Toyota Kluger hybrid 2021 review: snapshot

The Toyota Kluger Hybrid doesn't need plugging in, but the fuel savings are still outstanding
EXPERT RATING
8.5

Likes

Outstanding fuel economy
Comfortable and easy to drive
All-wheel drive

Dislikes

Third row airbags don't cover occupants' heads
No sat nav on GX grade
No head up display
Laura Berry

Senior Journalist

2 min read

The Toyota Kluger hybrid is offered in three grades: the entry-level GX for $54,150, the mid-range GXL at $63,350, and the top-spec Grande for $75,400.

Coming standard on the GX are LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, fabric seats, an 8.0-inch media display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a proximity key with push-button start, a leather steering wheel, a six-speaker stereo, and air con for the front and second row – or if you have the hybrid you'll get three-zone climate control.

The GXL scores roof rails, a power tailgate, sat nav, three-zone climate, plus heated driver and front passenger seats.

Leather seats don't appear until you step up to the Grande, which also has ventilated front seats, an 11-speaker JBL stereo, a head-up display, a moonroof, gesture tailgate and 20-inch wheels, which are way too shiny.

The hybrid has two motors at the front and one at the rear which work together with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

The power output of the petrol engine is 142kW and the electric motors make 184kW. The engine torque is 242Nm.

The front electric motors are able to produce 134Nm and 270Nm, while the rear can make 121Nm.

All Klugers come standard with AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection. There's also blind spot warning, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

There are also front and rear parking sensors.

For child seats there are three top tether anchor points and two ISOFIX points in the second row.

It's disappointing to see, however, that the Kluger's curtain airbags don't cover the third-row occupants' heads.

Read the full 2021 Toyota Kluger review

Toyota Kluger 2021: Gx Hybrid Awd

Engine Type Inline 4, 2.5L
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded/Electric
Fuel Efficiency 5.6L/100km (combined)
Seating 7
Price From $41,470 - $48,730
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$45,355
Based on 313 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$24,000
HIGHEST PRICE
$62,888
Laura Berry

Senior Journalist

Laura Berry is a best-selling Australian author and journalist who has been reviewing cars for more than 15 years. Much more of a Hot Wheels girl than a Matchbox one, she grew up in a family that would spend every Friday night sitting on a hill at the Speedway watching sprint cars slide in the mud. The best part of this was being given money to buy stickers. She loved stickers… which then turned into a love of tattoos. Out of boredom, she learnt to drive at 14 on her parents’ bush property in what can only be described as a heavily modified Toyota LandCruiser.   At the age of 17 she was told she couldn’t have a V8 Holden ute by her mother, which led to Laura and her father laying in the driveway for three months building a six-cylinder ute with more horsepower than a V8.   Since then she’s only ever owned V8s, with a Ford Falcon XW and a Holden Monaro CV8 part of her collection over the years. Laura began her career as a journalist in the entertainment industry writing about music for The South China Morning Post; television for tvChoice; fashion and celebrities for The Mirror before combining her passion for cars with her profession and moved into motoring. In 2008 she joined News Custom Publishing as Managing Editor of its motoring titles, including Australia’s Best Cars and the official programs for V8 Supercars, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. In 2011 she joined CarsGuide (for the first time), back when it was part of a newspaper, and learnt to test and review cars. This followed a move to Motor as Production Editor, then Wheels as News Editor while also writing for Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. As the media landscape shifted she left print journalism and joined online motoring publication GoAuto as a senior writer. A brief stint in automotive public relations then followed before she joined CarsGuide in 2015 (for the second time) as Senior Journalist where she remains to this day. A wife and mother, and author of two books, her current daily driver is a chopped 1951 Ford Tudor with a V8, of course. You can find Laura on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. Expertise Performance and custom cars Family cars and SUVs Education Bachelor of Arts | Macquarie University Featured Publications The Mirror (UK) | 2002-2006 South China Morning Post | 2004-2006 tvChoice (UK) | 2004-2006 TVQuick (UK) | 2004-2006 Mercedes-Benz Magazine | 2005-2006 Australia’s Best Cars | 2008-2010 V8 Supercars Official Program | 2008-2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Official Program | 2008-2010 Australian MotoGP Official Program | 2008-2010 Motor | 2012-2013 Street Machine | 2012-2015 Wheels | 2013 Top Gear | 2013-2014 GoAuto | 2014-2015 CarsGuide | 2015-present
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$24,000
Lowest price, based on CarsGuide listings over the last 6 months.
For more information on
2021 Toyota Kluger
See Pricing & Specs

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