2025 Toyota Kluger evaluation | CarExpert

The Toyota Kluger is a seven-seat SUV with so much to supply the household purchaser.

Although the present technology arrived in Australia in 2021, the Kluger nameplate has existed domestically since 2003 and has at all times been a well-liked dependable vendor.

Our automobiles are sourced from the US, and all the vary of Klugers at the moment on sale in Australia are hybrid and all-wheel drive. That’s not too frequent on this section, the place it competes with a variety of different giant SUVs.

Such opponents embrace the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X, which each comprise body-on-frame development and boast seven-seat capability however outsold the car-based (monocoque) Kluger in 2024.

Toyota’s personal ladder-frame Prado managed 9868 deliveries through the swap to the brand new 250 Sequence technology final yr, when it fell from its perennial section management place to be dwarfed by the Everest on 26,494 and the MU-X on 17,978.

Nonetheless, it fared significantly better than Toyota’s different body-on-frame giant SUV, the HiLux ute-based Fortuner, with 3042 gross sales.

WATCH: Paul’s video evaluation of the 2021 Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid AWD

Within the realm of devoted road-going SUVs, the Kluger shapes up towards seven-seat wagon choices just like the Mazda CX-80, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, GWM Tank 500 and Chery Tiggo 8 Professional.

The Kluger outsold all these fashions convincingly in 2024, with the one actual exception being the Sorento that got here inside 100 models.

It’s solely partway via its life cycle, however the Kluger nonetheless tends to mix into the background in on a regular basis site visitors with its simple method to dependable household motoring.

On check right here is the top-spec Kluger Grande, which rings up at greater than $80,000 earlier than on-roads. Is it a quiet achiever regardless of its premium worth?

How does the Toyota Kluger evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Kluger towards equally sized automobiles.

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Kluger

How a lot does the Toyota Kluger price?

The Kluger Grande prices $82,860 earlier than on-roads – a whopping $21,940 greater than the range-opening GX.

That’s additionally greater than range-topping Everest Platinum 4×4 V6 at $81,200 earlier than on-roads, and the top-spec MU-X X-Terrain 3.0L 4×4 at $74,400 earlier than on-roads.

However it’s lower than the plug-in hybrid Mazda CX-80 P50e Azami at $87,200 earlier than on-roads, and the Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line at $84,660 earlier than on-roads.

Nonetheless, the Kluger stays dearer than the GWM Tank 500 Extremely Hybrid ($73,990 drive-away), and the Chery Tiggo 8 Professional Max Final ($47,990 drive-away).

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What’s the Toyota Kluger like on the within?

Properly-built and useful, if not a little bit bland.

This a basic instance of Toyota designing an inside to do a job with out being flashy. Up entrance, you’ll see two 12.3-inch screens – one a touchscreen infotainment show and the opposite a digital instrument cluster disguised in a traditional-looking housing.

The infotainment show is graphically clear and easy, and also you get wi-fi smartphone mirroring as normal throughout the vary. Whereas Apple CarPlay labored with out situation for many of our week with the automotive, it did are likely to drop out when passing underneath particular Melbourne toll cubicles – a trait per different Toyota fashions.

Nonetheless, we discovered it simple to stay with because of the number of buttons on the wheel. Toyota’s native consumer interface can also be sharp and intuitive due to the always-present ribbon down the display screen’s proper edge.

The digital instrument show, in the meantime, reveals two gauges and virtually presents like a standard cluster. On the left is Toyota’s typical hybrid system readout, whereas on the left is the automotive’s speedometer.

There’s a variety of widgets you may scroll via utilizing the directional buttons on the wheel, that are proven throughout the two gauges. Between them is the place further customisable info is displayed, together with the automotive’s cruise management and security help features.

Between it and the motive force is, in fact, the steering wheel, which is leather-accented throughout the Kluger lineup.

It’s pretty giant and feels good within the fingers, although a small criticism is that it feels too skinny at 9 and three o’clock. There’s at the least a cushty vary of adjustment for each tilt and attain, making it simple for many drivers to get in and sorted.

We don’t just like the inclusion of gloss-black plastic on the central spoke, nor the cheap-looking centre boss. The silver plastic trim across the edge may simply be not noted too, although some polish would match it with the glossier silver accents discovered elsewhere within the cabin.

To the Kluger’s credit score, all the wheel’s buttons are completed in boring plastic and are fully bodily. It’s an analogous story with the automotive’s local weather system, which can also be bodily however – annoyingly – completed with gloss-black plastic.

