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The new Toyota Kluger has got on the wagon.
The Japanese car maker has made a conscious effort to address the Kluger's biggest issue, fuel use.
To this effect the Japanese car maker has updated the thirsty 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine by adding direct injection technology and combining it with a fresh eight-speed automatic transmission.
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Toyota now claims the combined fuel use of the entry-level two-wheel drive Kluger GX is 9.1L/100km, down from 10.2L/100km for the current generation. The new engine also produces and extra 17kW and 13Nm over the outgoing model, bringing total outputs up to 218kW and 350Nm.
The new point of entry for the Kluger range is $43,550 before on-road costs for the two-wheel drive GX, which is a $1360 increase over the current model.
Standard equipment for the GX includes reversing camera with rear parking sensors, hill start assist, cruise control, air-conditioning, privacy glass and a 6.1-inch touchscreen with Toyota's infotainment system, however Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not compatible.
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Mid-range GXL variants start from $53,550 before on-road costs, which is a $2,360 increase over the previous generation.
These models also score a larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen with navigation and digital radio, three-zone air-conditioning, keyless entry and ignition, roof rails, leather accented heated front seats - the driver's being 12-way adjustable - as well as a power tailgate with a independently operated glass hatch.
Top-of-the-range Grande models start from $65,935 before on-road costs, which represents a price increase of $1860 over the current model, and is priced well above its main rival the Mazda CX-9.
The Grande has also had its safety suite boosted with the addition of blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning with autonomous steering control, driver fatigue warning and rear-cross traffic alert.
Its list of standard gear has been boosted over the GXL by the addition of active cruise control, auto high beam, moonroof, ventilated front seats with memory function for the driver's seat, heated exterior mirrors with puddle lamps, anti-dazzling rear-view mirror, second row sunshades and rear 9-inch rear-seat entertainment screen with Blu-ray player.
All-wheel drive is available on all variants and adds a further $4000 to the before on-road costs, except in Grande form where it adds $3981. Claimed fuel use is lifted to 9.5L/100km for all-wheel drive variants.
2017 Toyota Kluger prices*
GX 2WD - $43,550
GX AWD - $47,550
GXL 2WD - $53,550
GXL AWD - $57,550
Grande 2WD - $65,935
Grande AWD - $69,916
*All prices exclude on-road costs
2 Comments
Only one problem. It is still made in America and was hit with the ugly stick at the rear on changing from Japanese assembly
Huh, is and always has been pig ugly, from front or back.