It’s out with the old V6 and in with the new four-cylinder turbo as Toyota updates its Kluger family SUV
- How much does the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD cost?
- What equipment comes with the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
- How safe is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
- What technology does the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD feature?
- What powers the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
- How fuel efficient is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
- What is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD like to drive?
- Can the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD go off-road?
- What is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD like inside?
- Should I buy a Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
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The surprise is not that Toyota has replaced the Kluger large SUV’s naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 with a downsized 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine for 2023, but that it took so long to do it. In a testament to the power of the Japanese brand, the Toyota Kluger has been a big seller for years and generations despite its fuel-sucking V6, while rivals have had to resort to frugal diesels and hybrids to woo buyers. Now even mighty Toyota has bowed to the inevitable, swapping out the engine from the same family that once powered the locally-built Camry and Aurion for a more efficient new four-cylinder that promises better economy and performance. It’s the headline change for the 2023 Toyota Kluger that also includes a worthy tech upgrade.
How much does the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD cost?
The 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL with newly-introduced 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and all-wheel drive is priced from $64,640 plus on-road costs.
In December last year the GXL AWD with the superseded 3.5-litre V6 was priced at $61,150 plus ORCs, so that’s a $3490 bump.
This model sits at the heart of the Kluger family SUV line-up. The GX is the entry-level specification below it and the Grande flagship sits above it.
All three grades offer the new turbo-petrol engine, as well as the thrifty 2.5-litre hybrid that was introduced with the fourth-generation Kluger here in 2021 and has proved a sales hit.
However, like the V6 before it, the turbo-petrol engine is the only one available with front-wheel drive. That’s a $4000 discount for GX and GXL and $3110 for the Grande.
Logical rivals to shop against the Kluger include the Mazda CX-9 and the closely related Koreans, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
All these vehicles, including the Kluger, are road-oriented SUVs with limited off-road capability. If you want true bush-bashing talent then you’ll have to check out the likes of the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Prado.
The Kluger isn’t a big towing vehicle either. At 2000kg braked, it’s 1500kg shy of the claim for the likes of the Everest.
What equipment comes with the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
Perhaps most importantly for a family SUV, the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD comes standard with seven seats spread across three rows, all housed within a large rectangular body designed to most sensibly and efficiently fit people and stuff.
The exterior is an evolution of what’s come before with a more aggressive snout and a distinctive blister over the rear wheels. The GXL gets its own 18-inch alloy wheel design and also includes silver roof rails and a power tailgate among its external standard features.
Key interior equipment includes eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats with power lumbar adjust for the driver, tri-zone air-con with rear controls and roof-mounted vents for rows two and three, keyless entry/start, an electronic park brake and a frankly uninspiring synthetic interior trim.
The Kluger comes with a full-size spare tyre mounted inside a protective casing under the rear floor. But it misses out on some handy stuff reserved for the Grande including driver’s seat memory, front seat ventilation, a sunroof and a kick function for the tailgate.
The Kluger comes with a competitive five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a service plan with 12-month/15,000km intervals. If you’re not planning a trip around Australia that should mean you only have to visit the workshop once a year.
Capped-price servicing adds up to $1325 over five years or 75,000km. That averages only $265 per visit, but it rises steeply from the 72-month/90,000km service onwards.
How safe is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
The 2023 Toyota Kluger comes with a five-star ANCAP rating based on 2021 testing protocols.
The Kluger is fitted with seven airbags, but there have been questions posed about the curtains, which don’t stretch back quite far enough to fully protect passenger heads in the third row. It’s not an issue ANCAP feels disqualifies the Kluger from its maximum rating.
There is a suite of driver assist systems (DAS) led by autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daylight cyclist detection.
Other DAS includes adaptive cruise control, the ability to monitor for potential issues at intersections, watch out in blind spots and for crossing traffic at the rear, lane keeping assist and the ability to read stop signs.