We perceive Toyota is attempting to make the entire infotainment/local weather panel meld into one cohesive unit, however as a result of its bezels are shiny the local weather buttons are too. That doesn’t imply we prefer it – boring plastic is at all times higher for high-touch surfaces.

In any case, the system is straightforward to function because of its clear markings and the very fact it’s fitted with these bodily buttons and knobs. Local weather info is displayed on a small central display screen or in the course of each knobs.

Heated and ventilated seats are a bonus, as is three-zone local weather management. Regardless of all these options and the required buttons to manage them, together with one for rear local weather, Toyota has miraculously retained one button clean right here.

Transferring down reveals a refined storage nook cleverly disguised as a dashboard moulding, which sits above a extra typical house for telephones and wallets. In there, you’ll additionally discover two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, and a 12V outlet.

Behind that may be a giant wood-look panel, a design factor discovered sporadically all through the Kluger’s cabin in solely the top-spec Grande. It seems to be high quality and matches effectively with the lighter-coloured upholstery, however there are some unusual quirks on the centre console particularly.

We like the way in which the wooden seems to be towards the silver trim, however the swathes of ugly boring black plastic right here take away from the extra elegant aesthetic.

Given we don’t just like the gloss-black finishes used elsewhere, the boring panels right here appear applicable, however there’s a jarring distinction between them and the encircling wood-look floor.

That sq. panel on the left is especially awkward, and the cheap-looking buttons it homes seem to have been haphazardly thrown collectively. Certain, they’re massive and simple to find on the transfer, however we are able to’t assist however really feel there needed to have been a classier method.

The drive mode swap additionally appears to be floating aimlessly in a sea of plastic. It’s virtually like somebody fitted a bigger panel right here than Toyota knew what to do with, which is odd provided that the therapy of this space appears rather more intentional in one thing just like the LandCruiser 300 Sequence – and even lower-spec Klugers.

Both method, you do nonetheless get cheap storage choices like two cupholders and that cubby in entrance, in addition to a big centre console storage field.

When you’re questioning a few wi-fi cellphone charger, you’ll discover it inside that storage field beneath a big lid. We like this method because it retains telephones effectively out of sight whereas on the street, although cooling whereas charging is a priority.

Being the top-spec Kluger grade, we are able to admire the luxuries fitted right here by Toyota, even when they’re prone to push the SUV’s last worth above $90,000 as soon as it’s in your driveway.

You get powered seat adjustment, a head-up show, a sound system that sounds clear and crisp, and leather-based upholstery – the latter of which was optioned in Toyota’s ‘Pure Beige’ color in our tester. On that notice, we discovered the seats to be plush and comfy.

At a look, it’s definitely a well-presented inside. The one factor that we expect may elevate it additional could be a black headliner, however perhaps that’d be encroaching too far into Lexus territory for Toyota’s liking.

The dashboard stays pretty busy as an entire, and there’s one other a kind of discreet storage nooks tucked away forward of the passenger. Different storage choices embrace bottle holders within the doorways and a sun shades holder within the ceiling.

Then there’s the second row, which adheres to the almost-luxury transient with out going excessive.

The seats are completed in the identical leather-based as up entrance, and also you additionally get the identical leather-based door card inserts with wood-look trim items.

There’s a fold-down centre armrest with two cupholders, in addition to air vents on both facet of the ceiling. For consolation you’ll discover a easy local weather interface on the again of the centre console, although second-row passengers miss out on any type of seat heating or air flow. Charging is by way of both of the 2 USB-C ports under.

You’ll additionally discover window shades on the facet home windows, in addition to a colossal sunroof that just about stretches above the third row of seating. Consolation within the second row isn’t too unhealthy, as there’s an enough quantity of cushioning and help for longer drives – other than the everyday middle-seat drawbacks.

A criticism right here is the underside of the entrance seats. For lack of a greater phrase, they merely look yucky, virtually as if some unfastened items of fabric have been caught there with Velcro.

Regardless, you’ll discover mushy map pockets on the backs of every entrance seat, in addition to bottle holders within the door playing cards for additional space for storing. You might also discover rails on the ground, that are there to supply entry to the third row.

Folding the second row of seats and sliding it ahead creates sufficient house to clamber into the again, which is helped by a few discreet seize handles within the C-pillars. Regardless of a lightweight on the ceiling, it’s surprisingly darkish again right here, and maybe expectedly cramped.

It’s not a great house for full-grown adults, although it may fare okay for kids on longer drives. Facilities again listed here are restricted to 2 cupholders on both facet.

Boot house with the third row folded is sort of good. There’s a protracted, principally flat load ground with no lip on the backside of the boot opening, making it simple to slip heavier objects in over the sturdy arduous plastic on the sting.

