2025 Toyota Kluger review | CarExpert

The Toyota Kluger is a seven-seat SUV with a lot to offer the family buyer.

Though the current generation arrived in Australia in 2021, the Kluger nameplate has existed locally since 2003 and has always been a popular reliable seller.

Our vehicles are sourced from the United States, and the entire range of Klugers currently on sale in Australia are hybrid and all-wheel drive. That’s not too common in this segment, where it competes with a range of other large SUVs.

Such competitors include the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X, which both comprise body-on-frame construction and boast seven-seat capacity but outsold the car-based (monocoque) Kluger in 2024.

Toyota’s own ladder-frame Prado managed 9868 deliveries during the switch to the new 250 Series generation last year, when it fell from its perennial segment leadership position to be dwarfed by the Everest on 26,494 and the MU-X on 17,978.

Still, it fared much better than Toyota’s other body-on-frame large SUV, the HiLux ute-based Fortuner, with 3042 sales.

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

In the realm of dedicated road-going SUVs, the Kluger shapes up against seven-seat wagon options like the Mazda CX-80, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, GWM Tank 500 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro.

The Kluger outsold all those models convincingly in 2024, with the only real exception being the Sorento that came within 100 units.

It’s only partway through its life cycle, but the Kluger still tends to blend into the background in everyday traffic with its straightforward approach to reliable family motoring.

On test here is the top-spec Kluger Grande, which rings up at more than $80,000 before on-roads. Is it a quiet achiever despite its premium price?

How much does the Toyota Kluger cost?

The Kluger Grande costs $82,860 before on-roads – a whopping $21,940 more than the range-opening GX.

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

But it is less than the plug-in hybrid Mazda CX-80 P50e Azami at $87,200 before on-roads, and the Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line at $84,660 before on-roads.

However, the Kluger remains dearer than the GWM Tank 500 Ultra Hybrid ($73,990 drive-away), and the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate ($47,990 drive-away).

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What is the Toyota Kluger like on the inside?

Well-built and functional, if not a little bland.

This a classic example of Toyota designing an interior to do a job without being flashy. Up front, you’ll see two 12.3-inch screens – one a touchscreen infotainment display and the other a digital instrument cluster disguised in a traditional-looking housing.

The infotainment display is graphically clean and simple, and you get wireless smartphone mirroring as standard across the range. While Apple CarPlay worked without issue for most of our week with the car, it did tend to drop out when passing under specific Melbourne toll booths – a trait consistent with other Toyota models.

Still, we found it easy to live with thanks to the selection of buttons on the wheel. Toyota’s native user interface is also sharp and intuitive because of the always-present ribbon down the screen’s right edge.

The digital instrument display, meanwhile, shows two gauges and almost presents like a traditional cluster. On the left is Toyota’s typical hybrid system readout, while on the left is the car’s speedometer.

There’s a range of widgets you can scroll through using the directional buttons on the wheel, which are shown within the two gauges. Between them is where additional customisable information is displayed, including the car’s cruise control and safety assist functions.

Between it and the driver is, of course, the steering wheel, which is leather-accented across the Kluger lineup.

It’s fairly large and feels nice in the hands, though a small complaint is that it feels too thin at 9 and 3 o’clock. There’s at least a comfortable range of adjustment for both tilt and reach, making it easy for most drivers to get in and sorted.

We don’t like the inclusion of gloss-black plastic on the central spoke, nor the cheap-looking centre boss. The silver plastic trim around the edge could easily be left out too, though some polish would match it with the glossier silver accents found elsewhere in the cabin.

To the Kluger’s credit, all of the wheel’s buttons are finished in dull plastic and are entirely physical. It’s a similar story with the car’s climate system, which is also physical but – annoyingly – finished with gloss-black plastic.

We understand Toyota is trying to make the whole infotainment/climate panel meld into one cohesive unit, but because its bezels are glossy the climate buttons are too. That doesn’t mean we like it – dull plastic is always better for high-touch surfaces.

In any case, the system is easy to operate thanks to its clear markings and the fact it’s fitted with those physical buttons and knobs. Climate information is displayed on a small central screen or in the middle of both knobs.

