Hyundai Motor Co.'s Tucson small SUV was the carmaker's best-selling vehicle on the global market last month, outpacing the Elantra compact, data showed Monday.

In January, Hyundai Motor sold 51,784 Tucson crossovers, exceeding the Elantra's 48,670, according to South Korea's largest carmaker.

The Elantra, which is sold in the home market as the Avante, has been Hyundai's best-selling vehicle for years thanks to its excellent value, good look and fuel economy. But the Tucson is expected to replace the Elantra at the top this year due to growing demand for recreational vehicles at home and abroad, Hyundai said.

To take advantage of the booming SUV demand, Hyundai plans to launch new SUV models, such as the Kona subcompact SUV and upgraded versions of the existing SUV models in the United States, China and other major markets this year.

In 2017, 667,823 Elantras were sold globally, slightly higher than the Tucson, which hit 645,309 units. (Yonhap)

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