Toyota Kluger Grande 2025 Review

The Kluger line-up of large seven-seat SUVs went through a major upheaval in 2024 when, as part of a larger Toyota passenger vehicle shake-up in Australia, the range was reduced to hybrid all-wheel-drive models only.

No more cheaper front-wheel drive or turbo-petrol four-cylinder, that engine itself a relatively recent replacement for the popular old V6.

Post-trim the line-up comprises the $60,920 GX, $70,440 GXL and the $82,860 Grande flagship, which we are testing here. All prices are plus on-road costs and six of seven paint colours add $675.

Considering the US-built Kluger range used to start below $55,000, it has opened up an opportunity for the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, both of which still offer models starting as much as $10,000 lower. There’s even a Mazda CX-80 that’s cheaper.

Cast your net a bit wider and the Hyundai Palisade is price competitive, as are diesel 4x4 towing machines such as the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.

In terms of powertrain all Klugers are identical. The hybrid system 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.

If this all reads familiar it’s because the top-selling Toyota RAV4 medium SUV employs the same system on its AWD models. They also share the same platform, so in some ways you can consider the Kluger an inflated RAV!

Key Grande exterior equipment exclusives include 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate with kick sensor and projector LED headlights.

Inside it’s the only Kluger with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 11-speaker JBL audio, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, a 360-degree monitor (supported by front and rear parking sensors), ventilated front seats, driver’s seat memory, ambient lighting and second row retractable sunshades.

It also looks flasher with its own ‘premium’ seat trim, wood-look ornamentation, front metal scuff plates and a smattering of chrome on the exterior.

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

The key safety gear is shared across the range and includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection along with 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, while overall the Kluger boasts a five-star ANCAP rating based on 2021 protocols.

The Toyota Kluger is protected by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty while its hybrid battery gets its own 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 every 12 months or 15,000km.

Toyota does offer roadside assistance but it costs an extra $99 minimum per annum.

The best thing about the Toyota Kluger Grande is undoubtedly the space on offer inside. At 4996mm long, 1930mm wide and 1755mm tall, this is a big vehicle, but it also utilises its space well across three rows.

Sure, the kids are going to find row three more comfortable than a taller person, but head forward to row two and there’s sprawling space. Stick a 180cm passenger behind a 180cm driver and they are going to stay friends.

It helps that the bench seat in the middle row slides fore and aft to tailor space. It also flips forward to ease entry to and exit from the third row. Look, it’s never that easy in any SUV for anyone to contort their way in and out of row three (unless you go out the tailgate), but the Kluger does it better than many.

Passengers are well looked after for features in row two. There are a full set of climate controls, as well as USB ports and plenty of storage options.

Up front, the width of the cabin makes the Kluger Grande comfy for two passengers – no clashing elbows.

The driver gets a big steering wheel to grasp, big instrumentation to read and both passengers settle into comfy armchairs. Storage is plentiful up front in the Kluger Grande too.

There are also hard-wired buttons to work the air-con and audio and the intrusive lane keeping and bing-bongs are quite easy to turn off. Yay!

Understandably, with all three rows in place there’s not a lot of luggage space in the Grande. But once row three is folded it really expands, from 241 litres to 552 litres. With row two folded as well it expands to 1150 litres. It actually sounds a bit less impressive than it looks in real life.

There’s a full-size spare tyre under the rear floor, which is something every SUV should have. Mind you, the Grande isn’t a real bush basher. It’s at home on bitumen in town or country and will extend to some gravel running as well. It even has a ‘Trail’ button. I pressed it, but couldn’t really feel anything changing.

The hybrid powertrain definitely delivers on three different scores. It’s quiet when running on electricity alone, the e-motors provide a significant tip-in throttle boost to help in low-speed situations, especially around town, and there is impressive economy.

The latter is definitely the key attribute. On test we averaged 7.8L/100km. That’s well above the 5.6L/100km claim, but still darn good for a 2095kg brick on wheels. The turbo four averaged a couple of litres per 100km thirstier when we last tested it in 2023 and the V6 was worse again.

The engine obviously creates a bit of noise when it kicks in, but the CVT-induced drone is within the bounds of reason. While low-speed response is the star of the show, performance remains at least adequate through the speed range.

Essentially, the Kluger drives as you would expect a big family-oriented Toyota to drive. It’s predictably conservative and safe in its handling and steering. The latter is nice and light for urban manoeuvring, while outward vison is pretty good thanks to the big windows and boxy shape.

The 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande asks a lot of money of potential buyers. It’s about $90,000 on the road. So little things can mean a lot at this price.

So bearing that in mind, it would be nice of the Grande just felt that little more … grand. It’s a bit mainstream in some ways.

For instance, there’s no power adjustment of the steering column – like I said, little things. You can also roll your palms across the steering wheel spoke while cornering and accidentally activate the centre readout in the instrument panel.

The high and hard seat in the middle of the second row is a pretty poor offering. Definitely the worst option in the car.

Then there’s the wireless smartphone charger. Okay, it’s not the tech itself but where it’s positioned. Essentially it blocks access to the bowels of the centre lidded bin between the front seats. You can flip it up out of the way but then your phone might fall out. Mine wouldn’t even fit in the first place.

And just to confuse things, not every upgrade is appreciated. The Grande’s exclusive digital instrument panel isn’t a win for me. I much prefer the simple analogue speedo and tacho dials of the GX and GXL. So easy to work with.

The top-spec dash, by contrast, offers a rather complex way of choosing different information options across three different fields. Gets. Boring. Quickly.

The infotainment touch-screen also comes without a home screen, just line items at the side that are harder to tap when driving.

The driving experience, while competent and fuss-free, feels less impressive than rivals like the Santa Fe and Sorento once you get into the granularity of it.

The steering generally lacks feel, then weighs up and pulls from one side to the other under hard acceleration. The ride is a frag on the coarse side, intruding a bit on the sharp edges and jagged corruptions of Aussie roads. Even at $90K there’s no air springs or adjustable dampers.

For all its good bits, the hybrid powertrain doesn’t escape criticism. There’s an ‘EV mode’ button on the centre console that’s meant to make the powertrain run on electricity alone. Nine out of every 10 times it was pressed it rejected the request. Not enough battery power, the road speed was too high or the computer just plain said ‘no’.

It’s a placebo, basically. Yes, the Kluger’s silent when running on electricity, it just doesn’t do it often.

And if you’re looking at the Kluger as your round-Australia dream machine picturing it with a Jayco on the back, beware. The braked towing capacity is only 2000kg.

For towing or off-roading both, look at Prado or Fortuner in the Toyota camp, or Everest and MU-X among the rivals.

The 2025 Toyota Kluger Grande is a really competent seven-seat large SUV. But I wouldn’t buy it.

Nope, I’d opt for the Kluger GX or GXL and save a heap of cash.

Or I’d check out some of those very high-quality rivals that make the price of any Kluger look a bit too high.

2024 Toyota Kluger Grande at a glance:
Price: $82,860 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 142kW/242Nm (electric motor: N/A)
Combined output: 184kW
Transmission: CVT automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 128g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)

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