The Toyota All-New RAV4, named Car of the Month for July 2026 by the Korean Automotive Journalists Association. [Korean Automotive Journalists Association]
The Toyota All-New RAV4, named Car of the Month for July 2026 by the Korean Automotive Journalists Association. [Korean Automotive Journalists Association]

The Korean Automotive Journalists Association has named the Toyota All-New RAV4 its Car of the Month for July 2026.

The association's Car of the Year selection committee announced Monday that the All-New RAV4 earned 56 out of a possible 70 points to claim the monthly honor.

The monthly award covers newly launched models and partially updated vehicles released that month. Judges evaluate entries across seven categories: design and emotional quality, driving performance and energy efficiency, safety and advanced driving technology, infotainment and connected systems, space utilization and practicality, price competitiveness and product value, and overall product appeal and purchase attractiveness.

Three models released last month were in contention — the Audi The New Q3, the Toyota All-New RAV4 and the Ford All-New Expedition. The RAV4 received the highest score among the three and was selected as the winner.

The All-New RAV4 scored 8.3 out of 10 in driving performance and energy efficiency, safety and advanced driving technology, and overall product appeal and purchase attractiveness. It received 8 points in design and emotional quality and price competitiveness and product value, and 7.7 points in infotainment and connected systems.

Won Seon-ung, chairman of the Car of the Year selection committee, said the sixth-generation All-New RAV4 "represents the pinnacle of Toyota's 'multi-pathway' electrification strategy, standing out for a hybrid system that delivers both power and efficiency, as well as dramatically improved NVH quietness." He added that "particularly in the domestic PHEV market, the introduction of an unrivaled 77 km EV range and 50 kW DC fast-charging capability presents a new paradigm for the eco-friendly SUV segment."

Won also said the vehicle's next-generation Arin platform, combined with U+ Drive infotainment optimized for the Korean market and a more refined GR Sport trim, "perfectly meets the diverse lifestyles of today's consumers."

However, Won noted areas for improvement. "Compared to the vehicle's excellent mechanical reliability and high-tech specifications, the heavy use of hard plastic materials around the dashboard and door panels leaves something to be desired in terms of emotional quality relative to the price," he said. He added that addressing minor details such as visibility issues with some instrument cluster UI elements "will allow the model to firmly maintain its reputation as a global best-selling SUV in the Korean market as well."

Meanwhile, the Korean Automotive Journalists Association has been selecting and announcing a Car of the Month since 2019. Last month, Hyundai Motor Company's The New Grandeur took the honor.

Models named Car of the Month receive the special benefit of advancing directly to the first round of final judging for the Korea Car of the Year (K-COTY) award, bypassing the first-half and second-half preliminary rounds.


kwater@heraldcorp.com