2004 Toyota Kluger Reviews

SUVs like the Toyota Kluger have replaced the station wagon as the   favourite transport for many families. Their appeal lies in their flexibility, size and perceived safety. Toyota has been one of the innovators in the SUV market with a number of models to suit all sizes and budgets.The Kluger is the mid-sized model aimed fairly and squarely as the average family. The Kluger was a close relative of the Camry and that's a pretty good way to look at it. Like the Camry it was conservatively styled, but does everything pretty well without being too outstanding in anything.Typically Toyota really. It carried up to seven and still had a bit of space for those things families seem to need to take with them when they hit the road. It had a capable all-wheel drive system, which was able to cope with most rough roads the average family adventurer would encounter. On the upper models there was an array of electronic helpers to keep you out of trouble in the rough stuff. Power came from a smooth 3.3-litre double overhead camshaft V6 with plenty of punch, and all models had a five-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.While it felt safe and sound it was a little vague on the road and felt disconnected from the driver. Off road the suspension soaked up the bumps with ease, and it was capable on bush tracks that upset other similar cars.Three models made up the Kluger range. The base CV had cloth trim and carpets, the CVX had leather, a sports steering wheel, powered driver's seat, and alloy wheels, while the Grande also had wood grain highlights.IN THE SHOPThere are no serious flaws in the Kluger; any problem will be unique to the individual car. It's important to check for signs of offroad use. Few will have been taken down anything more challenging than a gravel road, but it's best to be safe and check underneath.Look for sand blasting of the underbody, bent or dented brackets and fittings, and torn rubber boots and seals. Check for a service record to confirm the oil and filter have been changed regularly. The Kluger engine has a cam-timing belt that needs changing at around 150,000 km.IN A CRASHThe CV has dual front airbags, but the CVX and Grande had an array of   front and side airbags, plus traction control and stability control. It was enough to win a 4-star stamp from ANCAP. AT THE PUMP Toyota claimed the Kluger would average 12.3 L/100 km. The   recommended fuel was 91-octane regular unleaded, and E10 blend was approved.Toyota Kluger - 2003-2007Price new: $43,990 to $58,990Engine: 3.3-litre V6; 172 kW/328 NmTransmission: 5-speed auto, AWDEconomy: 12.3 L/100 kmBody: 5-door wagonVariants: CV, CVX, GrandeSafety: 4-star ANCAPVERDICTTypically bland Toyota looks hide competent, well-built family wagon.

SUVs like the Toyota Kluger have been a major new force in the local car market in the last two decades, but the spiraling price of fuel is now putting their very survival under threat.The SUV has replaced the station wagon as the favourite transport for many families. Their appeal lies in their flexibility, size and perceived safety. They have become so popular that every car company has been forced to have at least one in their product offering. Toyota has been of the innovators in the SUV market with a number of models to suit all sizes and budgets. The Kluger is the mid-sized model aimed fairly and squarely as the average family.MODEL WATCH Australians have always had a fascination with the bush; they have always been intrepid travelers, willing to drive thousands of kilometres over rough roads to explore this vast land. Carmakers understood this need to explore distant places and came to realize there was a market for a vehicle that could double as family transport while possessing the capability of getting to these sometimes remote locations.Initially they responded with models that were essentially toned down four-wheel drives, plenty tough enough for the bush, but far too rugged for town. It was in the 1990s that purpose-built models began to emerge. They had four-wheel drive and rode high, but were closer to the regular family four-door than the rough and tough wagon that had blazed a trail through the bush.There was the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, but then came the Kluger, and mid-sized wagon capable of transporting the average family round town or the bush.The Kluger was a close relative of the Camry and that’s a pretty good way to look at it. It’s the softroader to suit the average family. Like the Camry it’s conservatively styled, but does everything pretty well without being too outstanding in any one area. Typically Toyota really.It will carry up to seven and still have a bit of space for those things families seem to need to take with them when they hit the road. It had a capable all-wheel drive system, which was able to cope with most rough roads the average family adventurer would encounter. On the upper models there was an array of electronic helpers to keep you out of trouble in the rough stuff.Power came from a 3.3-litre double overhead camshaft V6 producing 172 kW at 5600 