2016 Toyota Kluger Grande REVIEW | Toyota’s Heavyweight… Grunty V6 And Lots Of Room
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLES IN ITS CLASS – THE 2016 TOYOTA KLUGER GRANDE.
And it sits at the top of a range that is second in sales in the large SUV segment only to its yet-more expensive off-road stablemate, the Prado.
Since the latest generation Kluger launched in early 2014 it has been a success, and with a combination of a grunty V6 petrol engine, good looks and a big (and in this case loaded) cabin, it is easy to see why.
Nowadays, however, the Kluger has in our view been overtaken by the likes of the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-9. That’s a circa-$50K comparison test you can read on TMR between ‘the best of the best’ contenders.
(The Toyota wasn’t included in the test because only the near-$70K Grande specification was available.)
Sometimes an obvious third-place-getter could still be the one for you. The Kluger clearly resonates with buyers and it has some unique attributes, and remains a worthy pick.
Vehicle Style: Large SUV
Price: $68,046 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 201kW/337Nm 3.5 litre V6 petrol | 6spd automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 10.6 l/100km | tested: 11.7 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The initial issue with the Toyota Kluger is its price. Put simply, it is a very expensive large SUV, particularly for the equipment on offer.
While the entry Kluger GX starts from $42,190 plus on-road costs, it struggles to drive cohesively in front-wheel-drive format, particularly in the wet where its big V6 quickly makes the modest tyres slip.
Ticking all-wheel-drive (AWD) for an extra $4000 is wise, but it’s still for a model with a plastic steering wheel and basic air-con.