South Korea is now one of the biggest players in the global car market.
Between the gigantic Hyundai Motor Group and plucky off-road brand KGM, South Korea sells cars all around the world. Historically, Korean cars were known for their value for money but, today, they're some of the most advanced models on sale, with cutting-edge tech and ultra-modern styling.
Here are our 10 favourite cars from Korean carmakers. Most of these options are available as nearly new and used cars for sale at Motorpoint.
- Kia Sportage
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Kia EV3
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Picanto
- Genesis GV70
- Hyundai i10
- Kia EV2
- Hyundai Kona
- KGM Rexton
Kia Sportage
- Family-friendly practicality
- Easy to drive and use
- Kia's long seven-year warranty
If this were a classroom, the cool kids would sneer at the Kia Sportage because it's a proper teacher's pet. This family SUV excels in virtually every category, with a practical cabin, solid build quality, modern styling and easy usability. A recent facelift has given the front end a more square-jawed appearance and has also calmed the slightly busy ride quality of pre-facelift models. Inside, the smart two-spoke steering wheel and dual-screen infotainment system help the Sportage feel right up to date.
Browse used Kia Sportage cars or read our Kia Sportage review
Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Funky retro-futuristic styling
- Excellent practicality
- Strong range and charging performance
The Hyundai Ioniq 5's novelty may now have worn off, but this is still a deeply compelling car. Stark shapes and crisp lines across the bodywork evoke memories of late '80s sci-fi films, and give the car a distinctly 'hatchback' feel. Cleverly, it disguises the fact that the car's dimensions are closer to a modern SUV and, with its pure-EV platform, you get a simply vast amount of interior space within its fairly average footprint. Big-battery versions claim more than 300 miles to a charge, while the 800-volt architecture means very fast public charging speeds.
Search used Hyundai Ioniq 5 cars or read our Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Kia EV3
- Long driving range and fast charging
- Lots of space within its compact footprint
- Comfy ride quality
Every model we've tried from Kia's imaginatively titled 'EV' range of electric cars has been excellent. However, the EV3 might just take the cake as the best all rounder. It's deceptively small at just 4.3 metres long – shorter than a Ford Focus – but the EV 'skateboard' chassis means the wheels are pushed all the way out to the edges for masses of cabin and boot space. In addition, driving range is strong with big-battery models returning well over 350 miles to a full charge. The well-judged ride quality makes it easy to cover those miles too.
Shop used Kia EV3 cars or read our Kia EV3 review
Hyundai Tucson
- Bold, eye-catching design
- Spacious and practical
- Wide choice of engines
This is the sister car to the Kia Sportage and, as a result, shares many of that car's plus points. Not least the spacious, practical cabin complete with a long standard equipment list. However, the Tucson really sells on its styling, which is even bolder than its Kia counterpart. Detailed, segmented headlights transition seamlessly into the bluff, upright front grille while, down the sides, intricate lines help break up the metalwork. Like the Sportage, there are fairly affordable petrol versions, plus full-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid versions that are swift and smooth.
View used Hyundai Tucson cars or read our Hyundai Tucson review
Kia Picanto
- Remarkably spacious for its tiny size
- Low running costs
- Light and agile handling
Some might dismiss the Kia Picanto as a budget car, but take a closer look. This is a diminutive model, measuring barely over 3.6 metres long. However, within that tiny footprint, Kia has squeezed just enough cabin space to seat adults in both rows, plus a few shopping bags in the boot. For a single buyer or couple, this is probably all the space you'll ever need, while the minuscule dimensions make tight parking spots a breeze. It's far from fast with simple, frugal petrol engines under the bonnet, but the low weight means fun, light-footed handling.
See used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
Genesis GV70
- Sumptuous cabin quality
- Smooth EV and long-range diesel options
- Some people might mistake it for a Bentley
UK drivers love their posh German cars, which means they might be sleeping on the superb Genesis lineup. This is the luxury arm of Hyundai – as Lexus is to Toyota – but it feels almost a cut above other premium options thanks to the gorgeous materials and sumptuous designs it uses. The GV70 is a spacious, family-friendly SUV similar to a BMW X3 or Audi Q5, and comes with a choice of turbo petrol and diesel engines, or a powerful fully electric model. We prefer the latter as its serious-yet-silent performance suits the car's luxurious character.
Check out used Genesis cars or read our Genesis reviews
Hyundai i10
- Big space in a small frame
- Grown-up ride quality
- Lots of 'big car' features on the equipment list
The Hyundai i10 is the sister car to the Kia Picanto. Unsurprisingly, it manages the same 'Tardis' trick of squeezing loads of cabin room into its tiny dimensions, making it a doddle to drive in congested city traffic. The teeny Hyundai rides just a fraction softer than the Picanto at the expense of a little handling athleticism, but you'd need to drive them back-to-back to have any chance of spotting the difference. Like the Kia, the i10 has a long standard equipment list that'll easily fool you into thinking you're driving a bigger, more premium model.
Take a look at used Hyundai i10 cars or read our Hyundai i10 review
Kia EV2
- Easy to use
- Packed with features
- Composed driving experience
The EV3 above might be the perfect all-rounder, but the EV2 also puts a strong case forward in an even more compact package. At less than 4.1 metres long, the EV2 has a similar footprint to supermini hatches like the Ford Fiesta, but the clever EV platform and upright bodywork mean interior space is similar to family hatches from the class above. Big-battery versions can cover up to 275 miles on a charge, and neither driver nor passengers will complain much over that distance thanks to the cushioned ride quality and composed handling.
Browse used Kia electric cars or read our Kia EV2 review
Hyundai Kona
- Practical for its size
- Broad selection of powertrains
- More desirable than its predecessor
Among the cutting-edge EVs and genre-defying models in Hyundai's lineup, the sensible Kona SUV may not immediately stand out. However, this car will happily be most things to most drivers, with a practical cabin inside its sensibly sized body, plus a lofty, confidence-inspiring driving position. Those beady lightbars at the front and rear help the latest Kona feel way more modern than its predecessor. And the choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric powertrains means there's a version for every driver.
Shop used Hyundai Kona cars or read our Hyundai Kona review
KGM Rexton
- Genuine off-road and towing ability
- More affordable than many comparable off-roaders
- Lots of standard equipment
We've focused on the Hyundai Motor Group as it accounts for the vast majority of Korea's cars – but don't dismiss KGM if you need a tough, off-road-ready model. The Rexton is a proper workhorse, with 'body-on-frame' construction like a pickup truck. That makes it an ideal choice for serious off-road driving or regular towing, with a muscular diesel engine to back it up. Despite undercutting other body-on-frame rivals by many thousands of pounds, the Rexton still comes with luxuries like leather upholstery and a stocked equipment list.
View used KGM cars or read our KGM reviews
Korean quality, Motorpoint value
Shop used Hyundai cars, used Kia cars, used Genesis cars and used KGM cars, among the thousands of models for sale at Motorpoint. To see more options from the Asian continent, check out our picks for the best Japanese cars on sale.
