet Cruze, one of GM's best-selling world cars.
GM Korea Magnus / Tosca
GM Korea's mid-size D-segment sedan through the Daewoo era — the Magnus (2000–2005) replaced by the Tosca (2005–2011).
GM Korea Malibu (Korea)
The globally engineered Chevrolet Malibu built at GM Korea's Bupyeong plant — Korea was actually the first market to receive the 8th-generation car.
GM Korea Orlando
A seven-seat compact MPV developed and built by GM Korea — sold across Korea, Europe, Canada, and Latin America.
GM Korea Captiva / Winstorm
GM Korea's first homegrown SUV — sold domestically as the Daewoo Winstorm (2006–2011) then as the Chevrolet Captiva until 2018.
GM Korea Trax
GM Korea's globally successful subcompact crossover — launched in 2012 and redesigned in 2024, becoming South Korea's most exported vehicle.
GM Korea Trailblazer (crossover)
GM Korea's subcompact-plus crossover, reviving the Trailblazer nameplate for a Korean-built SUV that slots between the Trax and Equinox.
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai's long-running compact — seven generations from 1990 to today, now topped by the performance Elantra N.
35 model yearsHyundai Pony
Hyundai's first mass-produced car — a Giugiaro-styled rear-drive subcompact, never federalized for the US.
Hyundai Excel
Hyundai's first US-market car — a cheap, front-drive subcompact that set first-year import sales records.
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai's mid-size sedan and long-time volume leader — from a humble 1989 import to a turbocharged N Line.
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai's entry-level subcompact, successor to the Excel — a value-priced staple for nearly three decades.
Hyundai Azera
Hyundai's near-luxury full-size sedan, slotting above the Sonata as a value flagship.
Hyundai XG350
An early-2000s near-luxury Hyundai sedan (XG300 then XG350), forerunner to the Azera.
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai's flagship full-size luxury sedan in the US — later folded into the standalone Genesis marque.
Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai's affordable front-drive sport coupe (Tiburon, from 'shark') — successor to the Scoupe.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Hyundai's rear-drive sport coupe — a genuine enthusiast car, distinct from the Genesis luxury marque.
Hyundai Veloster
A quirky asymmetric three-door hatch-coupe — and the home of the breakthrough performance Veloster N.
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai's compact crossover — its global best-seller, from a modest 2005 SUV to a boldly styled current car.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai's first SUV and long-running mid-size crossover — sized from compact to three-row over its life.
Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai's flagship three-row family SUV — a roomy, upscale crossover above the Santa Fe.
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai's subcompact crossover — offered with a hot Kona N and an early mainstream electric Kona Electric.
Hyundai Venue
Hyundai's smallest and most affordable crossover, positioned below the Kona as an entry SUV.
Hyundai Veracruz
An upscale three-row crossover of the late 2000s, positioned above the Santa Fe before the Palisade.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai's car-based compact unibody pickup — a Tucson-related rival to the Ford Maverick.
Hyundai Entourage
Hyundai's short-lived minivan — a rebadged Kia Sedona that gave Hyundai a brief entry in the segment.
Hyundai Ioniq (hatchback)
Hyundai's dedicated efficient hatchback — offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai's breakthrough electric crossover on the dedicated E-GMP platform, including the hot Ioniq 5 N.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
A streamlined electric 'streamliner' sedan on the E-GMP platform, the aerodynamic companion to the Ioniq 5.
Hyundai Nexo
Hyundai's hydrogen fuel-cell crossover — a low-volume, zero-emission SUV sold mainly in California.
Kia Sportage
Kia's long-running compact crossover — five generations from 1995 to today and consistently one of the brand's best sellers.
Kia Sorento
Kia's mid-size SUV — four generations from a truck-based 2003 original to a hybrid-capable three-row crossover.
Kia Telluride
Kia's award-winning three-row flagship SUV — named after the Colorado ski town and built in Georgia.
Kia Soul
Kia's boxy, personality-driven urban crossover — a cult classic that ran from 2010 through 2025.
Kia Seltos
Kia's subcompact crossover slotting between the Rio and Sportage — introduced to the US for the 2021 model year.
Kia Niro
Kia's dedicated hybrid/EV crossover — offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric.
Kia Carnival / Sedona
Kia's minivan — sold as the Sedona from 2002 through 2021, then relaunched as the Carnival from 2022.