revs and 328 Nm at 3600 revs, which gave it plenty of punch.All Klugers came with a five-speed automatic transmission, and all had four-wheel drive.On the black top the Kluger felt a little vague, typical of most offroaders. While it felt safe and sound it felt disconnected from the driver, all controls were light and lacked feel, but the ride was very comfortable. Off road, on rough bush tracks, the Kluger felt quite at home. Its suspension soaked up the bumps with ease, and it was a delight to drive down bush tracks that unsettled other similar cars.Three models made up the Kluger range. The base CV had cloth trim and carpets, the CVX had leather, a sports steering wheel, powered driver’s seat, and alloy wheels, while the Grande also had wood grain highlights.IN THE SHOP It’s important to check for signs of offroad use. Few will have been taken down anything more challenging than a gravel road, but it’s best to be safe and check underneath.Look for sand blasting of the underbody, bent or dented brackets and fittings, and torn rubber boots and seals. If you find anything walk away, there are plenty of Klugers on the market that haven’t been taken off the black top.The Kluger engine has a cam timing belt that needs changing at around 150,000 km, but few if any will have done anywhere near that amount of kays yet. While Toyota is renowned for its reliability there have been a number of concerning reports that suggest there are problems with the Kluger engine. Reports include damaged cylinder heads requiring replacement at 150,000-200,000 km, and con rods through blocks requiring the replacement of the whole engine.IN A CRASH There’s always an argument about the safety of offroad vehicles. The high driving position affords the driver a good view of the road ahead, which has to be good for safety, but that same high ride works against you when it comes to an emergency situation.The Kluger handles satisfactorily. It’s predictable, but not as responsive as a regular sedan and takes time to change course in an emergency. That can make it a bit of a handful in the lead up to a collision. The CV has dual front airbags, but the CVX and Grande had an array of front and side airbags, plus traction control and stability control.AT THE PUMP We are getting lots of queries from owners of all SUVs, including the Kluger, about switching to LPG to save on their running costs. That suggests they are concerned about it. Expect to get 10-12 L/100 km on average, a little less on the open road.OWNERS SAY Roger Turnbull’s 2005 Kluger CVX has done 81,000 km. It has been totally reliable and drives as fresh and tight as it did when new. He uses it for family transport, tows a small trailer, but doesn’t go offroad. He says it’s very comfortable and quiet and quite economical, but he has been unhappy with the standard of the service he’s received from the three Toyota dealers he’s tried.Richard Chaplin wanted a seven-seater for family transport when he bought his 2005 Kluger CV Sport. Richard chose the Kluger over a Ford Territory because it offered better fuel economy, resale and quality and was nicer to drive. His wife preferred it because it was a bit smaller than the Territory and she didn’t like the larger size of the Ford. They have had it for nearly three years now and still love it. It’s done 78,000 km it has never had a problem, only requiring regular servicing. It’s quiet and smooth, tows without a problem, and is reasonably economical. Unlike Roger Richard reckons his Toyota dealer is great.Jack van Bakel bought his Kluger in 2006 after considering a range of other vehicles. The one he chose had to be large enough to tow a caravan, it had to have four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, had to be value-for-money, and it had to easy to get in and out of. His only regret is that the Kluger, according to Toyota, is not suitable to be converted to LPG.LOOK FOR • comfortable ride• spirited performance• family-sized wagon• good visibility from high seating position• Toyota reliability• capable offroadTHE BOTTOM LINE Typically bland Toyota looks hide competent, well-built family wagon with the capability to tour the outback.RATING 75/100

Forget the hype: it is time to discover which of Australia's big three brands has the best crossover wagon.The new wave of all-wheel-drives have been tagged the ultimate vehicles for drivers who spend most of their time in the city, but want to head for the hills at the weekend.The only way to find a winner was to run the Ford Territory, Holden Adventra and Toyota Kluger through the ultimate Australian test.We subjected all three to rush-hour traffic, highway cruising, a charge through the forest, a river crossing and a steep hill climb to find a winner.The Kluger is based on the Camry and is imported from Japan, while the Adventra (built off a Commodore wagon base) is built in Adelaide and was developed here with a budget of $125 million.Ford's Territory was developed locally for $500 million, shares its drivetrain and some other components with Falcon, and is built here in Victoria.Adventra is currently only available