Power focus
Turbo-petrol engine, more tech in update
TOYOTA has announced a raft of updates for its 2023 Kluger SUV range.
The revised line-up will have turbocharged four-cylinder power as standard, alongside new connected services and multimedia technologies.
Priced from $49,720 plus on-road costs, the entry point of the Kluger range is $2070 higher than before.
Familiar GX, GXL and Grande variants remain, with the flagship now priced from $78,160 plus on-road costs.
The Kluger continues to rival threerow family haulers including the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is priced between $46,050 and $69,550 plus on-road costs; Kia Sorento, between $47,650 and $81,080 plus on-road costs; Mazda CX-9, between $47,250 and $74,710 plus on-road costs; and the just-launched Nissan Pathfinder, between $54,190 and $80,227 plus on-road costs.
Due in Australian showrooms from January, the updated Kluger range is headlined by a switch to Toyota’s T24A-FTS 2.4-litre petrol engine that produces 198kw and 420Nm, marking a 70Nm improvement over the 3.5-litre V6 unit it replaces.
The engine is paired, as standard, with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Peak torque for the new engine arrives between 1700rpm and 3000rpm — far lower than that of the outgoing engine — while fuel economy improves to the tune of 0.4 litres per 100km, now from 8.3L/100km on two-wheel drive GX and GXL grades.
Hybrid models continue to be powered by Toyota’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and electric motor combination.
The range also scores an updated multimedia system, with all variants also gaining larger screen sizes.
On the Kluger GX, a larger multifunction screen — growing from 4.2 inches to 7.0 inches — forms part of the revised instrument cluster.
GXL and Grande variants upgrade to a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, from the previous 8.0 inches; while Grande variants further add a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster.
Wireless Apple Carplay is now available alongside wired Android Auto, while natural voice recognition is improved.
Owners will receive 12 months of complimentary access to Toyota Connected Services functionality, which enables them to remotely gain information relating to the vehicle’s last-known location, vehicle diagnostics, fuel level, odometer readings and recent trip information as well as some remote-control features via the mytoyota Connect smartphone app.
Toyota Australia vice-president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, said these features arrive in addition to safety offerings including automatic collision notification, which is designed to contact a Toyota emergency call centre if it detects an airbag or collision sensor has been activated.
Further, an SOS button installed in the roof can be used to manually trigger a call to the emergency contact centre, while authorities can use the stolen vehicle tracking feature to potentially recover a missing vehicle.
All Kluger GX variants will gain dual-zone front and single-zone rear climate control, while Grande variants add a wireless smartphone charger.
However, the rear-seat entertainment system found previously in the Kluger Grande is no longer offered.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures show the Kluger remains the best-selling monocoque bodied SUV in the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment.
Sales to the end of November show Toyota has sold 11,786 vehicles from the Kluger range, beating rivals including the Kia Sorento with 6637; Mazda CX-9 with 6302; Mazda CX-8 with 5397; Hyundai Santa Fe with 4132; and Hyundai Palisade with 3756.