We have a Kluger GXL hybrid with all wheel drive in black colour. We actually ordered it last year and we’ve been waiting forever for it to finally come to us. We just picked it up yesterday so it’s still pretty much super brand new with 33km on the clock. I’m really surprised with the infotainment system inside because it is sooo quick and sharp and high resolution and I really enjoyed it.
We bought a Grande Hybrid in July 2021. What Do I love? The serenity! It’s quiet and smooth. The fuel economy is excellent for such a large car. Over the 19 months, we’ve averaged 6.9 l/100km with aircon always on, mostly suburban driving. Adaptive cruise control and lane centring are good if the road is not too twisty, and it’s fantastic in stop-start traffic. Disappointments? I have a few, but most I knew about before buying. The 8” infotainment system is a shocker in every respect: size, resolution, software design and functionality. The reversing camera is a shocker too, only just better than not having one. The resolution and camera lens quality are no better than my 2008 Kluger Grande. Reverse autonomous emergency braking is a lifesaver.
I've had the hybrid Highlander here in NZ for about 10 months now, excellent fuel efficiency so far, haven't taken it for long road trip yet though. Mine came with that pathetic 8" infotainment screen, which was a bummer. Also I feel the engine noise is loud when the petrol engine kicks in to help with acceleration. Will be interesting to see if the new Grand Highlander will make its way down to this part of the world.
Hi Paul, I would love to know your opinion of the hybrid version so could you do a dragparison between the turbo petrol Kruger and the hybrid one while also comparing the fuel economy.
I would love to see light offroading be done in the SUVs would be great to see what they are capable of! I would also love to see a BMW X7 review, can you do the 2022 BMW x7 vs 2023 BMW x7 that would be really nice to see what the differences between them are and it going offroad!
Years ago, people were doing light off roading in normal RWD cars. You dont need AWD. Otherwise get a proper 4x4. I drove a rented Mazda 6 on a hard beach.
Great review as always. I have been following Paul for years now. i would appreciate if Paul could review on the 2022 and 2023 Kakadu prado and give information on the different modes.
Yes, please do the light off-roading. I’m US based and always end up watching Australian videos when I’m looking for off-road tests because journalists here haven’t historically done a lot of that. For whatever reason there are really none of the turbo Kluger yet
Hi Paul, this real world road testing is awesome! Much more of it please, id be interested to see the i30sedan premium nline, the rav4 hybrid cruiser, new prado. I live in the country, roads with lots of potholes, coarse bitumen, bumpy etc. i dont think ill buy a car without watching a review like this as when overtaking all of this matters. Cheers
So, $63,000 for a 2023 Toyota SUV which needs aftermarket suspension to be acceptable on a bumpy Aussie open road. Surely that’s not fit for purpose, Paul. Why can’t the world’s biggest carmaker deliver a complete product from the factory?
I’ve been driving one as a hire car for the last few days on the Great Ocean Road and must say that even the lower power engine we have is quite smooth, the basic cabin is very comfortable. I must agree that the chassis setup is dreadful though over poor surfaces, I’d agree that Toyota needs to fix this as it will make the Kruger/Highlander a much more convincing proposition.
Paul, can you please start checking the actual dimensions of the boot? Especially the width and depth. Some manufacturers measure to the window line and others do the whole cubic volume, its hard to compare. Thanks mate!!
Just got mine 💯 recommend over the rave4 but only in “”hybrid”” after 5K efficiency is still impressive with 6L/100km which is very good, the GXL is the sweet spot as value for money, I get so many compliments when people enter the car, Vehicle is quick to respond, Fast, Comfortable, Spacious.
The Grand Highlander (Grand Kluger 🤔) is the one we need here. So much better looking inside and out. Roomier and higher quality interior. The max hybrid model, even better. This model kluger while improved, is still a let down inside and out. Still a Toyota fan, but current asking prices, and what is on offer making it more difficult. We miss out on their best models, but still get smashed with the 'Australia tax'. Current prices are making Toyota's harder to justify, especially with the current lineup overpriced.
