[Edaily Reporter LEE BAE-WOON ] What kinds of cars are teenagers choosing these days when buying their first imported car? The options ranged from flagship models by Mercedes-Benz and BMW to convertibles. The list included not only vehicles priced over 60 million won but also a string of ultra-high-end models that far exceeded 100 million won. Observers note that, barring special cases where teenagers earn high incomes at a young age, it is highly likely that they purchased these vehicles with financial support from family members, such as their parents.

According to statistics from the Korea Automobile Importers Association released on the 7th, a total of 28 imported cars were newly registered under the names of individuals aged 19 or younger from January through July of this year. By brand, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla led the list with eight units each. BMW and BYD followed with three units each, while Lexus and Toyota had two units each, and Land Rover and Volvo had one unit each.

The three who chose BMW purchased the 520i, i4 eDrive40, and X7 xDrive40d, respectively. Among these, the X7 xDrive40d is BMW’s large, three-row luxury SUV, with a domestic retail price of 157.8 million won. The 520i and the electric i4 eDrive40 also cost over 70 million won each. This means there are teenagers who bought a large SUV costing over 100 million won as their first car before even entering the workforce.

The choices made by Mercedes-Benz buyers are also noteworthy. One CLE 200 Cabriolet (approximately 86.4 million won), which can be driven with the top down, was registered under the names of 10 teenagers. One unit each of the large SUVs GLE 300 d 4MATIC (approximately 117.8 million won) and GLE 350 4MATIC (approximately 116.6 million won) were also registered. One CLE 200 Coupe (approximately 80.2 million won) was registered, while two E 200s (approximately 76.6 million won) and two GLC 300 4MATICs (approximately 82.5 million won) were each registered. Not a single model had a sales price below 70 million won.

From Land Rover, one unit of the authentic off-roader, the Defender 110 P300, was registered. The 2026 Defender 110 P300 X-Dynamic SE is priced at 120.17 million won. Rather than demand集中ing on relatively more affordable entry-level models, buyers opted for high-end models across the board—including sedans, coupes, convertibles, and off-roaders.

At Lexus, one unit each of the midsize ES 300h sedan (approximately 71.6 million won) and the RX 350h SUV (approximately 97.4 million won) were registered. At Volvo, one V60 Cross Country B5 AWD (approximately 64.5 million won) was registered. It is noteworthy that they chose a wagon-based crossover, a model that is relatively less popular in the domestic market.

The choices made by the two Toyota buyers are also intriguing. One purchased the midsize Camry Hybrid sedan (approximately 53 million won), while the other bought the luxury Alphard Hybrid minivan (priced between approximately 90 million and 100 million won). The Alphard is a model widely used in Japan as a ceremonial vehicle for celebrities and politicians.

However, not all imported cars registered under the names of teenagers were high-end models. The least expensive vehicle was BYD’s compact electric car, the Dolphin. All three BYD buyers aged 19 or younger chose the base model Dolphin, priced at 24.5 million won.

Tesla, along with Mercedes-Benz, was the brand with the most buyers aged 19 or younger. One Model 3 (approximately 47 million won) and two Model 3 Premium Long Range (approximately 60 million won) were registered. For the Model Y, one L (approximately 73 million won), three Premium (approximately 50 million won), and one Premium Long Range (approximately 67 million won) were registered.

An industry insider analyzed, “Tesla is particularly popular among young consumers familiar with the digital environment, thanks to its over-the-air software updates and advanced driver-assistance features,” adding, “Expectations for Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology likely also influenced purchasing decisions.”