Toyota Kluger in for drastic overhaul

Toyota’s popular Kluger SUV is being drastically overhauled ahead of a global reveal as soon as 2019.

But the fundamental concept of the popular seven-seat SUV, which consistently manages around 1000 sales per month in Australia, is expected to remain unchanged from the current model (pictured).

Speaking to carsales.com.au last week, chief engineer Yoshikazu Saeki revealed the next-generation Kluger – which is known as Highlander in the US, where it is immensely popular – would be underpinned by the freshly developed Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), following in the wheel-tracks of the latest Camry, Corolla, Prius and C-HR compact SUV.

Saeki also indicated the next Kluger would be bigger than the current generation, retain its big-bore V6 petrol engine and share strong engineering links with the new RAV4 medium SUV, of which he is also chief engineer.

That strong linkage will be created because the two vehicles are based on the TNGA-K version of the architecture, which caters for medium-size and up monocoque vehicles.

The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 goes on sale in Australia in April and you can read our first drive impressions on November 20.

TNGA brings with it a number of advances over previous-generation Toyota architectures including – among other things – better crash performance, improved driving dynamics, superior interior space utilisation and the opportunity for more exterior design flexibility.

“The RAV4 is an entry offering on the ‘K’ platform but the Highlander is an upgraded version of that,” Saeki, told carsales.com.au via a translator at last week’s RAV4 international first media drive.

“The RAV4 is now going to be thrown into the marketplace and through feedback from media and customers it’s going to really become a rich source of feedback data and that becomes the base of moving to the next car [Highlander].”

Saeki said the RAV4 was like a young wine, while the Kluger would have more depth like an aged wine.

Saeki tacitly confirmed the new Highlander would have a longer wheelbase than the current XU50 generation, which has a 2789mm wheelbase. The latest Camry, launched in Australia in late 2017, has a 2825mm wheelbase.

“It won’t be the same as the Camry — it will be longer,” said Saeki.

Saeki refused to offer confirmation the next Kluger will be lighter. In Australian trim, where it is available as a front- and all-wheel drive powered by a 3.5-litre V6, the current model weighs in from around two tonnes.

“Already we are dealing with future crash regulations. Look back five or 10 years and the whole regulation scene has changed -- you can’t even compare,” said Saeki.

“Just because the Highlander is new with a new platform it won’t specifically mean automatically we are going to have a reduced weight of this per cent. It’s not a given.

“Usually what happens is you lose a certain amount of performance because the regulations become more stringent and then what we are trying to do is to bring it back to normal using new technology.

“It’s that constant struggle.”

Saeki also indicated a big naturally-aspirated engine is likely to continue in Highlander. A 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid is also offered overseas.

Australia is odds-on to add a hybrid Kluger to its line-up in the next generation for the first time.

Built in the US, Toyota’s existing Highlander Hybrid was only produced in left-hand drive, but the new Kluger is almost certain to be one of the five all-new hybrid models Toyota Australia has promised to release by mid-2020.

“If you look at the current Highlander there is a V6 and a hybrid, so if a market feels the need for one of the other [or both] I can give it to them,” Saeki said.

Asked if he thought that line-up was a chance to continue, Saeki answered: “Correct”.