New Toyota Kluger from $40,990
Seven seats now standard for bigger, more efficient MkIII Kluger but base price increases by $500Toyota Australia has launched the third-generation Kluger with an entry-level price of $40,990 plus on-road costs, which is $500 more than before but includes seven seats as standard in a larger, roomier and more efficient SUV.
The MkIII Kluger will be again be available with one powertrain (a carryover 3.5-litre petrol V6 with new six-speed automatic transmission), both front- and all-wheel drive configuration and three model grade names – the newly named GX, GXL and Grande.
The base Kluger GX 2WD is claimed to offer $2000 of extra value than before, including seven seats, rear parking sensors, 18-inch wheels, daytime running lights, roof rails and display audio, yet costs $2200 less than the seven-seat KX-R 2WD it replaces.
Similarly, the mid-range GXL 2WD is said to offer $1000 of extra equipment, including keyless entry/starting, but is priced $1500 lower than before at $49,990 plus ORCs.
The top-shelf Kluger Grande 2WD offers a claimed $7700 of added value – including LED headlights, automatic high-beam, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision preparation, digital radio and ventilated front seats, but costs $500 less than before at $63,990 plus ORCs.
All-wheel drive adds $4000 to the price of all three model grades.
Standard specifications include seven airbags across the range, plus a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, LED daytime running lights, Optitron instruments, ambient blue lighting, an under-dash tray, large roll-top centre console large enough to store a handbag, a convex ‘conversation’ mirror, multi-function steering wheel and rear sunshades.
Entry-level GX and GXL models ride on 18-inch alloy wheels and come with a 6.1-inch colour touch-screen with Toyota Link apps offering weather and fuel price information, plus a 3.5-inch mono trip computer display.
The Grande scores 19-inch wheels, an 8.0-inch touch-screen with satellite-navigation, SUNA traffic updates and digital radio, plus a 4.2-inch colour trip computer display with extra info, LED headlights and a powered tailgate.
GXL and Grande models also gain leather seat trim, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, three-zone climate-control and silver roof-rails.
Grande models also come with two-position driver’s seat memory, ventilated and perforated front seats and a 9.0-inch rear BlueRay entertainment system with wireless headphones.
Nine exterior paint colours will be offered, six of them new to Kluger.
Measuring 80mm longer at 4865mm, 15mm wider at 1925mm and the same height, the new Kluger features a redesigned trailing arm double-wishbone rear suspension system. Together with front and centre-row seats that are positioned further forward and have thinner seatbacks, this liberates more interior space – especially at the rear.
Both the middle and rear row of seats are split 60/40 and offer reclining seatbacks (the second row also slides), making the rear luggage floor 50 per cent or 155mm longer than before, as well as 20mm wider and 85mm higher.
Boot space increases from 149 to 195 litres, increasing to 529 litres (more than a Camry) with the third row of seats folded and 1171 litres with the centre row stowed.
Fuel consumption reduces by 7.2 per cent to 10.2L/100km for 2WD GX and GXL models, and by 8.6 per cent to 10.6L/100km for AWD models, which come with a 4kg-lighter part-time AWD system. A new electric power steering system is also fitted.
Toyota says the new Kluger was subject to input by its technical centre in Melbourne following development testing in both Australia and Japan. The result is recalibrated suspension spring/damper and steering settings.
Local testing began more than two years ago and the MkIII Kluger was also tested in the US, Russia and China.
Once again the Kluger has not been engineered with a diesel engine, while North America’s hybrid version is not produced in right-hand drive.
Toyota expects to sell the same number of Klugers this year as it has previously due to supply constraints from the Indiana factory in the US, which continues to ramp up right-hand drive production. Previously, the Kluger was produced in Japan.
2014 Toyota Kluger pricing (plus on-road costs):
GX 2WD (a) -- $40,990
GXL 2WD (a) -- $49,990
Grande 2WD (a) -- $63,990
AWD adds $4000 to the price of all models
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