Toyota Kluger 2014 Review
Seven-seater SUV: Toyota Kluger
Toyota Kluger 2014 aggregated reviews |
| Cars Guide: 7/10 |
| Product Review: 9/10 |
| Drive: 7/10 |
| Car Advice: 8/10 |
| The Motor Report: 7/10 |
| Combined total score: 7.6/10 |
We love:
- Refinement and ride handling
- Power tailgate on Grande
- More space and storage inside
- Rear seat entertainment screen in Grande
Pain points:
- An eager stability control system
- Could use a bigger fuel tank
- No hybrid or diesel option
Toyota Kluger 2014 review
The first US-made Toyota to be sold in Australia, this seven-seater SUV is perfect for families looking for a now more affordable Toyota Kluger. It's the modern-day Camry wagon.
Exterior of the Toyota Kluger 2014
Longer and wider than the older model, the 2014 Toyota Kluger has the same wheelbase as the previous model. Distinctive styling sets it apart from other family SUVs, and it's based on a car-like one-piece chassis, so it handles much better on the roads.
Image courtesy of Car Advice
Square wheel arches and a dominant front grille are shaped to give the Kluger a friendly, family car attitude, despite its huge size. The American influence is definitely expressed in the bold styling.
Inside the Toyota Kluger 2014
The quality of the interior on the 2014 model is an improvement on previous years, with soft-touch surfaces, dual or three-zone climate control, and a dedicated non-slip shelf where you can plug your phone or iPod in while you stream music through USB.
There's more space in the third row, and air vents on the roof to keep passengers cool in summer. Retractable sunshades make passengers more comfortable in the back. Noise suppression is hugely improved over the previous model with much less vibration and harshness, especially when driving on gravel.
Image courtesy of Car Advice
Big doors make it easier to get in and out of the back. There's generous boot space of 195 litres when all seven seats are up, as well as lots of internal storage, important for families. Stow both rows of seats for a huge 1,171 litres of luggage room.
Connectivity
In the GX and GXL models, the 6.1-inch colour touchscreen has high resolution and is well-positioned for unstrained use. Bluetooth for phone and audio, satellite navigation and digital radio is found in the 'apps' of the infotainment system, with sound projected through six speakers.
There's also a cool app that projects the driver's voice through the speakers to the second and third-row seats so you don't need to shout.
The Grande boasts an 8-inch infotainment screen, as well as a 9.0-inch rear-seat Blu-ray system with three sets of wireless headphones. There's also a 4.2-inch screen with driver information behind the steering wheel.
What's it like to drive a Toyota Kluger 2014?
It's hard to believe in a vehicle of this size; it has a good body control and excellent driving dynamics, better balance and predictable movement.
Image courtesy of Car Advice
One of the early 'soft-roaders' the Toyota Kluger doesn't have the off-road ability of the older 4WD wagons. Not many will miss this, appreciating the rear parking sensors, the option of heated front seats and driver safety aids like active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and pre-collision preparation.
On wet roads, the AWD option prevents wheelspin, with the central-diff lock maintaining 50/50 wheel speeds below 40 km/h.
Steering is sharper than previously, making parking this large car a little easier. Toyota claims an impressive (for the size of the car) 0-100 km/h acceleration of 8.3 seconds in the 2WD and 8.7s in AWD.
Who's the Toyota Kluger 2014 for?
Designed for large families, this strong, square car prioritises the safety and comfort of its occupants. With seven airbags, daytime running lights, reverse camera and rear parking sensors, the Toyota Kluger is comfortable on suburban bitumen. Perfect for long-distance cruising with the kids, taking weekend trips or exploring the Great Ocean Road.
Image courtesy of Car Advice
Mild off-road adventure on family camping weekends can be confidently navigated, with plenty of space inside for all the gear you might need.
Feature Summary
Price: new from $40,990, used cars start around $24,990 (in December 2017).
Engine: 3.5L V6 Petrol
Transmission: Six speed automatic, 2WD or 4WD.
Wheels: 18 or 19 inch alloy
Safety: 5 star ANCAP
Fuel: 10.4L/100km
Emissions: 240g/km
AV and tech: 6.1 inch colour touchscreen, USB and AUX inputs; the Grande has 8.0 inch touchscreen, DAB+ radio plus 9.0 inch rear seat Blu-ray system.
Seats: Seven
Doors: 5
You can finance a Toyota Kluger 2014 from $140/week*, get a quick quote to find out exactly what it will cost to own this competent family SUV.
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Tom Caesar is the Managing Director of The Positive Group, a group of Australian financial services companies offering a broad range of finance to clients Australia wide. The Positive Group assist clients in the areas of car finance, mortgages, insurance & wealth management. Tom has been in car & asset finance for over 10 years. Tom regularly contributes articles on car finance, insurance, technology and business growth, drawing on his experience of starting his own brokerage in 2009.