LED headlights (with auto high beam) and tail-lights are also standard.
The addition of Toyota Connected Services for 2023 allows for automatic collision notification and a manually triggered SOS button.
The Kluger has front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, but would be aided by a 360-degree overview given its 4966mm length and 1930mm width. There are no active hands-off parking aids.
A camera view rather than an orthodox interior mirror would be appropriate for the driver in a vehicle where rearward vision will often be obscured by heads and luggage.
A head-up display would be another safety aid appropriate for a vehicle of this price. There also appears to be no tyre pressure monitoring.
There are three top tether hooks and two ISOFIX mounts fitted in the second row. There are none in row three.
What technology does the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD feature?
While the new engine is the biggest change when it comes to the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL, it’s the 12.3-inch colour touch-screen that’s most obvious.
Replacing an 8.0-inch unit, it sits high on the dashboard and presents the Kluger as a more modern vehicle. Accompanying the screen size increase comes the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay. Android Auto remains wired.
Disappointingly, there is no wireless smartphone charging, which is a preserve of the Grande.
Other Kluger GXL infotainment features include Bluetooth, satellite navigation, AM/FM and DAB radio, a six-speaker audio system and voice recognition (which struggled a bit to understand an Aussie accent).
The inclusion of a 12-month subscription to Toyota Connected Services allows owners to check via an app info such as fuel level, odometer readings, recent trip stats and the vehicle’s last known location. Real-time weather, traffic and parking updates, and first- and last-mile routing, are also part of the package.
There are three USB ports in the front of the cabin and two in the rear.
What powers the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
Codenamed T24A-FTS, the 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is a recent design that has so far seen service in several Lexus models including the latest Lexus RX 500h.
It is slightly less powerful than the naturally-aspirated 2GR-FKS 3.5-litre V6 it replaces in the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL, but it produces significantly more pulling power at lower revs.
In the Kluger the key numbers for the new engine are 198kW at 6000rpm and 420Nm between 1700-3600rpm. That compares to 218kW at 6600rpm and 350Nm at 4700rpm for the V6.
The double-overhead-cam 16-valve engine mates exclusively with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic that Toyota says is geared for strong initial response.
The Kluger GXL’s all-wheel drive system can split torque 100 per cent to the front axle, or send up to 50 per cent rearward. The GXL misses out on the side-to-side torque vectoring offered with the Grande.
How fuel efficient is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
While added performance flexibility was an important reason the engine of the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL was downsized, improved fuel consumption and emissions were at least as important.
As an all-wheel drive, the turbo-four claims an 8.5L/100km fuel consumption rate on regular 91 RON unleaded fuel. The old V6 claimed an 8.8L/100km average, so in theory this is an incremental step.
In practice on test, the turbo-four delivered a 9.6L/100km average. During our most recent test of the V6 Kluger in 2022, it averaged “circa-11L/100km”.
Of course, if fuel consumption really is a big deal for you then the Kluger hybrid is probably the way to go. Officially, it averages 5.7L/100km, while on test we’ve recently recorded 6.7L/100km.
What is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD like to drive?
Full-size Toyota SUVs have traditionally been characterless blobs to drive, so it’s nice to discover the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD has some character.
There’s a liveliness here that is obvious and, to be honest, surprising. It probably shouldn’t be surprising as Toyota’s worked hard in recent years to improve the way its cars drive, starting with the core TNGA platform family that’s already done so much to improve the Corolla, Camry and RAV4.
The Kluger makes a great first impression because it has smart response from the moment the throttle is pressed. Someone has paid attention to tuning that, making it work with the engine’s broad spread of torque, an absence of turbo lag.
That’s backed up by the auto’s willingness to swap gears to aid acceleration or braking and do it smoothly – even change manually via the lever (no flappy paddles) if the mood takes you. There are three modes that adjust throttle and transmission behaviour – Eco, Normal and Sport. They all have an effect, but thankfully Eco does not dull everything down to slow motion.