with the GEN III 5.7-litre V8, with a new V6 arriving late this year. Ford uses the Falcon's 4.0-litre twin-cam in-line six, while the Kluger has a 3.3-litre V6 from the Lexus RX330.For our test we chose a Kluger CVX, Adventra CX8 and Territory Ghia all-wheel-drive which lined-up on price.Holden AdventraIgnore the styling, because this Adventra is more than just a Commodore wagon with cladding. It can handle some serious off-road work and has tough under-body protection.Holden engineers have done a good job with a limited budget to turn a regular wagon into an all-wheel-drive machine fit for the Australian Outback.But the Adventra lags behind when it comes to refinement and comfort.It can crash and bang over harsh ruts that the Kluger and Territory cruise over, but rides well on less brutal bumps on tarmac and dirt.The Adventra's automatic transmission is too harsh for stop-start traffic and the steering is too heavy.The engine grunt is brilliant, but the V8 is the thirstiest engine of the three and still doesn't sound like a V8. A V6 would have fared better.The Adventra, along with the Territory, feels heavy (because they are) and Holden engineers will no doubt look for ways to reduce the weight.Interior space is a step behind its rivals, and the lack of a fold-away third row of seats counts against it.Kluger and Territory can be used as legitimate people movers, the Adventra is not so suitable.It is also rather expensive when you compare prices and specifications, but much of this extra price is due to the V8 premium.Our Adventra suffered no underbody damage but it broke down when the alternator died, along with the ABS module. Holden says the module was a pre-production part which didn't have the right seal, and is investigating the alternator failure.Toyota KlugerToyota has an enviable reputation in Australia for producing four-wheel-drives that are tough, capable and reliable. It is also known for building cars that can function well, but are mundane to drive and to look at. The Kluger reinforces all of these impressions.In some ways, the vanilla car is the pick of the bunch.It survived our torture test with the least damage, just some minor dents to the under-body cladding and is the best when it comes to tougher off-road duty, with its soft suspension absorbing many of the jolts and bumps.It is quite refined, has seven seats and is comfortable enough, but the Kluger is not fun to drive.The soft suspension means there is more body roll in turns and the Kluger feels more truck-like than the others.The steering is light and you feel little connection with the road.It also drives like a front-wheel-drive when pushed hard and can tend to push through corners.The Kluger's 3.3-litre V6 will be enough for many commuters, but it lacks the pull or punch of the Territory six or the Adventra's V8. You have to push it hard if you want to keep up the pace and the automatic can tend to hunt around for the right gear.Passenger comfort is excellent and there is a quality feel to the interior, which is spacious, and the fold-down third row of seats is a good standard feature in the CVX.Value for money is reasonable and you will spend less on fuel, but options push the price up.Ford TerritoryThe Territory is not as much fun to drive as a Falcon, but for an all-wheel-drive, it's great.Ford has managed to make the Territory sit flat through corners, rather than roll like a traditional four-wheel-drive.The engine is reasonably thirsty, but is well suited to the car and has loads of torque.The Ford was the first to scrape on the ground over tough terrain and it is obvious that engineers chose to sacrifice a higher level of off-road ability for driving pleasure, but the Territory can still go further on the dirt than all but a few owners would venture.The Ford's interior is the best – a lot of thought has gone into handy spaces and wet storage areas in the back.The third row of seats is excellent, though access from the second row could be better, and there is plenty of interior room.The steering is a little light, but the Territory is the best handling car of the bunch.On slippery dirt tracks, the Territory's stability control system shines and works constantly to keep it in control.The optional hill-descent control ($865) works a treat and the side curtain airbag (standard on Ghia) is an excellent addition.The Territory is the best value. The Ghia AWD lined up with the cheapest Adventra and mid-range Kluger, while the TX Territory costs less and the TX rear-wheel-drive is the cheapest of all at $38,990.But there were some dramas with our Territory after it bumped through a rutted mud-pool.Its metal fuel tank cover bent and rubbed against the driveshaft (above) but we were able to fix it with a tyre lever. Ford says this problem has been sorted for the production car. The Ford also went into "limp home" mode after the water crossing, but dried out and continued as normal.The Herald Sun are giving you a chance to win one of two four-wheel-driving courses at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee Gorge. See this week's Herald Sun CARSguide for details.

