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2017 Toyota Kluger GX 2WD new car review

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2017 Toyota Kluger GX 2WD new car review

Name: Toyota Kluger
Brand: Toyota

Stephen Ottley

04:2022 August 2017

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Australians have so much choice when it comes to buying a new car. There are more than 60 car brands to choose from in the land down under, but despite all the many options we keep flocking to Toyota.

In 2016 nearly one in five new cars sold came from the Japanese brand (17.8 per cent market share, to be precise). And, not surprisingly given our love for SUVs, among its most popular models is the Kluger.

The family wagon was given a major mid-life update in 2017 with a revised look, upgraded direct injection V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission (replacing the old model’s six-speeder).

What do you get?

Toyota offers six models in the Kluger range - GX, GXL and Grande trim levels - with the option of front- or all-wheel drive for each. All come equipped with the same 3.5-litre V6 and automatic transmission.

We’re testing the entry-level option, the Kluger GX 2WD, which starts at $43,550 (plus on-road costs); a $1360 increase over the pre-facelifted model that arrived in 2014.

Standard equipment for the GX includes 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth trim, air-conditioning, cruise control, front fog lamps, auto headlamps and a six-speaker sound system that incorporates a 6.1-inch infotainment screen with AUX and USB inputs.

Toyota doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto but does have its own in-house Toyota Link smartphone integration.

On the safety front, the GX comes with seven airbags, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. Active safety features, including forward collision warning and lane departure warning are restricted to the Grande models.

Toyota offers capped price servicing for the Kluger but the intervals are every six months/10,000km, which is shorter than most rivals who offer 12 months/15,000km.

But because each visit only costs $180 for the first three years/60,00km it's relatively affordable costing just $1080 to maintain.

What’s inside?

It’s easy to see why the Kluger is a popular choice for families as soon as you climb inside. The cabin is hard-wearing and spacious.

It lacks the polished presentation of some of its rivals, most notably the Mazda CX-9, with some cheap-looking materials and a basic design. But it offers up good space for people and plenty of small item storage space.

The front seats are comfortable enough but do lack for lateral support. The same is true of the second row seats.

The middle row of seats fold forward, out of the way, to make accessing the third row relatively easy. The second row can also slide forwards and back so you can trade off leg room between the passenger space.

Under the bonnet

Toyota Australia offers a single engine option for the Kluger - a 3.5-litre V6 petrol. Despite the popularity in large SUVs it doesn’t have a diesel option; if you want a Toyota seven-seater with a turbo diesel you’ll need to consider a Prado or Fortuner.

In the search for improved fuel economy the engine now has direct injection that reduces the claimed economy from 10.2-litres per 100km to 9.1L; a significant improvement but it’s still a thirsty SUV.

It’s also a potent one; despite its considerable size with 218kW of power and 350Nm of torque the Kluger feels strong on the road.

It’s not the most refined V6 you’ll find, with a gruff growl, and it isn’t linear, with a noticeable kick under hard acceleration. However, the new transmission not only helps fuel economy but also smoothes out some of the roughness, offering a better spread of ratios for better performance most of the time.

The engine gets the job done and will have no trouble pulling the machine along, even with a full load of occupants on-board.

Because it’s so punchy, the front-wheels can struggle at times under hard acceleration, inducing some torque-steer (the tugging of the steering wheel in your hand).

On the road

Make no mistake, this is a family hauler pure and simple. If you’re looking for an SUV that can take the kids to school but also be enjoyable to drive on a long country drive, look somewhere else.

The ride is disappointing at timesas Toyota has opted for a soft suspension set-up which translates to a comfortable ride. While it will soak up a big hit (like a pothole or speed hump) the Kluger tends to be unsettled by smaller and repeated bumps in the road.

The steering also lacks refinement in some regards, being too light at times which leads to a vague feeling off-centre.

Verdict

The Kluger may be at the top of the class in terms of sales, but it doesn’t set any new benchmarks for family SUVs. You can buy cheaper, better value, more spacious, more stylish and more engaging SUVs.

But, like so many Toyotas, it does a good job across the board. Aside from the brand’s reputation for dependable cars, which is deserved, the Kluger offers up the space and practicality modern Australian families are looking for.

2017 Toyota Kluger GX 2WD price and specifications

Price: From $43,550 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol

Power: 218kW at 6600rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 4700rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Fuel use: 9.1L/100km

The Competitors

Mazda CX-9 Sport 2WD

Price: From $42,490 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 170kW at 5000rpm