Kia Optima / K5
Kia's mid-size sedan — sold as the Optima from 2001 through 2020, redesigned and renamed the K5 from 2021.
Kia Forte
Kia's compact sedan — a value-focused Civic/Corolla rival that ran from 2010 through 2024 before being replaced by the K4.
Kia Cadenza
Kia's near-luxury full-size sedan — a front-drive flagship above the Optima, sold in the US from 2014 through 2020.
Kia Rio
Kia's entry-level subcompact — a budget sedan and hatchback sold in the US from 2001 through 2023.
Kia Stinger
Kia's rear-wheel-drive sport sedan — a landmark car that proved Kia could compete with European performance brands.
Kia EV6
Kia's breakthrough dedicated electric crossover on the E-GMP platform — including the 576-hp EV6 GT.
Kia EV9
Kia's full-size three-row all-electric SUV — a flagship EV on the E-GMP platform, built in Georgia.
Proto / Spirra Spirra
Korea's first homegrown supercar — a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seater built in small numbers from 2008 to 2017 in variants ranging from a 175 hp entry model to a 600 hp CregiT EX flagship.
Renault Korea SM5
The original Samsung Motors launch model — a Nissan Cefiro-based large sedan that anchored the brand for 21 years across three generations.
Renault Korea SM3
Renault Samsung's entry-level compact — first a rebadged Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, then a Renault Fluence twin, plus a pioneering battery-electric variant.
Renault Korea SM7
Renault Samsung's executive flagship sedan — derived from the Nissan Teana, it sat above the SM5 for 15 years.
Renault Korea SM6
A Renault Talisman twin built in Busan — the SM6 was the last remaining Samsung-badged model and the final sedan in the lineup before its 2025 discontinuation.
Renault Korea QM5
Renault Samsung's first SUV — a rebadged second-generation Renault Koleos (Nissan X-Trail platform) that opened the brand's crossover era.
Renault Korea QM3
A rebadged Renault Captur that brought subcompact crossover fashion to the Korean market from 2013 to 2019.
Renault Korea QM6
Renault Samsung's bestselling mid-size SUV — a second-generation Renault Koleos built in Busan from 2016, later rebranded as the Renault Koleos in the Korean market.
Renault Korea XM3
A coupe-crossover built on the CMF-B platform — sold as the XM3 in Korea from 2020 to 2024 before transitioning to the Renault Arkana name.
Renault Korea Arkana
The renamed successor to the XM3 — Renault Korea's coupe-crossover continued under the global Arkana badge from 2024 onward.
Renault Korea Grand Koleos
Renault Korea's first Geely-platform model — a mid-size SUV introduced in June 2024 on the Compact Modular Architecture shared with the Geely Xingyue L.
SsangYong Korando
SsangYong's flagship nameplate — a Jeep-derived off-roader from 1983 that evolved into a modern crossover over four generations.
SsangYong Musso
The direct fruit of SsangYong's Daimler-Benz alliance — a Ken Greenley-styled SUV with Mercedes-Benz engines, produced 1993–2006.
SsangYong Musso (2018)
A revived Musso name on an all-new dual-cab pickup platform, introduced in 2018 and sold globally as KGM Musso.
SsangYong Rexton
SsangYong's body-on-frame flagship SUV since 2001 — styled by Italdesign and named 'Best Value' off-roader six consecutive years by UK four-wheel-drive awards.
SsangYong Chairman
SsangYong's sole luxury sedan — built on the Mercedes-Benz W124 platform, sold in South Korea from 1997 to 2017.
SsangYong Rodius
SsangYong's large 9–11-seat MPV, sold as the Stavic in Australasia and parts of Asia — produced 2004–2019.
SsangYong Kyron
A monocoque mid-size SUV produced 2005–2015, slotting between the Korando and Rexton in SsangYong's range.
SsangYong Actyon
SsangYong's compact crossover-style SUV (2005–2016), also offered as the Actyon Sports pickup in some markets.
SsangYong Tivoli
The crossover that saved SsangYong — launched in 2015 under Mahindra ownership, it returned the company to profitability and remains a core model under the KGM badge.
SsangYong Torres
SsangYong's newest mid-size crossover, launched in South Korea in 2022 and positioned as the successor to the Kyron, now available in EVX electric form.