2025 Toyota Kluger Grande review

How much does a Toyota Kluger cost?

Priced from $82,860 plus on-road costs, the 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande is the most expensive model in this large family SUV line-up.

Sitting below it utilising the same petrol-electric all-wheel drive powertrain, but stripped of some of the Grande’s equipment and bling, are the $60,290 GX and the $70,440 GXL (all prices plus on-road costs).

The Kluger’s starting price is so high because of a decision to chop front-wheel drive and turbo-petrol models in 2024.

Exclusive Grande equipment includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 11-speaker JBL audio, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, a 360-degree monitor, ventilated front seats, driver’s seat memory, ambient lighting and second row retractable sunshades. It also gets its own ‘premium’ seat trim, wood-look ornamentation and front metal scuff plates.

Gear shared with other Klugers includes a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connection, embedded sat-nav, five USB ports, tri-zone climate control with second and third row outlets, eight-way power adjustable and heated front seats, power lumbar adjust for the driver’s seat and the Toyota Connect smartphone app.

The Toyota Kluger is protected by a five-year/unlimited km warranty and its hybrid battery by a separate 10-year warranty.

All that is backed up by a capped price servicing plan that adds up to only $1325 over the first five services, which are scheduled very 12 months or 15,000km. They rise steeply in cost after that point.

Toyota Kluger exterior design

The Toyota Kluger comes from the ‘bread bin on wheels’ school of design. Basically, it’s always been a rectangular box, and its exterior essentials were really defined by the second generation that went on-sale here in 2007.

The past two generations have added bits of character here and there. The current model, introduced in 2021, has a notably more aggressive nose and quite flared rear wheel arches.

The current model measures up just under 5.0 metres long, 1.93m wide and 1.755m tall, so it’s designed to stow plenty of people and their things.

The Grande is distinguished by 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate with kick sensor, projector LED headlights and some chrome bling.

What is the Toyota Kluger like inside?

If you need space, then the 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande delivers.

The third row is best used for shorter people (i.e. kids), but if occupants of row two are willing to sacrifice some legroom via the sliding seat base, then taller people could survive for a while. That sliding seat – which also tumbles forward – helps make entry and exit from the rear seats easier than most SUVs.

If row two outboard occupants take the selfish view, then their lives will be very comfortable indeed – bags of legroom, lots of headroom and no clashing elbows. Of course, if someone occupies the hard and high middle seat that tends to cruel things for everyone. Best to leave it vacant if possible.

It’s not only space but features that are offered back here. There are a full set of climate controls plus adjustable overhead vents for both row two and three, two USB ports, map pockets and multiple places to stick cups and bottle.

With all three rows in place the Grande has minimal luggage room, but as the rows are folded it enlarges to sizable and then generous. The boot doesn’t have many features but there is a spare tyre under its floor, which is very much appreciated.

Up-front the impression of spaciousness continues. The chairs are big and comfy, the screens are huge, and the diameter of the steering wheel is substantial.

That the steering column is the only driver attachment not to get power adjustment is an odd omission for a $90K car, but it’s not a biggy. Perhaps moreso is the impression that the interior is not really delivered $90,000 specialness overall. The US-Built Kluger is tight enough, but the Grande lacks gravitas.

The infotainment is a substantial improvement over what has gone before. Especially appreciated is the retention of hard-wired buttons for audio and climate control.

But there are some annoyances. No big home-screen menus to tap into makes it a hard system to interact with on the run. The instrument panel has an overly complex method for placing information in the screens within the digital dials and between them. The smartphone charger is also placed in an odd position in the top of the centre lidded bin, effectively blocking access to its contents. My phone wouldn’t even fit.

Is the Toyota Kluger good to drive?

The 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande drives like you would want a big 2.0-tonne vehicle carrying precious cargo to drive: safely and securely.

It has its imperfections. The ride is a bit grumbly on typically poor Aussie roads – its 20-inch tyre choice doesn’t help that – and it doesn’t steer with any particular acuity.

But at least the steering’s light for round-town twirling and visibility outwards is good thanks to the big windows.

Overall, its undoubtedly the best-driving Kluger yet. Having said that the second generation was a bit of a shocker, so happily there’s been solid progress from there.

The highlight of the Kluger drive experience is undoubtedly the hybrid powertrain. It comprises a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, three electric motors, a tiny but fast-regenerating battery pack and a CVT auto. One e-motor assists the engine in powering the front wheels, another sits on the rear axle and boosts the all-wheel drive system while the third focusses on producing electricity for the battery.

The biggest benefit is undoubtedly an improvement in fuel economy. We recorded 7.8L/100km on test versus the 5.6L/100km claim (claims are always optimistic), but our real-world number is terrific for such a big vehicle.

The second positive is the extra low throttle impetus the e-motors provide. That’s great when looking to commit to a busy intersection or make a quick pass. The petrol engine alone would be quite sad when it comes to performance.

The third benefit of the hybrid system is quietness. When running on electricity alone the Kluger is silent as the grave. Sadly, it doesn’t happen very often. The petrol engine soon kicks in, although it doesn’t get too intrusive even when booted hard. There is an ‘EV mode’ button you can press if you fancy some silent emissions-free running, but it rarely engages.

While it is all-wheel drive, don’t think of the Kluger Grande as an off-roader. Like other soft-roaders like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, gravel roads are about the edge of its comfort zone.

Towing is also not its forte. The braked towing is capped at 2000kg when more serious 4x4 vehicles like the Toyota Prado and Fortuner are rated at 3500kg.

What safety features does the Toyota Kluger have?

The Kluger comes with all the safety basics covered including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection and intersection turn assistance; active cruise control, lane keeping, road sign detection, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert and braking.

There are also seven airbags, although there have been some questions posed about the effectiveness of the curtain airbags in protecting row three passengers. However, safety agency ANCAP has given them the thumbs up.

ANCAP’s also awarded the Kluger an overall a five-star rating based on 2021 protocols.

How does the Toyota Kluger compare?

Chopping all its cheaper models combined with Toyota’s consistent upward pricing push has left the Kluger and especially the Grande vulnerable to rivals.

And there are some really good ones, led by the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, while the Mazda CX-80 is a brand-new quality arrival on the scene.

If towing and off-roading is more your thing then the aforementioned Prado and Fortuner are among Toyotas offerings, while the excellent Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X should also be considered.

Should I buy a Toyota Kluger?

The 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande is the most expensive model in the most expensive model range in the family SUV segment.

It’s a hard price tag to justify. The hybrid powertrain is excellent, and the interior space is appreciated, but the overall package is competitive rather than a stand-out.

All its key rivals including the Santa Fe and Sorento start at a lower price, albeit not always with hybrid powertrains. And really, it’s with Santa Fe and Sorento you should start. They are better vehicles than the Kluger, especially this costly flagship.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}