Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid 2022 Review

The Toyota Kluger has been a dominant player among the large SUV segment seemingly forever. When it comes to seven-seat crossover SUVs, it’s a clear leader – on the sales scoreboard at least.

Rivals such as the excellent Kia Sorento – named carsales’ Best Family SUV for 2021 – as well as the Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Santa Fe haven’t been able to make much of an impression on the Kluger’s dominance.

We won’t talk about the absolute reign of the off-road-capable Toyota Prado in the segment because – like the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, et al – it’s not really a direct competitor for the Kluger.

And to make matters worse (for the opposition), a brand-new fourth-generation Kluger rolled out last year, a bit belatedly but credentialed to ensure that the status quo remains.

Though it’s all-new, the style is unmistakably Kluger: conservative, rounded at the edges and unlikely to offend.

Built off Toyota’s New Global Architecture platform, it’s generally bigger – though not by much – weighs about the same and all trim levels – GX, GXL and Grande – offer the choice of front-drive or on-demand AWD.

However, the headline story is the Kluger’s availability, for the first time, with an AWD-only hybrid drivetrain that brings it into line with Toyota’s dominant driveline technology and has already proven to be a big factor in terms of sales.

Indeed, hybrid variants accounted for more than half of total Kluger sales in Australia last year, even with the new-generation model turning up mid-year.

As with some other Toyota cars (such as the RAV4), non-hybrid Kluger AWD models use a more-familiar rear differential system, rather than the ‘E-Four’ system that kicks in with supplementary electric power to the drive back wheels when traction becomes an issue.

There’s plenty of other new technology in the new Kluger too, edging towards self-driving capabilities and bringing new levels of safety and cabin comfort.

Here we take a look at the Kluger GXL Hybrid, which slots neatly in between the entry-level GX and range-topping Grande models at the petrol-electric end of the range.

The 2022 Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid misses some of the goodies on the top-shelf Grande, but at $63,350 plus on-road costs the mid-series model could hardly be described as spartan and costs about $12K less than the flagship (from $75,400).

To name just some of its comfort and convenience features, the GXL comes with an electric tailgate, powered and heated front seats (no driver’s seat memory though), tri-zone climate-control, inbuilt satellite navigation and leather-look seat trim.

The extra cash for the Grande brings genuine leather upholstery, as well as a sunroof, hands-free tailgate, head-up display and 11-speaker JBL sound system.

The Kluger’s safety checklist includes, on all variants, most of the familiar driver assist aids including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daylight cyclist detection, intersection turn assist, emergency steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing, road sign recognition, self-dipping headlights, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and rain-sensing wipers.

This puts it generally on par with its major competitors, and the Kluger has also earned a maximum five-star safety rating under ANCAP’s latest strict testing regime.

A recognisable formula shines through in the fourth-generation 2022 Toyota Kluger.

Even in GXL hybrid form, the latest version of Toyota’s seven-seat SUV is not about to blow away those experiencing it for the first time.

There’s no in-your-face styling, no dramatic upshift in road behaviour and no real ‘surprise and delight’ factors waiting to be discovered. It’s all very formulaic.

Rather, there’s a comfortable familiarity that will make for an easy segue from the old into the new. In some ways, the less observant might have difficulty determining which is which.

Previous Kluger owners will already expect a spacious and comfortable interior with easily-operatable seat-fold mechanisms and third-row seating that will take adult passengers on short trips, providing the second-row occupants are considerate in their demands for legroom.

The 241-litre boot, with all seats in use, is average for this class and something of a compromise.

Drop all the seats down and the load area becomes quite capacious, up to 1150 litres, though it’s still not the best among its peers.

Aftersales care is pretty much industry-standard. The Kluger is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with $250 capped-price servicing for the first five years or 75,000km at 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Roadside assist is an added-cost option – $89 per year basic, or $129 per year for the ‘Plus’ package.

Toyota says the new platform is responsible for improved on-road dynamics, and there’s no doubt the 2022 Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid is a smooth, cool and quiet customer on just about any road.

It’s hard to think of a more suitable large-family vehicle.

The plush ride brings some minor sacrifices in the way the Kluger handles.

At 2.8 turns from lock to lock, the steering tends towards low-geared and, though you’d not describe it as ponderous, there’s a certain wooliness that blurs the Kluger GXL’s sense of connectedness.

The 235/65-section tyres on 18-inch wheels favour ride quality over road grip, contrasting with the lower-profile 20-inch rubber that is common elsewhere at this end of town.

All four disc brakes are ventilated and well up to the task, but there’s a hybrid-typical ‘dead spot’ in the pedal at times.

The hybrid’s planetary continuously variable transmission (non-electrified Klugers have a conventional belt-and-pulley CVT system) apportions the drive direction and the power developed by the 142kW/242Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and three electric motors, which makes for a total 184kW.

All-wheel drive is achieved via the third electric motor which drives the rear wheels when required without need for the tailshaft which appears in non-hybrid AWD V6 Kluger models.

The total power doesn’t give the hybrid as much overall punch as the 218kW/350Nm 3.5-litre V6 versions – a 0-100km/h time of 8.4 seconds is claimed – but with the help of the electric motors’ additional 202Nm of torque, the initial off-the-line response is hefty enough.

In typical hybrid style, having a conventional engine working in with an electric motor smooths-out the driveline during initial acceleration too.

The payoff is at the fuel pump. Toyota’s combined consumption claim for the Kluger hybrid is 5.6L/100km, and although our 6.7L/100km didn’t get close to that, it was still deemed reasonable for a two-tonne-plus seven-seat AWD family SUV.

And certainly way better than any of its petrol-fuelled, conventional-drivetrain peers which quote figures tending to hover around 10.0L/100km.

The 65-litre fuel capacity of the hybrid is fractionally down on conventional-drivetrain Klugers, but the potential cruising range promises to be significantly better – well past 900km between refills. It does ask for premium 95 RON fuel though, where the V6 is okay with regular unleaded.

There was never any doubt that the fourth-generation Toyota Kluger would be better than its market-storming predecessor.

It’s a bigger, safer, more refined version of what went before. And, as we’ve found in the 2022 Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid, the petrol-electric powertrain adds impressive fuel economy into the mix.
It will have some extra competition to contend with before too long, with the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento both in line to offer regular hybrids during 2022. (The Sorento already has a plug-in hybrid available.)

Some might also see its overcautious, inoffensive design as a disadvantage.

But, in the end, it’s a Toyota. And that alone is probably going to be more than enough.

How much does the 2022 Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid AWD cost?
Price: $63,350 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 142kW/242Nm (184kW combined)
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 128g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)