2024 Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid review

I don’t think it’s a stretch to claim the Toyota Kluger is the bedrock of family cars. In 2022, 2023 and again in 2024, the Toyota Kluger won Drive’s Best Large SUV. The key reasons for the win? The hybrid model was impressively affordable to run and service, has lots of storage so is perfect for families, and it was a comfortable ride.

Now, a quick caveat – this year Drive’s Best Large SUV category had an $80,000 cap applied, to better help consumers find a car to suit their budget, and the judging panel put forward the GXL Hybrid model as our recommended variant, one spec lower than the Grande Hybrid variant that I’m reviewing. So what’s featured in the highest-spec model, Grande Hybrid, that’s worth the extra $12,420? I’m testing the car for a week, so I’ll put it through its paces and let you know.

The Grande Hybrid starts at $80,230, though my particular test model comes in Graphite Metallic paint, costing an additional $675. Consider this in context with its siblings: the Hybrid GXL costs $67,810 and the (big) baby of the bunch, the Hybrid GX, comes in at $58,290 – so there’s a fair gulf between the price of each three models – all listed here before on-road costs. 

All three of the gradients include a 2.5-litre hybrid engine, claimed fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and virtually the same suite of driver’s assistance (the Grande Hybrid comes with more cameras, but more on that later). If you’re not after a hybrid model, all-wheel and two-wheel drive petrol variants are also available.

In terms of competitors, another Toyota – the Prado – has pipped the Kluger to the post in terms of sales in 2024 so far, making it the best-selling large SUV in Australia and the Kluger is in second. 

Despite being grouped in the same sales class, the diesel-powered Prado is more capable and durable for off-roading and towing, whereas the Kluger can manage only some fairly light off-roading. Otherwise, the two are not dissimilar in terms of size and amenities. The Kluger Grande Hybrid sits between the highest and mid-spec Prado in terms of cost: the Prado VX starts at $76,848, while the Prado Kakadu starts at $87,468 before on-road costs. 

Outside of its own brand, the Kluger’s closest competitors are the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Pathfinder. Right now the Santa Fe is available with a hybrid option (from $63,000 +ORCs) and the newly updated Sorento hasn’t added its previous hybrid options back yet.

Looks wise, there’s nothing particularly beautiful about the Kluger, but I dare say it wasn’t designed with beauty at the forefront of mind. Instead, what it lacks in stylishness it makes up for in functionality, which it has by the bucket-load.

Its boxy body looks reassuringly resilient. Swept-back LED headlights give off an air of masculinity and slightly sculpted doors make the car look a bit sporty. Black plastic trims around the wheels (18-inch on the two lower specs, 20-inch on the Grande Hybrid) and roof rails are a nod to the Kluger’s light off-roading capabilities. 

Okay, so I’ve certainly emphasised the utilitarianism of the Kluger’s exterior design. Inside the car, you’re met with a much more refined finish. 

The cabin is big, airy and light, which is probably aided in my test model by the lovely beige leather trim, panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting.

The surfaces around the car are a mixture of plastics including some wood-look panels. This wood look may not be for everyone (my partner’s immediate reaction was that they looked dated), but add a textural difference to the surfaces and are only available in the Grande model. The other plastics come in a glossy black and matte-look chrome that look quite chic compared to traditional hard plastics. 

The dashboard has a shelf running the entire breadth of the front row for both the passenger and driver to use – a small detail, but one that demonstrates the little practicalities dotted throughout the whole car. 

Below the huge infotainment screen are an array of haptic buttons and dials to control volume, temperature etc., and beneath them, you’ve got the central console that is home to the gearstick, two large cupholders and a toggle to change driving modes. Then you’ve got yourself a large storage bin complete with a handy tray and three charging ports – one USB-A and two USB-C. 

The seats in every row are big and pillowy. In the Grande Hybrid, they come in the same ‘leather accented’ finish (a mix or real and faux leather finishes) as the rest of the trimmings, including the gearstick and steering wheel. That is swapped out for cloth and fully synthetic leather in the GX and GXL respectively. In the front, you have the additional luxury of opting to heat or ventilate your bottom, and the seats are power-adjustable. 

Unlike a lot of seven-seaters, it feels as though the Kluger has been designed with consideration for every single row. All three rows of the car have fairly substantial door pockets, multiple cupholders and three-zone climate control, which is available in the GXL as well.

