Earlier than you is a automotive that’s about to get very uncommon – a petrol-powered Toyota Kluger… what?!
The automobile you see right here is definitely now going extinct; Toyota lately introduced it might be going hybrid-only on core passenger and SUV nameplates with present hybrid choices.
This 2024 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD with its 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine will quickly be off sale. The Kluger Hybrid will get all of the hype – however is that this petrol nonetheless price a glance?
The turbocharged motor changed the outdated V6 as a part of a working change in 2023, bringing with it some welcome tech upgrades together with a model new infotainment system pulled from premium Toyota and Lexus fashions.
Competitors is heating up within the Kluger’s class Down Beneath. The Kia Sorento lately acquired a mid-life replace, the Hyundai Santa Fe has acquired a serious overhaul, and the extra rugged Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X are lighting up the gross sales charts.
Does this mid-spec petrol Kluger nonetheless have what it takes to sway consumers from an more and more aggressive set of rivals? And is the soon-to-be-axed four-pot turbo price a glance over the in-demand hybrid?
How does the Toyota Kluger evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Kluger in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
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Kluger
How a lot does the Toyota Kluger price?
The GXL AWD on check is priced from $67,940 plus on-road prices.
| Mannequin Variant | $RRP |
|---|---|
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GX 2WD | $54,420 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GX AWD | $58,420 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GX AWD Hybrid | $60,920 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GXL 2WD | $63,940 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD | $67,940 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD Hybrid | $70,440 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger Grande 2WD | $75,880 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger Grande AWD | $78,280 |
| 2024 Toyota Kluger Grande AWD Hybrid | $82,860 |
To see how the Toyota Kluger shapes up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
What’s the Toyota Kluger like on the within?
The general design of the Kluger’s cabin hasn’t actually modified since this technology debuted globally in 2020.
Relying on variant, nevertheless, there’s now a a lot bigger 12.3-inch widescreen contact show built-in into the dashboard, and the top-spec Grande additionally scores a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Right here within the GXL you get the previous, not the latter. The brand new touchscreen is a marked enchancment over the outdated piddly 8.0-inch unit, and it’s working the model’s newest linked interface which is shared with a lot of the Lexus vary.
It’s snappy, simple to make use of, and affords actually excessive decision. The person interface received’t win any design awards for being visually attention-grabbing, however it does the job and is absolutely featured.
From wi-fi Apple CarPlay (and wired Android Auto), to digital radio and Toyota Related Providers, it just about has every little thing lined. Bar the shortage of wi-fi cellphone charger on this spec, I’ve no complaints.
Much less spectacular is the instrument cluster, with low cost and dated-looking analogue dials flanking a nicer supervision show that’s frequent to many Toyotas.
It’s definitely nowhere close to as fashionable or upmarket because the touchscreen nor the digitised panel out there within the Grande. Absolutely Toyota may simply make it normal throughout the lineup, or no less than the GXL given its worth.
Consolation and adjustability is nice up entrance, with comfy and supportive chairs for the motive force and entrance passenger that function eight-way energy adjustment within the GXL. The driving force additionally scores powered lumbar assist.
Even with the larger display, there are many bodily buttons an switches for features just like the local weather management, in addition to AWD controls and the like. However, it’s not too button heavy both.
Storage concerning the entrance cabin is fairly sturdy, with loads of nooks and crannies to retailer your odds and ends.
The shelf underneath the local weather controls lacks a charging pad however will simply home a cellphone whereas in transit, as effectively the nook additional down subsequent to the USB and 12V ports.
Huge cupholders will maintain even the largest Starbucks order (courtesy of the Kluger’s American origins), and there’s a really deep house underneath the sliding front-centre armrest.
Genuinely it’s like a magicians hat, it appears to go on endlessly, and can swallow absolutely anything you’ll be able to put in it.
As you’d count on of a household SUV measuring 4966mm lengthy with a 2850mm wheelbase, second row lodging is a robust level of the Kluger.
There’s loads of room for adults to sit down behind adults, whereas the flat bench and rear flooring means the center passenger isn’t consistently taking part in video games of footsie with their neighbour.
