Toyota Kluger Review & Road Test
August 7, 2009 by Matt Brogan
2009 Toyota Kluger Grande AWD Review & Road Test
Vanilla never looked so good.
Model Tested:
- 2009 Toyota GSU45R Kluger Grande; 3.5-litre V6 AWD; five-speed automatic; seven-seat wagon – $66,490*
Options:
- Metallic Paint $520 (Fitted – Crystal Pearl)
Smooth V6 engine; capable AWD system; user-friendly cockpit
No parking sensors, auto wipers or iPod input; centre seat width
CarAdvice Rating: 
By Matt Brogan
Kluger is often considered the default option when buying a seven-seat family SUV, but don’t let popularity put you off, for as I found out this week there’s good reason you see so many of these on the road, and it all begins without so much as even turning a key.
The Grande sits atop the Kluger model line-up and, as you’d expect at this price, features an impressive equipment list even the most discerning SUV buyer would be happy with.
Keyless entry with push button start; auto tailgate; electric heated leather seats; triple-zone climate control; cruise control; six-CD tuner with DVD and satellite navigation; reverse camera; tilt and slide sunroof; power windows and mirrors are all included as standard kit.
The cabin too is spacious, intelligent, comfortable and offers a user-friendliness often overlooked by rivals who are either unaware or unsympathetic to the bustle and rush of family life. It looks good too, even if I’m not a fan of the abundant faux wood grain.
The layout accommodates seven usable seats, a myriad of nifty storage areas, cup holders everywhere, adequate levels of space in six of the seven seats – the mid-row centre seat being a little narrow – and with the exception of a little wind noise from the wing mirrors, a quiet ride.
But it’s more than just features and cushioning that make Kluger so enjoyable. The drive on offer is also rather competent, thanks to Toyota’s full-time, all-wheel-drive system, and comes with a feeling of stability and control – especially in the wet – well beyond that offered in similarly priced rivals featuring a part-time or rear wheel assist type arrangement.
Similarly the four corner strut set-up of Kluger’s suspension means tackling the highway with all seven seats loaded provides just as much mid-corner confidence and at-speed stability as that of any family sedan. It could be argued that the ride is a touch firm as a result but the trade off, car-like driving dynamics, are certainly worth it.
Beneath the large expanse of bonnet lies Toyota’s 2GR-FE 3.5-litre six cylinder petrol engine – as found in Aurion, RAV4 V6 & Tarago V6 – that provides a substantial 201kW of power, second only in terms of power to Mazda’s 204kW CX-9.
The smooth revving V6 manages 337Nm of torque which although sees it rank it second from the bottom against its direct rivals, still manages fluid power delivery across a wide range thanks to a slick shifting five-speed automatic with sports mode and +/- functionality.
As you can see in the graph above, although the Kluger may well be lacking in a little torque, the fuel efficiency tally certainly leans in Toyota’s favour, and although we couldn’t quite pin down the ADR claimed result of 11.6 litres per 100km as claimed, the Grande did return a steady average of 12.2L/100km through mixed city and highway driving.
To bring the family hauler back to rest the Kluger offers meaty all wheel discs brakes (with ABS, EBA & EBD) that although offer stopping that is beyond expectations. I do however feel the pedal could do with a fraction more assistance.
Steering is well weighted and offers communicative feedback for this class of vehicle. Most competitors overcompensate in the steering department with ultra-light offerings that present little in the way of feel. This doesn’t however mean the Kluger is hard to park with slow speed assistance well suited to the car’s family orientation and a decent 11.8 metre turning circle.
Kluger comes standard with a reversing camera which works exceptionally well in all light conditions but suffers a little in the rain but sadly neglects to offer parking sensors which can make tight spots a little tricky.
Luggage is easily accommodated in five-seat mode with 580 litres of cargo space on offer. The seating arrangements are versatile in folding away but it should be noted that the rear (or third row) seat cannot be split 50:50 which may bother some buyers. Similarly the remaining boot space available in seven-seat mode is a little tight, but no more so than others in this category.
If you find yourself needing to carry even more Kluger offers an ample 2000kg (braked) towing capacity which should it more than capable of towing a small boat, caravan or trailer.
For safety’s sake the Kluger Grande comes standard with dual front, side and curtain airbags as well as a driver’s knee airbag. Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control are also included in the list price as are ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist. Hill Descent Control is also included.
