2026 Toyota Kluger Grande review

Another year has gone by without any real changes to the Toyota Kluger, even as its three-row SUV competition continues to grow and evolve.

The current generation of Toyota's largest monocoque (car-based) SUV arrived in Australia in 2021, sourced from the US, where it's sold as the Highlander. All Australian models are hybrid-only and all-wheel drive.

Given the new electric Highlander has been ruled out for Australia, this generation of Kluger should still be safe for some time. That doesn't mean it isn't due for an update, though, because this large SUV is starting to fall behind the competition.

Rivals like the Hyundai Palisade have recently received substantial updates with greatly improved value equations, while there's a constant influx of Chinese models putting pressure on models like the Kluger.

On test here is the 2026 Toyota Kluger Grande, the most expensive model in the Kluger range. Does it still justify its $85,000-plus price tag?

How much does the Toyota Kluger cost?

The flagship Kluger Grande is priced at $85,135 before on-road costs.

Of course, rivals include other three-row SUVs. The Grande costs more than the range-topping, off-road-capable Ford Everest Platinum V6 ($83,490 plus on-roads), but slightly less than the flagship Mazda CX-80 P50e Azami ($87,490 plus ORCs).

It's also more affordable than the most expensive version of the recently refreshed Hyundai Palisade, another large hybrid SUV. Its highest-spec Calligraphy trim costs $89,900 plus ORCs, but the range starts at $76,500 plus ORCs for the base Elite.

You may also consider the plug-in hybrid BYD Sealion 8, which starts at $56,990 plus ORCs. Notably, BYD is now a consistent top-five brand in Australia, losing out to only Toyota in recent months.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What is the Toyota Kluger like on the inside?

In keeping with a trend set by most of Toyota's regular SUVs, the Kluger is rather boring inside. It's function over form in here, even if we can commend it for being an easy cabin to learn and understand.

It's also arranged in a way that's befitting such a large vehicle. The dashboard is quite imposing, despite Toyota's attempts to make it look more stylish with a handful of different finishes and shapes.

Those efforts have yielded a pair of neatly integrated storage shelves on the lower portion of the dash, while the metallic-looking strip across the middle flows nicely into the Kluger's infotainment/climate panel.

This doesn't make it any more interesting, but it does signal that some design effort went into it – it's far from an iPad glued to the dashboard. The screen itself is a 12.3-inch unit operating on Toyota's latest infotainment software, and it looks as tidy as you'd expect from the Japanese giant.

It's easy enough to navigate, and it supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We did, however, experience an intermittent issue after leaving the Kluger sitting overnight: CarPlay simply refused to connect. A quick off/on of the car fixed it, but this is an unusual bug for Toyota.

The screen sits within a thick piano-black bezel, which is sadly the same material that's smothered all over the climate system below. There are a multitude of buttons here – which is a good thing – which means it'll display smudges and fingerprints like artifacts in a museum.

Fortunately, the system is easy to understand and use on the move. All buttons and knobs are large and clearly labelled, and we found everything fell to hand without having to lean out of the driver's seat.

The digital instrument display, meanwhile, is graphically sharp and serves the Kluger well. It offers a limited range of customisation, providing a comfortable array of information should you seek it, but it's fairly clunky to navigate.

This is done using buttons on the steering wheel, but the system's a tad too complex for finding specific widgets and info. Still, it looks modern, even with the slight hint of traditionalism presented by the two-dial theme.

As for those steering wheel buttons, they're finished in dull black plastic and labelled clearly enough to decipher at a glance. There's nothing particularly flashy about the way everything in this area looks, but it's fine for this application and should prove fairly durable.

There are still niceties, like the smooth leather finish on the steering wheel rim, dashboard, and the sides of the centre console, but the scratchy-looking plastic on the horn pad is still evidence of the world's largest automaker's mass-market approach.

That said, the Kluger Grande gets a wood-look panel on the centre console to make it look a tad classier. The glossy finish will still scratch, but it's the right idea. We still don't like the clumsy integration of the buttons here, though.

We can't stand the way that big black plastic square sits behind the cupholders, and the way it doesn't quite line up with the black plastic behind the gear selector. It takes away from an otherwise polished setup.

Otherwise, the things you'll often touch and use feel high-quality. There's a nice action to the physical shifter, while all the armrests are leather-appointed and comfortably soft – and the wide centre console makes for comfortable lounge-like cruising.

Speaking of comfort, the seats are supportive, even if on the firmer side. Seat heating, ventilation, and power adjustment are all standard, though we're disappointed there's no steering wheel heating. At more than $85,000, that's something that should really be included.

Storage is at least generous. There are the two shelves and cupholders mentioned earlier, along with a small tray ahead of the gear selector, and a deep storage bin in the centre console. The central armrest doubles as a sliding lid, under which you'll find a wireless charging tray.

Capping off the front of the cabin is a punchy JBL sound system, which is among the better systems in this segment. Sound clarity is good, and bass is strong, making this Kluger all the more pleasant.