Having the third row in place additionally isn’t the top of the world, although vertical house shortly turns into compromised. You gained’t discover any extra space underneath the rearmost portion of the ground, as that’s the place the instruments to vary a wheel are stored.

Luckily for Kluger house owners, a full-size spare wheel is fitted as normal.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Your entire Kluger vary is powered by the identical 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, mated with two motor mills, one every on the entrance and rear axles. Energy is shipped to all 4 wheels via a constantly variable computerized transmission (CVT).

Our week with the automotive primarily concerned freeway driving, alongside transient metropolis stints, with some extra spirited driving on a closed course thrown in for good measure. That’s seemingly why our gas economic system approached the 7.0L/100km mark.

If driving is stored to solely every day commuting, you’d seemingly see a determine a lot nearer to Toyota’s declare – particularly when you’re primarily doing low-speed, city driving.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

How does the Toyota Kluger drive?

In a no-nonsense method – in line with its inside presentation and the established order of most Toyota SUVs.

When you’re in and comfy, which takes however a second because of the Grande’s power-adjustable seats, you’ll instantly discover how massive the Kluger feels round you.

There’s a great deal of house between the 2 entrance seats, and the far extremities of the infotainment show require a good attain ahead when you’re not among the many taller people. That’s all to be anticipated given the Kluger’s monstrous exterior proportions, but it surely’ll take a second to get used to when you’re coming from a smaller automotive.

Pull the gear selector right down to Drive, and also you’re able to go. The very first thing you’ll discover is simply how quiet the Kluger is – you’ll virtually definitely set off in electrical automobile (EV) mode on account of Toyota’s hybrid system, with not more than a faint whirr because the soundtrack.

You don’t count on that from such a giant automotive, not to mention one which isn’t an EV or plug-in hybrid. It’s fairly spectacular, and relying on the mode chosen and your driving fashion, you’ll discover the Kluger prioritises EV driving.

Even on higher-speed roads the place combustion energy is critical, the Kluger will flick again to EV mode when coasting or underneath minimal throttle enter.

On roads just like the Hume Freeway, you’re extra prone to be utilizing the petrol engine more often than not, and our gas economic system on drives comprising principally freeway driving was a lot nearer to Toyota’s declare.

Realistically, any gas economic system decrease than 7.0L/100km is an distinctive determine for a automotive that weighs greater than two tonnes and figures nearer to six.0L/100km are only a bonus. Meaning the Kluger may be very environment friendly and comfy on lengthy drives, thanks partly to its top-tier cabin refinement.

The Kluger Grande Hybrid is one of some Toyota fashions that genuinely really feel like they’d qualify for the Lexus lineup, alongside others just like the Camry SL – with which the Kluger shares a platform.

On-road driving is exceptionally quiet. The cabin does a superb job of filtering out annoying street noise regardless of the Grande’s big 20-inch wheels, whereas wind noise is equally absent due to the Kluger’s swept-back windscreen.

On the 18-inch wheels fitted to the Kluger GX and GXL, we’d count on this automotive to be even quieter. Because it stands, there’s nonetheless loads of meat on the Grande’s tyres, and its polished alloy wheels definitely look the half.

As such, the Grande does a great job of ironing out imperfections on the street floor. That trait is supported by its plush suspension, which is mushy with out being overly bouncy.

It’s precisely the type of suspension setup you’d hope for from a automotive just like the Kluger, and it’s the type of journey high quality that places it among the many likes of Toyota’s smoothest driving automobiles.

Naturally, it isn’t all good. When it’s time for the petrol engine to kick in, it does so with a reasonably uninspiring tone and the everyday dreary sound related to CVTs.

The petrol engine fitted to the Kluger is among the many blandest on Toyota’s components shelf, providing the identical displacement and induction sort as that discovered within the likes of the Camry for greater than 5 years.

It’s due to this fact geared for effectivity and never a lot else. The Kluger can also be but to obtain the newest technology of Toyota’s hybrid know-how, which debuted in Australia in 2024 with the brand new Camry and guarantees elevated energy outputs and higher effectivity.

As a result of the Kluger is midway via its mannequin cycle, it’s unlikely to obtain that powertrain replace any time quickly.

However, the Kluger’s present powertrain is enough for the job it must do. It has an applicable quantity of energy for a big SUV, however laying into the throttle gained’t have it scurrying away in a rush.

In fact, that’s because of its sheer heft, and that’s one thing you’re feeling on the street. It’s on no account unwieldy, but it surely’s clear you’re behind the wheel of a heavy automobile at freeway speeds.

