The Korean Automobile Journalists Association has selected the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid as the Car of the Month for March 2023.
This award is determined by the Association’s Car of the Year Selection Committee, which evaluates newly launched vehicles and updated models released within the month from the 1st to the end.
Evaluations are based on five criteria: internal and external design and emotional quality, safety and convenience features, power performance, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as marketability and purchase intention.
Among the new vehicles introduced last month, the GMC Sierra and the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid were nominated for March’s Car of the Month. After a fierce competition, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was ultimately selected with a score of 33.7 out of 50.
The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid received a score of 7.7 out of 10 for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, while earning 6.7 points in both the safety and convenience features, and marketability and purchase intention categories.
Choi Kyung-joong, the president of the Korean Automobile Journalists Association, stated, “The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid offers both EV driving through battery charging and gasoline fuel driving, achieving up to 63km of EV driving in combined driving mode. It boasts a total system output of 306 horsepower and an all-wheel drive system, highlighting its powerful performance and acceleration. He added, “Preventive safety features have been enhanced for customer safety, and ‘Toyota Connect’, the infotainment system, is provided to support a joyful car life.”
Isang Jin daedusj@autodiary.kr