Heated and ventilated seats are a bonus, as is three-zone climate control. Despite all those features and the necessary buttons to control them, including one for rear climate, Toyota has miraculously retained one button blank here.

Moving down reveals a subtle storage nook cleverly disguised as a dashboard moulding, which sits above a more typical space for phones and wallets. In there, you’ll also find two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, and a 12V outlet.

Behind that is a large wood-look panel, a design element found sporadically throughout the Kluger’s cabin in only the top-spec Grande. It looks fine and matches well with the lighter-coloured upholstery, but there are some strange quirks on the centre console in particular.

We like the way the wood looks against the silver trim, but the swathes of unsightly dull black plastic here take away from the more classy aesthetic.

Given we don’t like the gloss-black finishes used elsewhere, the dull panels here seem appropriate, but there’s a jarring contrast between them and the surrounding wood-look surface.

That square panel on the left is particularly awkward, and the cheap-looking buttons it houses appear to have been haphazardly thrown together. Sure, they’re big and easy to locate on the move, but we can’t help but feel there had to have been a classier approach.

The drive mode switch also seems to be floating aimlessly in a sea of plastic. It’s almost like someone fitted a larger panel here than Toyota knew what to do with, which is odd given that the treatment of this area seems much more intentional in something like the LandCruiser 300 Series – or even lower-spec Klugers.

Either way, you do still get reasonable storage options like two cupholders and that cubby in front, as well as a large centre console storage box.

If you’re wondering about a wireless phone charger, you’ll find it inside that storage box underneath a large lid. We like this approach as it keeps phones well out of sight while on the road, though cooling while charging is a concern.

Being the top-spec Kluger grade, we can appreciate the luxuries fitted here by Toyota, even if they’re likely to push the SUV’s final price above $90,000 once it’s in your driveway.

You get powered seat adjustment, a head-up display, a sound system that sounds clear and crisp, and leather upholstery – the latter of which was optioned in Toyota’s ‘Natural Beige’ colour in our tester. On that note, we found the seats to be plush and comfortable.

At a glance, it’s certainly a well-presented interior. The only thing that we think could elevate it further would be a black headliner, but maybe that’d be encroaching too far into Lexus territory for Toyota’s liking.

The dashboard remains fairly busy as a whole, and there’s another one of those discreet storage nooks tucked away ahead of the passenger. Other storage options include bottle holders in the doors and a sunglasses holder in the ceiling.

Then there’s the second row, which adheres to the almost-luxury brief without going over the top.

The seats are finished in the same leather as up front, and you also get the same leather door card inserts with wood-look trim pieces.

There’s a fold-down centre armrest with two cupholders, as well as air vents on either side of the ceiling. For comfort you’ll find a simple climate interface on the back of the centre console, though second-row passengers miss out on any form of seat heating or ventilation. Charging is via either of the two USB-C ports below.

You’ll also find window shades on the side windows, as well as a colossal sunroof that almost stretches above the third row of seating. Comfort in the second row isn’t too bad, as there’s an adequate amount of cushioning and support for longer drives – apart from the typical middle-seat drawbacks.

A complaint here is the bottom of the front seats. For lack of a better word, they simply look yucky, almost as if some loose pieces of cloth have been stuck there with Velcro.

Regardless, you’ll find soft map pockets on the backs of each front seat, as well as bottle holders in the door cards for extra storage space. You may also notice rails on the floor, which are there to provide access to the third row.

Folding the second row of seats and sliding it forward creates enough space to clamber into the back, which is helped by a couple of discreet grab handles in the C-pillars. Despite a light on the ceiling, it’s surprisingly dark back here, and perhaps expectedly cramped.

It’s not an ideal space for full-grown adults, though it could fare okay for children on longer drives. Amenities back here are limited to two cupholders on either side.

Boot space with the third row folded is quite good. There’s a long, mostly flat load floor with no lip at the bottom of the boot opening, making it easy to slide heavier items in over the durable hard plastic on the edge.

Having the third row in place also isn’t the end of the world, though vertical space quickly becomes compromised. You won’t find any more space under the rearmost portion of the floor, as that’s where the tools to change a wheel are kept.