If I had to be picky in finding negative points on the Grande I’d point to the upper centre screen’s inability to be dimmed at night; the lack of an auxiliary audio input, rain sensing wipers, parking sensors and (standard) cargo cover; as well as the skinny centre seat as this car’s only downfalls.
At the end of the day the majority of class-rivals for the Kluger Grande are quite similar in spec, and despite the Toyota being very capable, much of the buying decision on such an SUV will come back to looks.
Sure the Kluger might be modest, almost conservative in its styling, but I think it’s fair to say that when you look at some of the more dramatically styled competitors, vanilla never looked so good.
Ratings:
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive: 
How does it Look: 
How does it Go:
Road Test the Rivals:
- Holden Captiva (from $35,490*)
- Ford Territory (from $39,490*)
- Mazda CX-9 (from $51,990*)
- Nissan Pathfinder (from $48,490*)
- Subaru Tribeca (from $54,490*)
*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer.
Specifications:
- Engine: 3456 cc DOHC, V6, 24-valve
- Power: 201 kW @ 6200rpm
- Torque: 337 Nm @ 4700rpm
- Induction: Multi-point
- Transmission: Five-speed automatic
- Driven Wheels: All (Full Time)
- Brakes: Discs with ABS, EBA & EBD
- Top Speed: 180km/h (Claimed)
- 0-100km/h: 8.2 seconds (Claimed)
- CO2 Emissions: 271 grams per kilometre
- Fuel Consumption: 11.6 litres per 100km (ADR)
- Fuel Consumption: 12.2 litres per 100km (As Tested)
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 72 litres
- Fuel Type: 91RON petrol
- ANCAP Rating: Five-star
- Airbags: Dual front, side, curtain & driver’s knee
- Safety: ESC with Traction Control; HDC
- Spare Wheel: Full size alloy
- Suspension: Strut (F)/Strut (R)
- Cargo Capacity: 580 litres (Five Seat Mode)
- Tow Capacity: 2000 kg (Braked)
- Ground Clearance: 206 mm
- Turning Circle: 11.8 metres
- Road Noise: 71dB @ 100km/h (As Tested)
- Speedo Accuracy: 98km/h (100km/h Indicated)
- Warranty: Three year/100,000 km
- Weight: 1995 kg (Tare)
- Wheels: Alloy 19 x 7.5-inch
Print it: 
This is a decent ride. It’s practical, goes off the beaten track and is reliable unlike others. It may not drive like an X5, but you don’t buy a family mover and expect it to behave like a sports car. Besides, the BMW costs twice as much.
Yeah, decent and I think just practical. Nowadays, we should really pose on spending too much.
I have had the old model kluger since 2005. My husband wanted me to update but I found the new kluger to be much bigger looking and would feel like I was driving a truck. I finally gave in and went and test drove one. Wasn’t that impressed with it. I wanted the keyless entry feature and could only have that in the GRANDE which was fine but that meant that I couldn’t have the ipod AUX option on the stereo because of the sat nav and reverse camera in the GRANDE. Asked the dealer to find out if they could put an IPOD AUX option in it for me and some 2mths later I am still waiting to hear back from them……too late TOYOTA I’ve now gone and ordered a VOLVO XC60 with all the bells and whistles, can’t wait to drive it. They let me test drive it overnight and I parked 100’s of KM’s on it, TOYOTA made me feel like and inconvenience to test drive the thing and they had to come with me and barely even got to drive the thing. TOUGH LUCK TOYOTA after driving them all my life I am now about to become a VOLVO driver, with the hat!
5 Star,
So you reckon that you drove a Territory & Kluger back to back? And that brief drive didn’t comprehensively convince you that the Territory, whilst slower in straight line, isn’t a totally better allround thing to drive???
“louiedfly” i would say that’s a dealer issue NOT A TOYOTA ISSUE! the dealer my sister bought from was fantastic nothing was a problem, they are a country queensland dealer.
You are right “designeng” it didn’t convince me or my sister or my brother in law! but to be far we did drive the kluger first, no comparision really!To be honest i liked the mazda cx-9 but it is way to small inside the kluger was the most spacious inside!
Why not? Pre-conceived ideas too strong, brand bias too great to overcome or maybe you just can’t tell what steers well and what is just average, because the Territory is the far better drive. Anybody who has any idea about vehicle dynamics, including the motoring journalist “experts” all agree.
