2023 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD Review | Popular seven-seat family SUV trades in petrol V6 for turbo four

Jul 27, 2023

2023 Toyota Kluger GXL AWD Review | Popular seven-seat family SUV trades in petrol V6 for turbo four

Does a downsized four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine cut the mustard in one of Australia’s top-selling family SUVs? 👉 Full Review: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial…

The Toyota Kluger is one of Australia’s most popular seven-seat family SUVs, offering a massive and flexible interior.

That hasn’t changed for 2023; instead Toyota has delved under the bonnet and into the infotainment tech for this upgrade. Out goes the old petrol V6 and in comes a turbo-petrol four-cylinder, while a larger infotainment screen is the visible evidence of a new suite of connected services.

So does all this justify a substantial price rise, or should you put your money elsewhere? Let’s find out.

Fast Forward
00:00 Intro
00:30 Pricing and specs
02:17 Interior review
03:25 Infotainment \u0026 safety
04:14 Passenger space
04:56 Luggage space
05:44 On the road
07:47 Verdict

Subscribe for the latest advice, reviews and comparison tests 👍
https://www.youtube.com/user/carsales…

STAY UP TO DATE \u0026 CONNECT WITH US AT
http://carsales.com.au
http://facebook.com/carsales.com.au
http://twitter.com/carsales
http://instagram.com/carsalescomau
----------------------------------------------------------------------
carsales- Everything you auto know
Whatever badge on your bonnet, we want you to know, we love cars.🚗
Shamelessly so.
That’s why we pooled our decades of passion and know-how into one, easy to get to place.
So for helpful advice, reviews, comparison tests and everything you auto know like subscribe to the official carsales YouTube channel today. https://www.youtube.com/user/carsales…

#carsaleschannel #toyota #kluger

Content

0.96 -> The Toyota Kluger is one of Australia's biggest selling family SUVs, but as part

6.36 -> of a recent facelift, it's been downsized under the bonnet from a V6 to a turbo petrol

11.52 -> four. Is a smaller engine a big deal for a big family SUV? Let's find out.

27.12 -> This is the fourth generation Kluger to go on sale in Australia. It's

34.32 -> what's referred to as a soft-roader, meaning it's not really an off-roader,

38.4 -> like Toyota's Prado or iconic LandCruiser. It's found plenty of buyers over the years,

45.24 -> competing against the likes of the Mazda CX-9, KIA Sorento, and Hyundai Santa Fe.

51.66 -> There are three models in the Australian Kluger lineup, three equipment levels,

56.4 -> two different engine choices, and pricing which has gone up pretty sharply in recent times,

62.34 -> it now starts about $50,000 and tops out about $80,000 before on-road costs. Here we split the

70.26 -> difference and gone for the mid-spec GXL, with the new engine and all-wheel drive.

76.86 -> The Kluger comes with a competitive 5-year and unlimited kilometer warranty and a service plan

82.26 -> with 12 months and 15,000 kilometer intervals. If you're not planning a trip around Australia,

87.96 -> that should mean you only have to visit the workshop once a year. Line the latest Kluger

94.5 -> up against his predecessors and you won't struggle to spot the evolutionary styling.

99.3 -> It's a bit more dramatic, with the bulging rear wheel arch and more aggressive snout, but

104.82 -> the rectangle on wheel shape designed to maximize carrying capacity remains the key design feature.

112.98 -> Up until recently, the Kluger had a 3.5 liter V6 engine under the bonnet,

117.78 -> but that's now been replaced by this 2.4 liter turbo petrol 4-cylinder. It's a bit down on power,

124.8 -> compared to the V6, well up on torque, and a frag improved when it comes to fuel consumption claims.

138.9 -> It's instantly obvious when you settle into the Kluger's driver's seat that there's been a lot

143.76 -> of effort put into upgrading the interior design. It just feels much more modern in here. It does

151.74 -> all the basic things you expect, the seat has power adjustability, the steering wheel adjusts

156.78 -> for reach and rake, and there's heaps of room, but the trim materials, especially the vinyl-ish seats

163.26 -> don't inspire, and it doesn't feel as upmarket in here, as vehicles of this price should.

169.92 -> No concern about storage options in the Kluger. Check out the way the top of the bin slides back,

174.84 -> rather than flipping back, that sometimes can foul and get in the way. There's also cup holders,

179.64 -> glove box, big door bins and these ledges in the center stack for putting things like smartphones.