Fortunately for Kluger owners, a full-size spare wheel is fitted as standard.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The entire Kluger range is powered by the same 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, mated with two motor generators, one each on the front and rear axles. Power is sent to all four wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Our week with the car primarily involved highway driving, alongside brief city stints, with some more spirited driving on a closed course thrown in for good measure. That’s likely why our fuel economy approached the 7.0L/100km mark.

If driving is kept to solely daily commuting, you’d likely see a figure much closer to Toyota’s claim – especially if you’re primarily doing low-speed, urban driving.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How does the Toyota Kluger drive?

In a no-nonsense manner – in keeping with its interior presentation and the status quo of most Toyota SUVs.

Once you’re in and comfortable, which takes but a moment thanks to the Grande’s power-adjustable seats, you’ll immediately notice how big the Kluger feels around you.

There’s loads of space between the two front seats, and the far extremities of the infotainment display require a fair reach forward if you’re not among the taller folk. That’s all to be expected given the Kluger’s monstrous exterior proportions, but it’ll take a second to get used to if you’re coming from a smaller car.

Pull the gear selector down to Drive, and you’re ready to go. The first thing you’ll notice is just how quiet the Kluger is – you’ll almost certainly set off in electric vehicle (EV) mode on account of Toyota’s hybrid system, with no more than a faint whirr as the soundtrack.

You don’t expect that from such a big car, let alone one that isn’t an EV or plug-in hybrid. It’s quite impressive, and depending on the mode selected and your driving style, you’ll find the Kluger prioritises EV driving.

Even on higher-speed roads where combustion power is necessary, the Kluger will flick back to EV mode when coasting or under minimal throttle input.

On roads like the Hume Freeway, you’re more likely to be using the petrol engine most of the time, and our fuel economy on drives comprising mostly highway driving was much closer to Toyota’s claim.

Realistically, any fuel economy lower than 7.0L/100km is an exceptional figure for a car that weighs more than two tonnes and figures closer to 6.0L/100km are just a bonus. That means the Kluger is very efficient and comfortable on long drives, thanks in part to its top-tier cabin refinement.

The Kluger Grande Hybrid is one of a few Toyota models that genuinely feel like they would qualify for the Lexus lineup, alongside others like the Camry SL – with which the Kluger shares a platform.

On-road driving is exceptionally quiet. The cabin does an excellent job of filtering out annoying road noise despite the Grande’s huge 20-inch wheels, while wind noise is similarly absent because of the Kluger’s swept-back windscreen.

On the 18-inch wheels fitted to the Kluger GX and GXL, we’d expect this car to be even quieter. As it stands, there’s still plenty of meat on the Grande’s tyres, and its polished alloy wheels certainly look the part.

As such, the Grande does a good job of ironing out imperfections on the road surface. That trait is supported by its plush suspension, which is soft without being overly bouncy.

It’s exactly the kind of suspension setup you’d hope for from a car like the Kluger, and it’s the kind of ride quality that puts it among the likes of Toyota’s smoothest driving vehicles.

Naturally, it isn’t all perfect. When it’s time for the petrol engine to kick in, it does so with a fairly uninspiring tone and the typical dreary sound associated with CVTs.

The petrol engine fitted to the Kluger is among the blandest on Toyota’s parts shelf, offering the same displacement and induction type as that found in the likes of the Camry for more than five years.

It’s therefore geared for efficiency and not much else. The Kluger is also yet to receive the latest generation of Toyota’s hybrid technology, which debuted in Australia in 2024 with the new Camry and promises increased power outputs and better efficiency.

Because the Kluger is halfway through its model cycle, it’s unlikely to receive that powertrain update any time soon.

Nevertheless, the Kluger’s current powertrain is adequate for the job it needs to do. It has an appropriate amount of power for a large SUV, but laying into the throttle won’t have it scurrying away in a hurry.

Of course, that’s due to its sheer heft, and that’s something you feel on the road. It’s by no means unwieldy, but it’s clear you’re behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle at highway speeds.

You can, however, flick through three drive modes to adjust the way the Kluger responds. Sport mode, for instance, grants maximum power and tweaks the CVT’s behaviour, while Eco mode focuses on EV driving and dulls power for improved efficiency.