“designeng” what makes you an expert? if i didn’t like the territory to drive that’s my choice not yours! Stick to your oval badge and leave the large majority of australians to buy the better product “toyota” i believe it is in this case! And if i was in the market to buy a SUV 7 seat family car (i am only single)after reading this caradvice article i would buy the kluger, so go argue with “matt” i am sure he knows more than you!
Wow! I didn’t realise how much these things cost! Who in their right mind would pay almost $70,000 for a Toyota? Especially one with such a cheap feeling interior (yes I have driven one) and such mediocre dynamics. I’m no fan of the Territory but it least it’s much cheaper.
But for this money, how could you go past the CX-9? It looks way better, has a much better engine, a higher quality interior, it will hold it’s value better and it handles quite well. I’m aware that you can get cheaper Klugers, so it’s only if you were to buy a “Grande” (why not “Grand”?) model that you could bring the CX-9 into it but it doesn’t change the fact that for what it is, it’s not very good value.
What an ugly over priced piece of crap. Faux luxury for fools.
Sick of retyping valid, on-topic comments, so here it is:
Motoring journalists around Australia pretty much all agree that Territory handles better than Kluger.
My 11 day test of each backs that up!
Moderated comment repost:
Sixty-six-and-a-half thousand dollars!!!!
for a camry wagon!!!!
Can you imagine telling people over a BBQ how much you paid for your “Kluger”!?!?
That faux wood is awful! Especially for a 70k car
First of all, 70k for a Toyota!!!
I am sorry but lets forget about the looks for a second. If you are after a reliable car that can carry a few in comfort then look at a Tarago.
The Tribeca, CX-9, and Territory are much much better to drive. As mentioned the understeer in the Kluger is very noticable.
What Toyota have here is a car that non-car fans can ‘join the club’ with all the other soft roaders.
5 Star Kluger yes it is a dealer thing but still, the dealers represent TOYOTA and they obviously weren’t interested in selling an existing toyota owner the new model. Over to the Territory v’s Kluger, before we bought our 04 model we hired a territory in NZ and drove it for 2 weeks, what better test drive could you ask for. It had just under 10 000 K’s on the clock and the noises that it made and the gear box was as rough as, I know it was a hire car but still……….we got back to oz and read a review on it and the reviewer had driven one with just over 20 000k’s on it and he said that he could feel every one of the k’s on it! A work collegue of my husband bought a territory when we bought our kluger and the first time he put the driver’s window down to get his parking ticket the whole window shattered into a thousand pieces. That was enough to cement any thoughts that we had definately bought the right car.
Now I look forward to when my VOLVO comes off the boat in Oct!
OK 5 star,
- I never claimed to be an “expert”, but some 30+ years experience, I do have a good idea of what vehicle dynamics are.
- Virtually all of the motoring journo “experts” agree that the Territory is still a handling benchmark that newer vehicles, such as the Kluger still don’t match.
- I have owned just as many Toyotas as Fords, and seriously evaluated the Kluger for my needs, so there is no brand bias from me in this situation.
- It is purely your opinion that the Kluger may be the better product, many, including the industry experts, dissagree.
- Mediia test drives, the likes of which #articles like this a written from, are often no more than a day. How long did you drive each for? 10, 20 minutes. Personally I hired each for 11 days to get a realistic test drive experience without a salesman looking over my shoulder.
- I didn’t see where Matt said the Kluger drove better than a Territory. This is a “review” not a “comparison” after all, so I don’t think that I am arguing with Matt.
- If a “7 seater” family SUV was your primary objective, the Kluger is a better option than Territory because the 3rd row of seats are better, BUT if you want a family vehicle that can provide the flexibility and functionality of an SUV and still be pleasent & safe to drive EVERY DAY, the the Territory beats the Kluger hands down.
Why is it that everyone seems to think the kluger range starts at $70k? that my friends is the top line grande model, the kluger starts at $45k right up to $70k for the very well equipped grande and whoever said that a ford territory drives better than the kluger is from another planet, the territory is a old vehicle with a antiquated motor right out of the jurassic period, drive one for anything more than 10,000km and they start to whine and fall apart! kluger is by far the best in this catergory!