You can't have a precise figure in a few km. And in the first 10k the consumption is higher all the time. I think will go down to 11l/100km which is good for such a huge car.
I love Your videos but I have been waiting for you to review the Chevy Traverse 2023 as I Can't find any good reviews, So PLS can Review The Chevy Traverse 2023.
Takes time and distance to average usage to settle. Hard to get real world figure when you have the car for a day or two. Speaking from experience owning a kluger hybrid for 8 months.
Hello paul can you guys please review the Subaru outback turbo you are my favourite reviewer and I’m really thinking about getting the Subaru outback touring xt but i have to see you guys review it so i can make a decision it would really help me and a lot of other people out thank you.
I sat in one of these just a few days ago and I didn't like the interior styling or quality. Just a big slab of plastic around the infotainment screen and it all feels cheap. A Mazda CX9 is in another league.
I don't know about the styling, the front looks pretty outdated to me with that crossbrace logo grille, compared to the back which just looks like a lexus; it doesn't really fit together that well. The interior looks fine, albeit a bit boring IMO. Great review as always though!
Man im so glad that im driving the Highlander its just an amazing vehicle even though my truck is a left handed car but would love driving right hand aswell in my home country and the only car id think of driving is the Highlander OFC?!!
Why is it that every car you review uses a lot more fuel in your test than the manufacturer's claim? In my 3.5L V6 Highlander (Kluger) I consistently get better than the claimed 8.8L/100km.
I find the old infotainment screen of the 2021-2023 just fine. Bigger isn't always better people really need to watch the road not the screen these days. And with the old screen at least you don't have to pay monthly to use it after the 12 month subscription ends. We have a 2021 kluger GXL V6 and it doesnt use near as much fuel a this new 2.4 turbo is using for this test. The V6 is a proven engine. I wouldn't be racing out to buy one of these new bangers it's a big heavy car for such a little 2.4 turbo to push around.
Why do they continue to force us all to have third row seats? An older couple that want a car don’t need or want it and it would give us so much more room a greater payload and be cheaper. Please make third row seats an optional extra.
The Kluger (Highlander) is primarily a U.S. market car so they always prioritised specs for that LHD market. RHD is only ~25% of the global market so you’re less likely to get wishes ✅
You don't need to use the third row seats though. Fold them down and you'll forget that they're even there. Pop them up in the very rare occasion that you do need them
@@c.d.c9425 they still take up room, add weight and cost money. I hardly know anybody that uses the third row seats in any vehicle. It seems the people that want them are in the minority and it’s not a very safe space to have children in.
Hello Paul, Can you please do a comparison on Kluger 2.4T GXL AWD with CX9 seven seater SUV with uphill and downhill with Petrol Engines only. Light off roading comparison as well.
I wonder why do car companies rebadge their car names for different markets? Like Mitsubishi Montero in the US is Pajero in many markets. Hyundai Accent over here is Verna in Asian markets. Like wise Nissan Rogue is Qashqai in the UK and so on. 🤔
A slightly detuned version of this engine Paul making around 150 - 160kw of power together with an efficient but powerful electric motor to produce round about the same power figures as this Kluger might actually work well on the new updated n upcoming 2023 toyota hybrid Hiace I hear..on the works by toyota, just for efficiency purposes I think. 198kw 420Nm those are healthy numbers for a workhorse and ute's. At the moment this non-hybrid is still thirsty for me
We had a hybrid Kluger as a rental recently while our CX8 was being repaired. The drive was surprisingly good, but that third row is awful. It's so low to the ground that even for me at 5'6" my knees were up to my ears. Mazda does the third row way better.
Pity Toyota dropped the glass tail gate that opens on the back door. That's convenient on a rainy day when the little one's asleep and all the other windows need to remain closed.
Lot of hidden cost cutting with these new vehicles no matter who the manufacturer. Despite huge price increases. Even the 300 series LandCruiser has lost the split tailgate which was awesome feature.