Little ones and their youngster seats are catered for with requisite high tether and ISOFIX factors, and there are many facilities like a 3rd zone of local weather management with roof-mounted vents, in addition to a fold-down centre armrest with cupholder.
You additionally get additional USB charging ports on the rear of the centre console, in addition to a sliding and reclining second row.
Shifting additional again, the third row may be accessed by folding ahead one of many 60:40 parts of the second row, and the 40 half is on the proper aspect for right-hand drive markets – effectively carried out Toyota.
You would possibly discover the design of the Kluger’s third row seems to have room for 3 seats. Within the USA, the Kluger is certainly an eight seater. Australian fashions are solely seven seaters, although.
The second row may be slid ahead to permit extra room for the rearmost passengers, however the Kluger isn’t a patch on one thing like a Hyundai Palisade, not to mention a Kia Carnival.
It’s actually a kid-only zone or greatest left for smaller adults, because the excessive flooring and upright backrest aren’t tremendous comfy if in case you have lanky limbs. There are armrests and cupholders although, in addition to roof-mounted air flow.
With all three rows of seating in use, Toyota claims the Kluger affords 241 litres of storage capability. Whereas it doesn’t sound like a lot, that’s across the similar as a Kia Picanto or Mazda 2.
Fold the third row and you’ve got a claimed 552 litres, and there’s 1150 litres with the second and third rows folded. There are rivals within the phase that quote a lot bigger figures, although not essentially to the identical measurement normal.
All variations of the Kluger function a full-size alloy spare as normal, which is refreshing given an growing quantity of automobiles available on the market are making do with house saver spares or restore kits – notably electrified ones.
See under for the scale and capacities breakdown.
| Dimensions | Toyota Kluger GXL AWD |
|---|---|
| Size | 4966mm |
| Width | 1930mm |
| Top | 1755mm |
| Wheelbase | 2850mm |
| Baggage quantity | 241 litres – third row up 552 litres – third row folded 1150 litres – 2nd and third rows folded |
| Weight – kerb | 1985kg |
What’s underneath the bonnet?
On check now we have the Kluger 2.4T AWD.
| Mannequin | Toyota Kluger 2.4T AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4-litre 4cyl turbo |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Energy | 198kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque | 420Nm @ 1700-3600rpm |
| Drive kind | All-wheel drive |
| Gasoline kind | 91 RON |
| Gasoline tank capability | 68 litres |
| Gasoline financial system – claimed | 8.5L /100km |
| Kerb weight | 1985kg |
| Towing capability | 700kg – unbraked 2000kg – braked |
| Floor clearance | 207mm |
To see how the Toyota Kluger shapes up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
How does the Toyota Kluger drive?
The Kluger is a reasonably comfortable and comfy option to get round.
Consistent with its North American focus, there’s a particular lean in direction of outright consolation versus a few of the extra dialled in tunes of different Toyota fashions. That’s not essentially a unhealthy factor, although.
With a torquey turbocharged engine and gentle tuning, the Kluger petrol wafts alongside in day by day driving. It’s simply extra relaxed than the silky V6, whereas additionally being extra environment friendly – we noticed between 9 and 10L/100km on the readout in combined driving skewed to metropolis and concrete commuting.
I’d advise in opposition to actually pushing it, as a result of the two.4T’s buzzy tone isn’t notably partaking just like the outdated six. It will get going while you want it, so the odd overtake shouldn’t be an issue on a rustic freeway.
Refinement is sweet however not fairly standout. The Kluger’s cabin is effectively insulated from wind noise, although there’s some tyre roar over coarser blacktop. Some rivals do that higher.
The Kluger affords fairly impartial dealing with although like different fashions based mostly on the TNGA platform. There’s a stage of directness which means steering response is fairly fast and correct, although the gentle suspension tuning means it leans by means of the corners.
In AWD guise there’s heaps of grip so that you usually keep away from lighting up these entrance tyres, however because it’ll default to FWD to avoid wasting gasoline it’s possible you’ll discover that 420Nm to the entrance axle can elicit some spinny spinny off the road with a heavy foot.
In any other case, there’s not an entire lot to speak about. The Kluger simply will get the job carried out with out a lot fuss, which nearly makes it somewhat boring.