Trying to decide between the base model territory and base model kluger as a family car this week. all inclusive 2 year lease so not concerned about resale. My wife and I have driven both, and I must say that I felt the seats and the drive of the territory was noticably better to me. the kluger has a better safety rating and we both reckon it looks a little better from outside and is a little better looking inside too. The reverse camera on the base model is a nice touch. Its a tough decision to go with the car that’s less pleasing to drive, but looks like we are heading that way. anyone able to talk us around to the territory?
The Kluger will make you feel good in keeping up with the Jones’by having the newer model, however after living with the thing for a while it will pee you off.
Personally I would go for the vehicle that is comfortable to drive over the term of your lease.
Fuel costs will be lineball, with the Territory in front if you do more country km’s.
^^agree, buy the car for you, not to impress someone else.
Territory is the better long term drive.
the ford Territory only one thing to say i mean fords in general looks, finish, quality they dont have it just look at the falcons new models looks plastic an a quik design to stay in the market and did i say cheap and the rattles are free say no more!!!!!
How is the Territory a better long term drive, they breakdown all the time like most Ford’s. Toyota’s soldier on, often without fault.
Based on what evidence Rosemary ? I think you need to come out of the fog !
Rosemary,
Ive had 3 Falcons, all made it to 300,000km with no dramas.
Ive also had 4 Toyotas:
Hilux belched smoke from 120,000km
T18 great car, sold it at 180,000km
Corolla engine failure at 168,000km
Corona engine failure at 136,000km
All 7 vehicles driven similarly and serviced as per manufacturers recommendatitons.
As far as better long term, I geuss he means the comfort and drveability of the Terry vs the jittery ride and truck like handling of the Kluger.
I have a Ford person all my life I am over 50yrs of age hold a qld. licence to drive almost anything .and covered most roads in Aust. When choosing a new AWD vehicle I tested most AWD. vehicles ford territory included .The worst vehicle I drove was a subaru .However The best vehicle was the 200 series Landcruiser. But my wife didnot want to go that big .So we test drove the AWD. Kluger which is the best vehicle within that price range .Our Kluger is due for its 10000klm service within a few days and I can honestly say we are more then happy with the choice we made.So if you are thinking along the lines of this type of vehicle test drive a Kluger you will not be disappointed . And the service we received from our C.Q. Toyota agent has been fantastic not that we have had to bother them but they give us a curtesy call often just to see if we have any worries.No I donot work for Toyota and Iam not associated with them in anyway . I am in a Govt/ Dept where I cannot speak anything but the truth .All I am saying is before you make your final decision make sure you test drive the latest TOYOTA KLUGER AWD. Yours Mano
My husband bought me one this week and I can’t wait to drive the Toyota Kluger Grande in three weeks time.
TOYOTA KLUGER WATCH OUT ! The new Kia Sorento Platinum DESIGNED by former Audi head designer and fitted with the the excellent 2.2 Common Rail Turbo Diesel engine
(147KW @ 3800 RPM and whooping 436 Nm @ 1800 – 2500 Nm ) just landed in Australia.
The Kia Sorento Platinum is full AWD, has 7 leather seats, panoramic sunroof, 18 ‘ wheels,5 years unlimited warranty and the price is less than $49.000
It’s a compact SUV , looks and drive better than the Kluger.
Kluger Grande all the way. Love it :)
Own the Toytoa Kluger KX-S 2WD as AWD was not needed. Before Buying test drove all three Kluger, Territory and Mazda CX-9. All of them have the goods and bads. Territory feels nice to drive because it is RWD however it does not support MP3 and only 4 spekers.There is not enough space to put seven people and definetly not 7 ADULTS, the rear seats or built for 5 year olds. Uses a lot of petrol as well. Mazda CX-9 looks nice and has lots of features but does not come in 2WD has lots of space even with 3rd row seats up and also the only one with 50:50 rear seats. However it is a huge car, does not have split tailgate and drinks petrol like water. Ended up going with the Kluger because of its Five star ANCAP rating with seven airbags and all those driver assisting features. Kluger uses less petrol than the other two and had lots of space in the back row but the middle row seat is uncomfortable it the middle row seats are not lined up properly. The kluger is a nice family car and comes with lots of features for a good price.
yup, typical adv from toyota employee
I’m not a toyota employee and i am not advertise the kluger. We only choose the Kluger because my wife wanted it. Personally i like the ford territory better because of its superior handling.