Toyota has been manufacturing the Highlander, also known as the Kluger (Japanese:, Hepburn: Toyota Kurg), a mid-size crossover SUV with three rows of seating since 2000.
The Highlander was one of the first mid-size SUVs or mid-size crossovers to be based on a vehicle. It was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April 2000, and it debuted in Japan in late 2000 and in North America in January 2001.
[1] The Highlander, which was once Toyota’s best-selling SUV before being surpassed by the more compact RAV4 in 2006, is the crossover version of the more hardy, truck-based mid-size 4Runner.
As a larger alternative to the RAV4, the first-generation vehicle was marketed in Japan as the Kluger and sold only through the Toyota Netz dealership network. Due to the fact that Hyundai owns the trademark for the word “Highlander” as a trim line, the Kluger nameplate is also utilized in Australia. The term comes from the German adjective kluge, which meaning intelligent or shrewd (“Kluger”, written in German with aninstead of a U, means “someone who is smarter than another”). [2]
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The Kluger SUV is here to move your family, and to move you. It’s an SUV that knows you expect practicality but want luxury and beautiful design too. There’s no need to wait for the kids to grow up, you can have your dream car now.
You can choose between an updated V6 engine or an economical and powerful AWD hybrid engine.
Do Toyota klugers work well?
The Toyota Kluger is a very dependable family vehicle; the drive is ordinary and it is not as fuel-efficient as an AWD; nonetheless, I enjoy the design and comfort of the seats, and as a Grande, I like all of the extras. Cruising and radar make for a comfortable trip; you won’t get fatigued despite traveling long distances.
What distinguishes the Prado from the Kluger?
The power-adjustable seats in the Prado include leather accents (image: Dean McCartney). The Kluger earns greater marks for design thanks to its updated appearance and more contemporary interior. The Kluger is more visually appealing than the Prado since it essentially looks like a Prado and always has.
Toyota Kluger7/10
The Kluger is not particularly gorgeous, approximately as lovely as its name. Even so, it nevertheless has a rough, serious appearance despite lacking the Mazda CX-9’s graceful lines and the Kia Sorento’s futuristic visage.
Having driven it in the suburbs, where off-roadutes are the norm, I can attest that it garnered some attention, even when I was completely blocking the street with my seven-point turn.
Although this Kluger is brand-new, it is immediately recognizable as a Kluger. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t look cutting edge if that was what you were hoping for. With its moustache-like grille and blade headlights, the new Kluger actually has a larger RAV4-like appearance.
The rear haunches of the Kluger wrap around to the tailgate, and it is less angular than its mid-sized sister.
Only the Grande has 20-inch alloy wheels, and those come with a chrome-effect paint that some may find over the top. The GX and GXL have 18-inch alloy wheels.
The redesigned cabin’s dashboard, which holds the media screen and climate control controls, resembles one of those large pizza paddles and is more useful than stylish.
The GX entry-level model has black cloth-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather-wrapped shift lever. The GXL and Grande models have synthetic leather seats and real leather upholstery, respectively.
Although there are soft touch surfaces with stitching, all classes still feature an abundance of hard plastics and styling that doesn’t have the quality appearance of other competitors.
With dimensions of 194966mm end to end (+76mm), 1930mm across (+0.5mm), and 1755mm height (+25mm), the new Kluger is slightly larger than its predecessor.
Keep the Kluger off-road as much as possible; Toyota’s “true” four-wheel drives like the Fortuner, Prado, and LandCruiser are better suited for such tasks. For the record, depending on whether your Kluger has front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the approach angle is between 17.9 and 18.2 degrees, and the departure angle is between 22.7 and 23 degrees.
Graphite Metallic, Atomic Rush Red Mica, Liquorice Brown Mica, Saturn Blue Metallic, and Galena Blue Metallic are the five new paint colors. The colors “Crystal Pearl,” “Silver Storm Metallic,” and “Eclipse Black” are carried over from the previous model.
Are Toyota klugers fuel-efficient?
Depending on the engine you choose, the Kluger’s fuel efficiency ratings might be disappointing or incredibly outstanding for a vehicle this size. For front-wheel drive models, V6 petrol engines are rated at 8.7L per 100km, while all-wheel drive Klugers are rated at 8.9L per 100km. Figures reduce to about 5.6L per 100km for Kluger models equipped with the hybrid engine option, which is quite excellent for a vehicle of this size.