They are the new station wagons – mid-sized soft-roaders with city manners and Aussie buyers can't get enough of them.CarsGuide took three of the best away for a shakedown and put them through their paces on Sydney city roads, on highways, back roads and on the dirt.For the first time Ford's brand-new Territory was tested head-to-head with its only Aussie-made rival, Holden's Adventra, and the one-most-likely to wear an Aussie-made sticker before too long, Toyota's Kluger.With a huge disparity between aspects of the cars – the Adventra LX8 is V8 only, Territory Ghia sports a 4.0-litre straight six, while Kluger's CVX powerplant is a high-tech 3.3-litre V6 – raw figures were never going to provide a level playing field.Instead, we have attempted to rate the performance of the three models on real-world standards; their strengths and weaknesses in areas where a buyer would most likely be interested.Each of the testers was asked to rate various aspects of the vehicles out of a possible five points. Each vehicle was left with a score out of a possible 330.The dynamics of the vehicles – driveability in various conditions, ride, manoeuvreability, NVH – were scored out of a possible 105 points; the interior aspects – design, functionality, quality of materials, comfort, fit and finish – were worth 75 points; safety earned a possible 60 points; with drivetrain, wheels and tyre choices and exterior presence and design making up the balance.DYNAMICSTerritory 88 | Kluger 85 | Adventra 79Territory scored high marks for its city behaviour and manoeuvreability with sedan-like handling and turning circle. It also rated well on open roads but lost some ground with NVH, mainly through tyre roar.Kluger set benchmark NVH levels and also scored well for life around town with light steering and a comfortable and compliant ride without giving up on handling.For Adventra there were some big mark-downs with heavy steering and poor manoeuvreability in the city but the car came into its own on the open road and particularly on unmade and broken surfaces. The Adventra is very much a country lad.INTERIORTerritory 62 | Adventra 60 | Kluger 59Territory touched out the opposition here through consistency rather than any special feature – although the 32 storage nooks and crannies were hard to beat. Lots of clever ideas, mid-range quality not likely to offend.Holden's feel-at-home interior scored strongly for the Adventra as did the comfort of the big seats. Most controls were well placed and the general layout of the interior was good. Could lose the dash-mounted tilt gauges.The Kluger interior is very Toyota – inoffensive and generally well laid out. Some centre console controls are a little difficult to reach. Overall it is something you could live with and there are a few nice touches spread through the cabin.SAFETYTerritory 56 | Adventra 53 | Kluger 53The inclusion of curtain airbags, a full-functioning dynamic stability control and an adjustable pedal box gave Territory the leg up.Adventra and Kluger both rated well for general passive safety but Kluger lost a little ground with a less-than-convincing brake-pedal feel. The optional safety pack for Kluger – curtain airbags and stability control – was included to bring the mid-spec CVX up to par with the other pair.Overall an impressive performance.DRIVETRAINTerritory 36 | Kluger 36 | Adventra 36The three contenders scored well here but in some markedly different areas.Adventra's power and torque gave the Holden major credit points but it lost more than a few of them when the fuel figures, a tad over 20.0l/100km average, came in.Territory also scored well for the flexibility of its straight six while its 16.6l/100km average was better than Adventra but not brilliant.Kluger kicked a goal at the petrol bowser with a 13.4l/100km average. The V6 is a very nice unit and coupled to the five-speed automatic it provides a very