Korean carmakers saw their combined diesel sales, excluding those for sport utility vehicles, more than double last year to 29,626 units, according to industry data released on Monday.

Diesel car sales still make up a small fraction of total car sales in Korea, where a total of 1.54 million vehicles were sold last year.

With their popularity growing among import car purchasers here, the acceptance for diesel-powered cars is spreading to Korean-brand cars.

For Hyundai’s i30 hatchback, for instance, 85 percent of its car sales were dominated by gasoline models in 2011. But its diesel sales soared to reach 52 percent last year.

Industry watchers say Korean carmakers have improved mechanical technology to reduce the characteristic noise of diesel cars ― the main complaint among potential buyers.

(jylee@heraldcorp.com)