There are ISOFIX points in the second row but unfortunately not in the third, unlike the Kia Sorento. And last but not least, not one person can complain of a dying phone battery with seven total USB ports (though none of these are in the third row).  

The boot is 241L when all three rows are up – bigger than the Sorento and Pathfinder but smaller than the Santa Fe. If you’ve got the third row folded down, you’ve got yourself 1150L of boot space, which is bigger than the Pathfinder and the Santa Fe – but the Sorento is bigger than all of them. 

The Kluger comes with an electric tailgate that opens particularly high, so that there’s no bumping heads or perilous bending to get big-ticket items in and out. However, one niggle I have is that the tailgate beeps constantly when it’s in use. Loudly. I don’t think my neighbours appreciated me using it at 6:00 am.

And talking of the wide-opening tailgate, the same thoughtful practicality has been extended to the doors, which open particularly wide – a godsend for anyone who is frequently getting kids in and out of car seats. 

The Grande and GXL variants of the Kluger both come with big 12.3-inch infotainment systems that support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wirelessly or wired. Upon testing, both options connected seamlessly in the car every time. 

Aside from phone connectivity, Toyota’s own media system works well. The technology and graphics aren’t out of this world, but they serve a purpose should you need to use basic functions like the navigation or phone. Along with integrated satellite navigation and Bluetooth, there’s also AM, FM, and DAB+ radio.

Low-spec Klugers have a six-speaker sound system, but the Grande adds a punchier 11-speaker JBL premium audio system. The Kluger Grande also adds a fully-digital 12.3-inch driver’s instrument display, and a head-up display projected onto the windscreen.

Toyota Connected Services is a subscription-based communication system built into new Toyotas feeding vehicle information through to your smartphone. Once you’ve downloaded the Toyota Connected app, you can receive information about your car’s fuel levels and driving data, or notifications about your car’s useage if you’ve lent it out to somebody.

It also alerts you to your car’s location in the event of forgetting where you’ve parked – hey, we’ve all been there. 

Possibly most importantly of all, Toyota Connected Services can connect you to emergency services through an emergency SOS button in your car, as well as automatically alerting Toyota’s Emergency Call Centre in this case. I thoroughly hope you don’t need to use it, but it’s reassuring to know that it exists in your car.

Toyota provides 12 months of complimentary access, after which subscription fees start from $9.95 per month for features like remote start and unlock, and stolen vehicle tracking.

The Toyota Kluger scored a full five-star safety rating upon testing back in 2021. That rating will remain until December 2027. 

The car scored 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 82 per cent for safety assist. 

There are seven airbags in total: dual-frontal, side head-protecting airbags in all three rows, and side chest-protecting airbags in the first row, plus a driver’s knee airbag. 

I feel like I’m sitting in a fortress in the Kluger. Physically, I’m up high and the seats feel sturdy and well-protected. Then there’s the huge suite of safety features that it comes equipped with.  

There are the features that now feel pretty standard in any modern car – blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure alert, rear cross-traffic alert to name a few. Then there’s the reversing camera with fixed lines. In fact, the Kluger comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense, which includes a Pre-Collision Safety System with pedestrian and cyclist detection, intersection turn assistance… The list could go on. 

Rivals such as the Sorento and Santa Fe come with pretty much the same suite of safety equipment, but unlike some brands (*cough* Hyundai *cough*), Toyota’s assistance is very non-intrusive.

While I feel incredibly safe, I should point out that I could get almost the same in the GX or GXL. The Grande’s 360-degree camera (side and front cameras are not included in those lower-spec models) is the only safety upgrade.

Toyota offers a very reasonable capped price of $265 per yearly service for the first five years (or every 15,000km, whichever comes first), which I’m happy with for a vehicle of this size. Servicing prices start to hike up a bit after that, but I think this can be justified given what you’ve saved in the first five years of ownership.

Toyota’s standard warranty covers the car for five years with no distance cap for private buyers (or 160,000km for taxis, rideshare operators, and the like). On top, Toyota extends engine, hybrid system, and driveline coverage up to seven years for vehicles maintained in accordance with Toyota’s service schedule. An annual ‘hybrid health check’ at a Toyota dealer can also see hybrid battery warranty extended from the base five year package up to 10 years in total.

In terms of insurance, the annual cost of comprehensive insurance for the Grande Hybrid would set you back $2392. For reference, the Toyota Prado and Nissan Pathfinder are both more expensive, while the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are both more affordable at around the $1800 mark annually.