You possibly can, nonetheless, flick via three drive modes to regulate the way in which the Kluger responds. Sport mode, as an illustration, grants most energy and tweaks the CVT’s behaviour, whereas Eco mode focuses on EV driving and dulls energy for improved effectivity.

It’s all pretty self-explanatory, which can also be the case with the Kluger’s guide ‘shifting’ mode if you wish to take management of the CVT your self.

Within the metropolis, you’ll discover the Kluger’s five-metre size. Luckily, there’s a wholesome array of security gear included with the Grande trim stage.

All Klugers get gear like entrance and rear parking sensors and a reverse digicam, however the Grande is the one one to additionally get a surround-view digicam.

That’s particularly helpful in tight automotive parks, and the standard of the Kluger’s cameras is of a excessive normal. We nonetheless admire the visibility supplied by the Kluger’s home windows, because it’s simple to do head checks and look ahead to objects on both facet.

Although the rear window feels distant, there’s a equally bid field of regard by way of the rear-view mirror too. Aiding right here is the reversing digicam, whereas the protection methods fitted to the entrance of the Kluger assist negate its excessive bonnet.

The Kluger’s on-road security gear is all stable. You get the complete suite of adaptive cruise management and lane centring throughout the Kluger vary, and all of it works reliably.

Adaptive cruise management matches the site visitors round you effectively, although lane centring tends to float the automotive slowly in direction of the left of the lane. It’s additionally hesitant to use important steering lock on tighter bends, but it surely gained’t battle when you attempt to coerce it round.

It really works effectively sufficient to be snug, and on lengthy stretches of freeway there are minimal points. That makes it exceptionally simple to plough via the kilometres on a street journey.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What do you get?

Three distinct grades of Kluger can be found in Australia, and the Grande sits on the high quality.

Kluger GX gear highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Computerized parabola LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• LED tail-lights
• Fog lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Privateness glass
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi and wired Apple CarPlay
• Wi-fi and wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Six-speaker sound system
• Three-zone local weather management
• Keyless entry and begin
• Leather-based-accented steering wheel
• Leather-based-accented gear shifter
• Material upholstery
• Carpet ground mats

Kluger GXL provides:

• Roof rails
• Energy tailgate
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Leatherette upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• Eight-way power-adjustable entrance seats
• Energy driver seat lumbar help

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 mushy instrument panel
• Wooden-look ornamentation

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

Is the Toyota Kluger secure?

The Toyota Kluger wears a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing performed in 2021.

Normal security gear contains:

• Seven airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection (day/night time)
  • Bicycle owner detection (day)
  • Junction help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Emergency steering help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane Hint Help
• Site visitors signal recognition
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance and rear parking sensors

Grande provides:

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

How a lot does the Toyota Kluger price to run?

The 2024 Toyota Kluger is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Its engine and driveline may be lined for as much as seven years, offered you preserve your automobile throughout the Toyota seller community.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid

When you want a big seven-seat household SUV that may merely get the job accomplished with minimal bells and whistles, the Kluger is a superb choose.

As primary and as uninspiring as it might be as a bundle, there’s no arguing that the Kluger serves its goal effectively. You get a full suite of security tech to maintain households secure, in addition to the effectivity advantages of a tried-and-tested hybrid powertrain – even when it isn’t the newest and biggest system accessible.

Naturally, with the Grande flagship you additionally get a heap extra gear, together with extremely snug seats as a part of a usually upmarket inside.

Refinement, ergonomics and lodging are additionally sturdy factors of the Kluger, because it’s quiet and comfy whereas remaining spacious sufficient for giant households and their groceries and baggage. Even with all seven seats in use, you’ll discover there’s loads of room behind them.

However the Grande seemingly isn’t the choose of the bunch.

It prices almost $90,000 as soon as every little thing is claimed and accomplished, which is a big sum of money for a household automotive. Your entire Kluger vary can also be AWD and hybrid, which implies there’s not so much mechanically distinctive in regards to the Grande.

When you think about the vary begins at roughly $60,000 earlier than on-roads, it doesn’t make a lot sense to splurge that rather more until you actually need or want the extra luxurious fittings.

Its measurement can also be a consideration. It’s arduous to pack seven seats right into a smaller automotive, however the Kluger is particularly lengthy and heavy. These dwelling in built-up areas would seemingly be higher off with one thing smaller, until seven seats are essential.

The Kluger Grande is undeniably a stable three-row SUV, we simply assume the cheaper variants are extra applicable for the typical Aussie household.

Thinking about shopping for a Toyota Kluger? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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