Toyota will introduce added performance, refreshed styling and improved convenience to its family-oriented Kluger SUV when a facelifted range arrives in Australia late February 2017.
Kluger receives a performance infusion with gains to power and torque from its V6 powertrain, which is now equipped with direct-injection engine technology.
The updated V6 petrol engine delivers improved acceleration and overtaking with a substantial increase in power of almost 8.5 per cent to 218kW while torque rises to 350Nm.
Making best use of the engine’s upgraded performance and efficiency, the Kluger now employs a new direct-shift 8-speed automatic transmission.
The eight ratios, compared with six previously, benefit Kluger’s performance while improving fuel consumption and emissions by at least 10 per cent1 on the official combined cycle.
Mid-spec GXL variants gain an 8-inch audio screen, satellite navigation2, digital radio (DAB+)3 and a power back door with the convenience of an independently operated glass hatch.
Top-of-the range Grande expands its suite of comprehensive safety features with rear-cross-traffic alert and supplements its lane departure alert with steering control and sway warning4.
Grande, newly specified with front parking sensors, also gains a panoramic view monitor that uses four cameras – front, rear and in the side mirrors – to take visibility and safety to new heights.
Styling updates convey a more elegant presence with the new front grille on GX and GXL variants featuring a silver-painted finish, while Grande receives a painted chrome finish.
Tail-lights have been redesigned for a sleeker look and now feature standard LEDs while the Grande is distinguished by a rear bumper chrome garnish.
Newly designed alloy wheels (including spares) are 18-inch with five double spokes on GX, 18-inch with seven outer and seven turbine-style inner spokes on GXL, and 19-inch with 12-outer and 12 black inner spokes on Grande. Three new exterior body colours include silver, brown and an additional red hue.
Inside, Toyota has enhanced quality with premium materials, soft-touch surfaces, bright accents and greater refinement with silver metallic garnishes on GX and GXL. Grande is offered with silver woodgrain-look garnishes and blue LED ambient lighting around the dash and doors that add a touch of high-tech elegance.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the facelifted Kluger expands driver enjoyment and offers an even better package for families.
“The latest updates to Kluger are focused on areas that owners will appreciate – enhanced driveability, quicker overtaking, substantially improved economy and the added convenience of new features,” Mr Cramb said.
The improved lane departure alert4 on Grande variants adds steering assistance. If the system judges the vehicle is about to move out of its lane and the driver has not responded sufficiently to a warning buzzer and light, it will apply light steering force to assist the driver to bring the vehicle back on course.
The system has also been advanced so that it can warn the driver if it detects swaying, which may occur due to driver drowsiness, inattention or distraction. It does this by combining two pieces of information – data from the camera about the vehicle’s position within the lane, and data on the driver’s steering operations.
Kluger is offered in two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations.
Kluger AWD variants use a Dynamic Torque Control system to maximise traction, cornering stability and driver control while also saving fuel. The compact, lightweight system uses information on vehicle speed, yaw rate and steering and throttle angles to control torque distribution automatically between the front and rear axles. It saves fuel by driving only the front wheels when the vehicle is cruising, switching to AWD when needed via an electromagnetically controlled coupling in the rear differential housing. Pre-torque control can direct 10 per cent of the available torque to the rear wheels as soon as the driver starts to turn the steering wheel. Yaw-rate feedback control can feed additional torque to the rear wheels every six milliseconds, ensuring an ideal torque split – up to a maximum of 50 per cent.
Every Kluger is fitted with seven airbags, reversing camera, reverse-parking sensors, anti-skid brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, stability and traction control, and hill-start assist control.
Other standard features include air-conditioning, cruise control, electric power steering, six-speaker display audio with Toyota Link5 connected mobility, front foglamps, privacy glass, power-adjustable exterior mirrors and a 72-litre fuel tank.
In addition to its new features, GXL variants have additional features including three-zone climate-control air-conditioning, keyless entry and ignition, roof rails, premium steering wheel and shift knob, and leather-accented seats with heated front seats and a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Grande includes a suite of advanced safety features including a pre-collision safety system with autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane departure alert, blind spot monitor and auto high beam.
Additional premium Grande features include a tilt-and-slide moonroof, ventilated front seats with two-position memory for the driver’s seat, nine-inch rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-ray player, heated exterior mirrors with memory function and puddle lamps, electro-chromatic interior mirror, second-row retractable sunshades and a back-guide monitor for the reversing camera.