Finally, I’ve had a quick look at where the other models in the Kluger line-up stand. The mid-range GXL is $2127 yearly. Meanwhile, the entry-level GX still costs more to insure than the highest-spec Sorento and Santa Fe at $1931.

Note that all these quotes were based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history and personal circumstances. 

Like the majority of other hybrid Toyota (and Lexus) vehicles, the Kluger has the Hybrid Synergy Drivetrain applied, meaning that the car never needs to be plugged in to receive electrical charging. I suspect I’m not the only one who finds this eases an electric anxiety that I still can’t quite shake. 

Toyota claims a consumption of 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres. Make that 6.0L/100km if you’re limited to just city driving. I did a few long freeway runs in the Kluger, but otherwise it was around the suburbs and my daily commute, which involves some highway driving. In the end, I returned a fuel reading of 7.0L/100km over the course of the week, which is still impressive. 

When the Kluger’s key competitors aren’t all other hybrid models, it becomes a bit tricky to compare running costs. Bear in mind any diesel model is going to be the thirstiest of the bunch, and the V6 and V8 engines in some of the Kluger’s petrol competitors also guzzle a lot more fuel than their hybrid counterparts. Meanwhile, the Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line, the other hybrid in the line-up, claims an incredibly frugal consumption of 1.6L/100km. We have yet to test the latest PHEV GT-Line model to confirm. 

It’s interesting to analyse the driving credentials of the Kluger straight after evaluating its energy consumption. The Grande Hybrid may be more fuel-efficient than some of its V6 or turbo diesel rivals, but with fuel efficiency comes a compromise in power. While the four-cylinder, hybrid engine was smooth, it certainly didn’t have the bite you’d get from one of its larger-engined rivals. 

The Grande Hybrid’s combination of petrol engine and electric motor delivers a competitive 184kW of power but the handover between the petrol and electric drivetrain systems, and the lower torque of the system overall means the Kluger Hybrid lacks the punch of its turbo petrol sibling.

Still, for a car of such size, it never feels heavy just a little less fleet-footed, and I feel just at ease cruising down the freeway at 110km/h as I do crawling through a school zone at 40km/h. Acceleration is smooth and the silent start-off afforded by the hybrid system makes for a more tranquil drive on suburban streets.

Despite its size, it handles corners and tight turns gracefully. The Kluger has a turning circle of 11.4m, which is on par with other models of this size. It’s no sports car, so it will softly lean through corners, but the absorbent ride quality more than makes up for this as a compromise.

Visibility is really good as it is – as you’d expect, a large car like this comes with supersized windows – but the rear, side and front cameras sure do help too. The steering is also nice and light, and the cabin keeps external noise at bay. Unlike some other brands, the steering wheel isn’t button-heavy, which means I’m not distracted by different functions and gadgets while I’m driving.

Let’s be honest here, no one’s buying this car under any illusions that it’s a performance purchase. Despite it not having perhaps the same grunt as its rivals, I’m perfectly happy with the efficient, comfortable drive of the Kluger.

On paper there isn’t anything conventionally sexy about the Kluger. But I’m a parent, so as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing sexier than something that functions really bloody well – and the Kluger certainly does that. 

It’s spacious, it’s comfortable, and the storage is fantastic. It feels safe, the tech is both up-to-date and unobtrusive, and while the drive may not blow your socks off, it’s solid. Running costs are low, as are the servicing costs. That’s a tick for practicality, a tick for tech, and a tick for ownership costs, then. 

However, if it were up to me, I’d opt for the mid-spec GXL Hybrid rather than the Grande Hybrid. To be transparent, the GXL misses out on the 20-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, sun blinds, 360-degree camera, leather seats, and a few other non-essential items, but other than that the two variants are much of a muchness, so I’d rather save the $12,420 (and the $200+ yearly on comprehensive insurance).

While there are some seriously good competitors out there giving this car a run for its money, I don’t think the Toyota Kluger needs to quake in its boots just yet. For me at least, it remains the bedrock of family cars.

I tested the 2024 Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid, but the mid-spec GXL and lowest-spec GX are also available in the Kluger line-up.

As I made clear in this review, the GXL (and the entry-level GX) are worthy rivals to the highest-spec Grande Hybrid, so my suggestion would be to check out all three to make your own comparison. Head to your nearest Toyota dealership to organise your test drive – you can find your local dealer here.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.