useable drive.WHEELS/TYRESTerritory 29 | Adventra 29 | Kluger 29All three should be commended for including a full-size spare on an alloy rim. Tyre choices were middle-of-the-road with tread patterns leaning towards a life in the city but with enough versatility to make soft-roading a viable option. Kluger's drop-down storage of the spare wheel made getting to it a little easier when the boot was loaded.EXTERIORTerritory 13 | Adventra 13 | Kluger 12The Kluger suffers from being the oldest of the three, having been launched overseas in 2001.Adventra's familiar Commodore wagon lines cannot be hidden under the extra plastic bits and raised ride-height.Territory's edge is that the look, while generically a 4WD, is all new and works. On the road the car is eye-catching with a rear three-quarter profile to envy.Both Territory and Adventra won praise for the lift-up rear glass giving the option of dropping shopping or small items into the rear without having to open the tailgate fully.THE VERDICTSFord TerritoryPrice:TX RWD $38,990TX AWD $42,990TS RWD $44,790TS AWD $48,790Ghia RWD $49,290Ghia AWD (model tested) $53,290Engine: 4.0-litre in-line sixPower: 182 kW@5000 rpmTorque: 380 Nm@3250 rpmFuel consumption on test: 16.6 litres/100 kmTransmission: Four speed automaticGround clearance: 178mmDimensions: Length: 4856mm; Height: 1676mm; Width: 1898mmWheelbase: 2842mmCARSguide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Go straight to the top of the class. Versatile, stylish and displays the benefits of taking longer and getting it right.David Fitzsimons: Tough, solid vehicle that looks like a small 4WD. Performs well on the highway and on the dirt. Bold BA Falcon interior.Jaedene Hudson: Very tough off-roader, handles like a more sophisticated 4WD on the rougher terrain. More pockets and storage compartments than you'll probably ever use.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 284 (1st) Toyota KlugerPrice:CV $45,990CVX $48,990 (model tested)Grande $58,990Engine: 3.3 litre V6Power: 172kW@5600rpmTorque: 328Nm@3600rpmFuel consumption on test: 13.4 litres/100kmTransmission: 5 speed autoGround clearance: 184mm (Grande 187mm)Dimensions: Length: 4690mm; Width: 1825mm; Height: 1735mm (CV 1680mm)Wheelbase: 2715mmCARSguide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Nice lightweight performer showing a little ageing around the edges. Hits the mark in the normal day-to-day driving that will dominate this style of car's use.David Fitzsimons: Lighter ride, softer, smaller and much quieter inside than its competitors. Nonetheless it handles all conditions well. Interior dashboard arrangement is looking a bit tired.Jaedene Hudson: The quietest of the bunch. Nice light ride and steering but still handles the terrain without any fuss.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 274 (2nd) Holden AdventraPrice:CX8 $52,990LX8 $60,990 (model tested)Engine: 5.7 litre V8Power: 235 kW@5200rpmTorque: 460Nm@4000rpmFuel consumption on test: 20.0 litres/100kmTransmission: 4 speed autoGround clearance: 200mmDimensions: Length: 5036mm, Width: 1934mm, Height: 1654mmWheelbase: 2948mmCarsGuide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Launched in a flurry with tough, Outback images to the fore. Has some issues with city living but out in the big country it is hard to fault - pity that is not where the majority of these cars will operate.David Fitzsimons: Looks like a beefed-up Commodore wagon, has a great V8 sound and loves the open road and long dirt stretches. However the level of road noise is annoying and it is thirsty on fuel.Jaedene Hudson: Dirt roads are what the Adventra was made for and it shows. Nice comfortable ride. Noise interruption on the open road is intrusive. Overly heavy around town and to manoeuvre.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 270 (3rd)Which car would you buy? Let us know in the comments below.