What fuel type does the Toyota Kluger use?
The Toyota Kluger is brand-new from the ground up and is now offered in Australia with a choice of V6 or hybrid engine. Our preview drive forced us to make a challenging decision.
- even in its most basic form, well-equipped
- Both the V6 and the Hybrid have a ton of power.
- complete-size spare tire
- opulent driving encounter
- sophistication, comfort, and space
- Hybrid carries a significant price premium.
- The inclusion of individual tire pressure monitoring would be helpful.
- A power-operated tailgate is not available on base models.
For the previous seven years, the Toyota Kluger has been Australia’s preferred seven-seat family SUV. Since it surpassed the Ford Territory and Holden Captiva in 2014, it has been the market leader for seven-seat soft-roaders.
This is true despite the Toyota Kluger’s limited availability in Australia and the segment’s preference for diesel among competitors.
A brand-new 2021 Toyota Kluger is now available. The Toyota Kluger nameplate in Australia is very close to serving its 200,000th customer; this is the fourth generation in 18 years.
The new Toyota Kluger is not only entirely redesigned from the ground up, but it will also provide local customers the option of hybrid power for the first time.
The Toyota Kluger has previously been equipped with petrol-electric technology, but this is the first time it is being sold locally.
Radar cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and speed sign recognition are all standard features on all models.
Five fast-charging USB ports, two 12V sockets, front and rear parking sensors, a rear camera, a sensor key with push-button start, four one-touch “express” power windows, extendable sun visors, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, air vents to all three rows of seats, and a full-size spare with a matching wheel and tire are additional features that come standard on all model grades.
The 8.0-inch infotainment screen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in addition to AM/FM and digital radio. While built-in maps are a standard feature on GXL and Grande variations, embedded navigation is not available on the GX model grade.
Will Kluger travel off-road?
Only the low ride height, electronic traction control, and hill descent control are Kluger’s only concessions to all-road capability. Although it performs admirably on graded dirt tracks and on slick terrain like snow and ice, LandCruisers continue to be the true 4X4 off-roaders in the Toyota lineup.
Is the Toyota Kluger effective at towing?
As long as the combined maximum burdened weight of the towing vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg, a Toyota Kluger can tow a caravan. If you intend to go across the country, the Toyota Kluger is one of the most dependable cars, according to many drivers. According to the year, the Toyota Kluger’s towing capability is listed below.
The combined weight of the automobile and the caravan cannot exceed 3.5 tonnes while towing a caravan with a B license. There is one exemption, though: the assembly’s weight can reach 4.25 T if the caravan’s GVWR (permissible gross weight) does not exceed 750 kg. Uncomplicated caravan towing is possible with a Toyota Kluger.
How to calculate the towing capacity of your car
You must comprehend the following fundamental ideas in order to determine with certainty if your car can tow a caravan or a trailer with everything loaded on it:
- Each vehicle (truck, caravan, trailer, or semi-trailer) has a maximum allowed weight, also known as the car’s maximum burdened mass (Maximum authorized mass).
It is equivalent to the maximum weight that the vehicleload includedmust not surpass. On the new grey cards in European format, it is indicated in kilos. The previous registration cards recorded it in tons. The number of axles is used to define the MAW. Additionally, it is mentioned on the vehicle’s tare plate and certificate of compliance.
- Total permitted rolling weight: LMA (Loaded Mass of the Assembly) refers to the combined mass of the caravan and the towing vehicle. Under column F3 of the new grey cards in European format, it is shown in kilos.
On the one hand, logically and regardless of the road configuration, the actual weight of the vehicle (as displayed on a scale during a weigh-in) must not exceed the MAM indicated on its vehicle registration card, and the actual weight of the trailer must not exceed the MAM indicated on its registration document as well.
On the other hand, the MAW listed on the vehicle registration card cannot be exceeded by the assembly’s real weight, which is calculated as the weight of the automobile plus the caravan when it is weighed.
For instance, if the caravan and automobile both weigh one ton, the scale would show that this tractor unit weighs two tons. It is not acceptable if the grey card specifies in column F3 that the MAW, or the road combination, shall not exceed 1.5 tonnes.
- The last and most challenging rule is that the caravan’s real weight cannot be greater than 1.3 times that of the car. Therefore, if the caravan weighs 1.3 tons and the car weighs less than 1 ton, you are not allowed to drive.