New Toyota Kluger hybrid coming to Australia

Following several delays, the new twin electric motor petrol-electric Toyota Kluger hybrid will be on sale in Australia in the first half of 2021.

The new-generation Toyota Kluger large SUV will offer a range of comfort and tech upgrades alongside the 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain (179kW) to take on seven-seat rivals such as the Nissan Pathfinder, Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

As well as the new hybrid powertrain, the new Kluger will come with a carryover V6 petrol engine (218kW), plus significantly improved infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The all-new Toyota Kluger was originally scheduled to arrive in Australia this year but was delayed as the factory in the USA prepares to build the hybrid version in right-hand drive for the first time.

Expected to deliver fuel economy of around 7.0L/100km, which is very competitive for a large SUV, the new-gen Kluger hybrid is expected to command a price premium of around $3500 over 3.5-litre V6 models.

To put that in perspective, the current Kluger price range is around $45,000 to $70,000, so the new Toyota Kluger hybrid could be priced from about $50,000, since Toyota is expected to offer the hybrid powertrain as an option on all model grades, not just more expensive variants.

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Toyota's new large SUV will continue to offer a seven-seat layout and both front-drive and all-wheel drive layouts – although the hybrid will be exclusively all-wheel drive.

Based on Toyota's latest platform architecture (TNGA-K), the new Kluger will deliver improved cargo space, styling, dynamics and safety levels, along with a more modern interior fit-out.

The centrepiece of the cabin is a large 12.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system which will deliver big gains in connectivity and functionality.

A digital head-up display and LED headlights will be offered, as will Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 system including autonomous emergency braking, automated steering, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition and other driver-assist functions.

Toyota Australia's sales and marketing VP, Sean Hanley, said the new hybrid Kluger SUV "…is the result of combining Toyota's hybrid leadership with extensive experience in SUVs, along with an unrivalled reputation for quality, durability and reliability."

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Toyota Australia expects that by the end of 2020, hybrid vehicles will account for around 20 per cent of its sales. Vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 regularly see hybrid versions outsell conventional variants.

The new Toyota Kluger is one of five hybrid models Toyota Australia pledged to deliver to by early 2021, including the C-HR, RAV4, Corolla hatch and sedan, and the upcoming Yaris, plus the all-new Yaris Cross.

Despite being release in 2014, the Toyota Kluger SUV continues to be the second-best-selling large SUV in Australia, behind another Toyota, the LandCruiser Prado. Third place is held by the Isuzu M-UX, with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Ford Everest the next most popular models thus far in 2020.