The zest of the driveline is great for the cut and thrust of urban traffic. It means committing to a gap in traffic at a busy roundabout or intersection can be done with confidence.
The steering continues this eager feel. It starts light and progresses to a bit less light if you cycle through to Sport mode. Just like that instant throttle response, immediate, positive steering is what you want from a heavy 1985kg vehicle like this.
The Kluger handles neatly on winding roads. It turns into corners quite cleanly, rather than scrubbing out and trying to plough on straight. Add in a handy – for the size – 11.4m turning circle and a high-seated generous view out through big windows and the Kluger is good for the suburbs as well as the open road.
There’s more evidence of good tuning from the stability and traction control systems that are traditionally as subtle as a sledgehammer in Toyota SUVs. But in this case they are quietly supportive rather than overbearing and scolding.
Less impressive are the driver assist lane keeping nannies, which do a poor job of self-centring. That means the Kluger develops a gentle wander in its lane that eventually overwhelms the system. Best to avoid except on straights of freeways.
Be prepared for some noise from the engine, exhaust, road, tyres and underpinnings. This is a big box of an interior and it’s no surprise extraneous volume leaks in. The Kluger is at its most refined idling along in a high gear on a smooth surface, but then, what vehicle isn’t?
On rougher roads the Kluger doesn’t quite have the ride control as rivals such as the Mazda CX-9. Its combination of passive MacPherson strut/double-wishbone suspension moves and reacts in a way that feels that bit less cultured. Adaptive dampers would help here.
Can the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD go off-road?
Yes, the 2023 Toyota Kluger GXL can go off-road a bit. It has all-wheel drive, some specific off-road drive modes and downhill assist control.
But this is a vehicle for gravel roads to the beach and slippery routes to the snow rather than crossing the Simpson Desert.
What is the Toyota Kluger GXL AWD like inside?
The 2023 Toyota Kluger’s biggest selling point is interior space. Not only is there a lot of it, it’s also well utilised.
Adults can sit in row two or three. In fact, if the passengers in row two are willing to sacrifice a little room by sliding their seat base forward a bit, adults can sit in row three almost comfortably.
Kids can live back there all day.
The access to and from row three is also easier than most large SUVs. The middle seats move well out of the way and the doors open wide so no gymnastic convolutions are required.
Toyota has also ensured passengers are looked after with a substantial amount of stowage in rows one and two and an acceptable amount in row three.
A likeable feature is the way the lid of the bin between the front seats slides back and down rather than lifts up. That way it doesn’t foul arms and elbows when open. The space inside the bin is huge.
Less generous is luggage room with all three seat rows in place. Just 241 litres. But as seats fold down – you can have six, five, four, three and two-seat variations – so the space grows all the way to 1150 litres.
Really, it’s up front where the US-built Kluger GXL lets itself down. The trim materials are cheap to look at and touch, the seats are flat and the way the reach and rake steering column graunches when being adjusted and the gear lever stiffly shifts out of Park is unsatisfactory.
More positively, the infotainment and dashboard controls are quite straightforward. Fundamentally important physical controls are retained so you don’t have to drill into the screen for basic things.
Should I buy a Toyota Kluger GXL AWD?
The 2023 Toyota Kluger is a must-have for your shopping list if you’ve got a healthy budget and the need for a large seven-seat family SUV.
But bear in mind the GXL all-wheel drive may not necessarily be the right model for you.
If fuel economy is your thing then try the hybrid. If your budget is tight you could opt for front-wheel drive or even go for the GX, which doesn’t miss out on too much stuff compared to the GXL.
Whichever Kluger you prefer, one thing is for sure: you’ll be getting a spacious, flexible and enthusiastic family hauler for your money.
2023 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD at a glance:
Price: $64,640 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 198kW/420Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 197g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)
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Keyword: Toyota Kluger GXL AWD 2023 Review