187.68 -> Well, they've downsized the engine for this 2023 update to the Kluger, but they've upsized the

194.04 -> touchscreen. It's now this 12.3-inch infotainment screen and it's a big improvement in terms of

201.9 -> clarity and size from what came before. The Kluger now allows wireless Apple, as well as wide Android

209.1 -> smartphone compatibility, which is great, because both have more features and are easier to interact

215.22 -> with than Toyota's own infotainment operating system. Not everything in the cabin of the Kluger

222.18 -> has been upsized or digitalized, the instrument panel is still analog dials, but they're large,

228.6 -> legible, and there is a digital speedo in between, just for that little extra bit of surety.

235.62 -> The Kluger GXL comes with all the safety essentials and a 5 Star ANCAP rating. There has

241.56 -> been some questions posed about the protection offered by the curtain airbags for third row

246.48 -> passengers, but ANCAP gave them the thumbs up. An SOS emergency call function is new for 2023.

254.88 -> The Kluger a big vehicle, at nearly 5 meters long and 1.75 meters high, and Toyota's use

262.38 -> that space really effectively in this middle row, there's heaps of leg room and head room.

268.92 -> Jump in the third row and yep, a tall person could survive for a while in here, the sliding second

275.34 -> row seats help make that possible. Great feature. There are now climate controls in the rear and

281.88 -> vents for the second and third rows, plentiful storage in row two and some in row three as well.

288.3 -> There are also two ISOFIX and three top tether straps for child seats mounted on the middle row,

293.64 -> but none for row three. With all the seats in place, boot space in the Kluger

299.64 -> is understandably limited, but the more you fold the seats down, the more space you get

305.4 -> to load your luggage in. Very flexible. There aren't that many clever features back here,

310.56 -> just a place to chuck your stuff. By the way, the full size spare tire is under the floor.

317.34 -> Hopefully we won't be needing that spare tire anytime soon because we're off to have a drive

322.32 -> of the new Kluger and see how it behaves and it's new engine, of course. And as this is the

328.08 -> all-wheel drive model and it's got off-road modes, we'll give it a drive on some gravel as well.

344.16 -> Toyota swapped out the naturally aspirated V6 for efficiency and environmental reasons,

350.34 -> but as far as we can tell, there's been no impact on performance. That's because the

356.88 -> big bump in pulling power or torque compensates for the drop in power. It comes in at low revs

363.12 -> and hangs around for quite a while, making sure there's plenty of oomph for the low down

367.86 -> acceleration. That performance is delivered by a prompt throttle and a responsive 8-speed auto.

375.18 -> For a big 2-ton vehicle it's pleasing how light on its wheels the Kluger GXL feels.

384.84 -> That really helps in the cut and thrust of city traffic, say launching into a busy intersection,

390.18 -> as well as being more enjoyable on the open road. The powertrain's enthusiasm is aided by

396.6 -> light steering that make this big vehicle easy to maneuver around town or out on the highway. This

405.42 -> generation Kluger also rides on a new platform and that seems to have tidied up the handling

409.86 -> that bit more. It's also got a really helpful 11.4 meter turning circle. We can confirm the Kluger

417.72 -> retains its composure on gravel. We even pressed the gravel button, nothing much really happened.

424.44 -> The gloss comes off a bit when it comes to ride, which can be a little bit jiggly and

429.18 -> intrusive on bumpier surfaces. On course chip surfaces, you can get a bit of tire and road

434.94 -> noise seeping into this cavernous cabin as well. It's not always the quietest place to reside.

442.92 -> Nor is it an especially frugal one. Our urban fuel consumption average was in the 11s, although

449.16 -> it settled down to high 9s with a bit of country and freeway running. It's nowhere near the hybrid,

454.2 -> but it's better than the thirsty old V6. The Kluger is pretty easy to see out of, which is

460.26 -> important considering how big it is. Big windows and a high ride height are the key attributes here

467.94 -> All up the outdated Kluger GXL is a pleasant surprise to drive. It's a bit rough around

473.7 -> the edges but for the most part the experience is positive. So, is this new smaller engine a

480.12 -> big deal? Not really. It's another evolution of what is a very evolutionary vehicle. It's

487.2 -> a more eager performer than the old V6, but still sucks more fuel than the hybrid Kluger,

492.18 -> which surely means that version's going to continue as the bigger selling powertrain. And

498.18 -> speaking of big, where size really matters when it comes to the Kluger, is in the cabin. It's

504.72 -> huge in there and very flexible, just perfect for families. It's the big selling point of

512.22 -> the Kluger and one that Toyota's very unlikely to be downsizing anytime soon. Thanks for watching.

521.16 -> Please like and subscribe for more videos and tell us what you think in the comments below.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRP8c8OTH4w