I’ll praise the plentiful glasshouse, which helps outward visibility on this large rig. Sadly the GXL doesn’t get a encompass digicam, which is reserved completely for the top-spec Grande. There are entrance and rear sensors, although.
Toyota’s newest crop of driver help programs are usually excellent.
Adaptive cruise management and Lane Hint Help mix for semi autonomous freeway functionality which helps to take the load off longer stints, and the programs all behave in a really intuitive and unobtrusive method.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert additionally turn out to be useful for a automobile this huge, making slipping into gaps in visitors or reversing out of view-obstructed carparks that little bit safer.
What do you get?
Three trim ranges can be found in Australia – GX, GXL and Grande.
Kluger GX normal gear:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Automated LED headlights
- Automated high-beam
- LED tail lights
- Fog lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Privateness glass
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay – wi-fi, wired
- Android Auto – wired
- DAB+ digital radio
- 6-speaker sound system
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Keyless entry and begin
- Leather-based-accented steering wheel
- Leather-based-accented gear shifter
- Material upholstery
- Carpet flooring mats
Kluger GXL provides:
- Roof rails
- Energy tailgate
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Leatherette upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
- Energy lumbar assist – driver
Kluger Grande provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Projector LED headlights
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Energy tailgate with kick sensor
- Chrome grille
- Painted rear decrease bumper
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up show
- 11-speaker JBL premium sound system
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Second-row retractable sunshades
- Inside ambient lighting
- Leather-based upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Driver’s seat reminiscence
- Premium gentle instrument panel
- Wooden-look ornamentation
Is the Toyota Kluger protected?
The Toyota Kluger earned a five-star ANCAP security ranking in 2021.
It acquired scores of 90 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 88 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 76 per cent for susceptible highway person safety, and 82 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security gear contains:
- 7 airbags
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection – day, evening
- Bike owner detection – day
- Junction help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Emergency steering help
- Parking sensors – entrance, rear
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing digicam
- Site visitors signal recognition
Kluger Grande provides:
Your complete vary additionally now comes normal with 12 months of complimentary entry to Toyota Related Providers – learn extra right here.
How a lot does the Toyota Kluger price to run?
The 2024 Toyota Kluger is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with driveline protection for as much as seven years if you happen to service throughout the Toyota seller community.
| Aftersales Program | Toyota Kluger 2.4T AWD |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | From $99 per yr |
| Service intervals | 12 months, 15,000 kilometres |
| Service pricing | $265 – every go to for five years |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Kluger
I consider Toyota is making the fitting transfer going hybrid-only with the Kluger in Australia.
This US-focused household SUV makes extra sense with an electrified drivetrain, the place its benchmark effectivity provides the massive Toyota phase management for bigger households seeking to save on the pump.
Past that thrifty hybrid choice, the Kluger doesn’t actually have every other space the place it outshines the competitors.
It’s costlier than most rivals, even with the turbocharged petrol engine, it lacks the extra upmarket atmosphere of the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, and isn’t notably particular to drive both.
However, it’s a strong all-rounder in typical Toyota vogue, and the Japanese model’s low cost capped-price servicing stays an outlier notably at this finish of the mainstream SUV market.
With the Kluger’s turbocharged petrol choice on its option to extinction in Australia, consumers wanting the same drivetrain could have to attend for the brand new Santa Fe to carry its 2.5-litre turbo-petrol late this yr or early subsequent, or maybe take a look at one thing extra premium like a GWM Tank 500 or Mazda CX-90.
In your $68,000 spend, my cash would possible be going in direction of a Hyundai Palisade Elite if I needed one thing large and American-leaning (with the choice of eight seats), or maybe a high-spec Kia Carnival with the torquey and environment friendly turbo-diesel engine.
The Kluger GXL AWD Hybrid’s lofty $70,440 price ticket places the mid-spec Toyota in opposition to top-spec rivals from Korea, whereas the Grande AWD Hybrid is pushing into premium territory at $82,860 – each earlier than on-road prices.
Whereas it’s a strong effort, there are different SUVs on the market that may do a greater job for cheaper.
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