It’s all fairly self-explanatory, which is also the case with the Kluger’s manual ‘shifting’ mode if you want to take control of the CVT yourself.

In the city, you’ll notice the Kluger’s five-metre length. Fortunately, there’s a healthy array of safety gear included with the Grande trim level.

All Klugers get equipment like front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera, but the Grande is the only one to also get a surround-view camera.

That’s especially useful in tight car parks, and the quality of the Kluger’s cameras is of a high standard. We still appreciate the visibility offered by the Kluger’s windows, as it’s easy to do head checks and watch for objects on either side.

Though the rear window feels far away, there’s a similarly bid field of vision via the rear-view mirror too. Assisting here is the reversing camera, while the safety systems fitted to the front of the Kluger help negate its high bonnet.

The Kluger’s on-road safety gear is all solid. You get the full suite of adaptive cruise control and lane centring across the Kluger range, and it all works reliably.

Adaptive cruise control matches the traffic around you well, though lane centring tends to drift the car slowly towards the left of the lane. It’s also hesitant to apply significant steering lock on tighter bends, but it won’t fight if you try to coerce it around.

It works well enough to be comfortable, and on long stretches of freeway there are minimal issues. That makes it exceptionally easy to plough through the kilometres on a road trip.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

Three distinct grades of Kluger are available in Australia, and the Grande sits at the top of the range.

Kluger GX equipment highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic parabola LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• LED tail-lights
• Fog lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Privacy glass
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay
• Wireless and wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Six-speaker sound system
• Three-zone climate control
• Keyless entry and start
• Leather-accented steering wheel
• Leather-accented gear shifter
• Fabric upholstery
• Carpet floor mats

Kluger GXL adds:

• Roof rails
• Power tailgate
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats
• Power driver seat lumbar support

Kluger Grande adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Projector LED headlights
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Power tailgate with kick sensor
• Chrome grille
• Painted rear lower bumper
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Head-up display
• 11-speaker JBL premium sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Second-row retractable sunshades
• Interior ambient lighting
• Leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Driver’s seat memory
• Premium soft instrument panel
• Wood-look ornamentation

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

Is the Toyota Kluger safe?

The Toyota Kluger wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2021.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Seven airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection (day/night)
  • Cyclist detection (day)
  • Junction assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Emergency steering assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane Trace Assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear parking sensors

Grande adds:

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How much does the Toyota Kluger cost to run?

The 2024 Toyota Kluger is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Its engine and driveline can be covered for up to seven years, provided you maintain your vehicle within the Toyota dealer network.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid

If you need a large seven-seat family SUV that will simply get the job done with minimal bells and whistles, the Kluger is a great pick.

As basic and as uninspiring as it may be as a package, there’s no arguing that the Kluger serves its purpose well. You get a full suite of safety tech to keep families safe, as well as the efficiency benefits of a tried-and-tested hybrid powertrain – even if it isn’t the latest and greatest system available.

Naturally, with the Grande flagship you also get a heap more gear, including incredibly comfortable seats as part of a generally upmarket interior.

Refinement, ergonomics and accommodation are also strong points of the Kluger, as it’s quiet and comfortable while remaining spacious enough for big families and their groceries and bags. Even with all seven seats in use, you’ll find there’s plenty of room behind them.

But the Grande likely isn’t the pick of the bunch.

It costs nearly $90,000 once everything is said and done, which is a huge amount of money for a family car. The entire Kluger range is also AWD and hybrid, which means there’s not a lot mechanically unique about the Grande.

When you consider the range starts at roughly $60,000 before on-roads, it doesn’t make much sense to splurge that much more unless you really want or need the more luxurious fittings.

Its size is also a consideration. It’s hard to pack seven seats into a smaller car, but the Kluger is especially long and heavy. Those living in built-up areas would likely be better off with something smaller, unless seven seats are a must-have.

The Kluger Grande is undeniably a solid three-row SUV, we just think the cheaper variants are more appropriate for the average Aussie family.

Interested in buying a Toyota Kluger? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Everything Toyota Kluger