Hyundai Avante is fourth best-selling vehicle

Hyundai Motor’s Avante was the fourth most popular car in the world this year, according to Forbes.

Forbes, citing LMC Automotive’s “The World’s Most Popular Cars” list, said the Avante has taken the No. 4 position on the list, which is usually dominated by U.S., Japanese and German cars.

Sales of the small sedan, sold in the United States under the name Elantra, were estimated to be 866,000 this year, Forbes reported. That was an increase of 11 percent over a year earlier, Forbes said.

The Avante is Hyundai’s all-time best-selling model.

Forbes said Ford’s Focus topped the list with estimates sales of 1.1 million. Focus kept its throne for the second straight year since it overtook Toyota’s Corolla. The Corolla finished second again with sales of 1,001,141, Forbes said.

The Volkswagen Jetta was No. 3 with 905,869 units, while the Chevrolet Cruze came just behind the Avante at 729,000.

Toyota was also in No. 6 with the Camry at 728,230 units. No. 7 to No. 10 were the Volkswagen Golf (720,440), Ford Fiesta (705,287), Honda CR-V (697,955) and Volkswagen Polo (686,000).

BY MOON GWANG-LIP [joe@joongang.co.kr]