Another month has passed, and several automakers have released their May sales figures. Hybrids played a key role in driving growth, as the average price of gas stays well above $4 a gallon.

This trend has benefited brands like Hyundai and Kia, which provide a variety of hybrid and electric options, though not every company enjoyed success last month. Ford experienced a sales drop, extending a recent pattern, even as the affordable Maverick emerged as a standout model.

The auto sector continues to navigate challenges, such as tariffs that are disrupting products and strategies. There remains time for the market to shift, but for now, here are the May auto sales winners and losers.

Winner: Kia Breaks An All-Time Sales Record

Last month, Kia achieved a new sales record with 80,502 vehicles sold. That marks an 11 percent rise compared to May 2025, led by the Sportage SUV as the top model. Hybrids made up a significant share of sales, climbing 179 percent.

The Sportage Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid posted gains of 171 and 101 percent, while Carnival Hybrid sales rose 32 percent. Year to date, Kia has sold 360,220 vehicles, up 2.0 percent from the first five months of 2025.

Loser: Ford's Sales Slip

Ford sales fell 13.3 percent year over year in May, totaling 181,627 vehicles. Most models declined, including the Mustang, Bronco Sport, Expedition, and F-Series. The Ranger posted the steepest drop at 23.3 percent.

Positive performers included the Maverick, which rose 10 percent and offers a hybrid option appealing amid elevated fuel costs. Bronco sales increased 5.2 percent, and Explorer sales climbed 8.8 percent.

Winner: Hyundai's Sales Surge Continues

Hyundai sold 87,468 vehicles last month, up 3.0 percent, with year-to-date sales rising 1.0 percent. Electrified models fueled the growth, as hybrid sales jumped 90 percent year over year. The Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra, and Sonata hybrids each set monthly records.

The Tucson SUV led as the top model with a 3.0 percent gain, followed by the Elantra and the Palisade, which rose 7.0 and 17.9 percent. The Ioniq 5 EV also advanced 28 percent for the month, up 16 percent year over year.

Loser: The Hyundai Ioniq 6 Is Virtually Dead

Hyundai recently confirmed it would offer only the high-performance Ioniq 6 N in the United States and drop standard versions. This shows in the results, with just 176 units sold, an 85 percent decline from May 2025.

Year-to-date EV sales are down 79 percent, though buyers can still choose the N model with up to 650 horsepower and a 3.2-second sprint to 62 miles per hour.

Winner: Mazda Miata Leads Affordable Sports Cars

The Mazda MX-5 Miata saw strong renewed interest last month, with sales surging 196.6 percent to 1,053 units, mostly soft-top versions. Year to date, Mazda has sold 3,911 Miatas, up 10.9 percent.

It outsold the Subaru BRZ, which totaled 255 units after a 21.8 percent drop. Honda sold 319 Preludes, a new model this year that aligns with expectations and poses no immediate threat to the Miata. Mazda sales rose 35.0 percent in May but remain down 6.9 percent year to date.

Winner: WRX Sales Soar

After several months of declines for the brand sports sedan, Subaru WRX sales have rebounded. The new entry-level model, priced from $33,690, helped drive significant gains in May.

The WRX jumped 148 percent year over year, with 1,195 units sold compared to 482 last May. Year to date, Subaru has moved 5,875 WRXs and shows continued momentum.