Stepping into the second row reveals a spacious area. It appears fairly luxurious given the leather upholstery, but it's disappointing there's no seat heating nor ventilation back here at all. There's at least a third climate-control zone back here, operated via a panel on the back of the centre console.

This panel is finished in yet more glossy black plastic, which won't withstand frequent use by young ones seated in the back. Devices can be charged using the two USB ports below this simple interface.

Comfort-wise, rear occupants get a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders and window shades that pull out of the door cards. Naturally, there's also loads of space all round, though legroom will become compromised if you're concerned with keeping third-row occupants happy.

The second-row bench seat can slide and recline for easier fitment, but the third row is still very tight. A 160cm-tall passenger in our test car was still asking for the second row to be slid forward to unlock more legroom, which completely ate up the legroom of the equally short person sitting in front.

This isn't a big, ladder-frame SUV, so it'd be unreasonable to expect too much space back there. It's less than optimal for adults, though children could probably manage just fine on a longer drive. However, the only amenities back here are cupholders on either side and air vents in the ceiling.

The upside of a less spacious third row is slightly more boot space when all seats are in use. It still won't fit the full complement of luggage for seven people, but it'll be fine for day trips.

Its minimum quoted capacity of 241 litres is smaller than the Palisade's 300L, and even the Everest's 259L. You won't unlock any more storage by lifting the floor either; that's where wheel-changing tools are kept.

It's still a spacious boot with the third row folded, and it's always a bonus to have a full-size spare wheel instead of a tyre repair kit.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

Powering the Kluger is a 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, mated with two motor generators. Power is sent to all four wheels through an electric continuously variable automatic transmission (e-CVT).

Our week with the Kluger involved a mix of highway commuting and urban crawling. While the use of electric power in low-speed settings was economical, the combustion-heavy highway skew increased our fuel consumption.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

How does the Toyota Kluger drive?

If the interior doesn't excite you, the Kluger's on-road experience definitely won't.

While the rest of Toyota's lineup has become more stylish, more exciting, and even more controversial, the Japanese brand still seems content with letting the Kluger glide on by in the same dull way it always has. It's easily one of Toyota's least interesting cars to drive.

That said, it exists to serve a purpose, and that purpose isn't setting lap times. The Kluger is a large SUV that does everything as well as it needs to; there's nothing wrong with the way it drives, but there's nothing here that makes you want to take it for a spin just for the sake of it.

For one, it's incredibly smooth. Toyota's hybrid powertrains are still the benchmark in terms of refinement and ease of use, and so you'll struggle to find any real rough spots in any driving scenario – the switch between electric and petrol power is buttery smooth every time.

When the engine is required, the car will still power along nicely. It's not fast, but it isn't slow either; our only real complaint is that the powertrain can be a bit buzzy under high load and isn't incredibly well-muffled.

In contrast, the nicest part about the way the Kluger drives is its ride comfort. Its suspension is super-soft, and it has no issues soaking up bumps of all severities when on the move. That's true even on the Grande's 20-inch alloys, which its dampers do an excellent job of keeping in check.

Harsh imperfections such as potholes are also reasonably well suppressed and won't give the cabin's occupants a jolt. Larger undulations make the car feel somewhat floaty, but that's the price you pay for the nicely cushioned ride.

However, handling suffers as a result, and enthusiastic steering moves will regularly produce a squeal from the front tyres. There's also a fair bit of body roll, which is to be expected for a softly sprung bus like this.

The steering performs appropriately for the Kluger's size, even if it is on the lighter side. Manoeuvrability is strong as a result, and vibrations through the steering column are practically imperceptible.

The large steering wheel is a significant part of why the Kluger feels as huge as it does on the road. There's a distinctly American vibe to this SUV's overall proportions, and while that makes it spacious and comfortable inside, it does have an effect on urban driving.

The Kluger is by no means the ideal SUV for tight inner-city carparks, and you'll no doubt be relying on its vast array of cameras and sensors to help you avoid kerbs and pedestrians. Even parking requires some thought if you need to access the boot.

Therefore, the Kluger is far more at home on the highway than in the city. That soft suspension and excellent cabin refinement – it is properly quiet at high speed – make it an easy car to cruise in for long periods, even if highway use will increase your fuel consumption by a smidge.

The car's adaptive cruise and lane-centring systems are reliable and adapt well to road and traffic conditions. If you like relaxed driving, you could do worse than the Kluger.

Rounding it out is the fact Toyota has nailed all of the large SUV fundamentals. None of the Kluger's safety systems gave us any grief during our loan, and it's always a relief to find that you don't have to dive through the settings menus to deactivate half of the car's safety functions.

Visibility is also good, and this hybrid powertrain also has a well-calibrated brake pedal. The only challenge with driving the Kluger is keeping yourself entertained...

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Grande sits at the top of Toyota's three-grade Kluger range.

2026 Toyota Kluger GX equipment highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic parabola LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• LED tail-lights
• Fog lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Privacy glass
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay
• Wireless and wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• Three-zone climate control
• Keyless entry and start
• Leather-accented steering wheel
• Leather-accented gear shifter
• Fabric upholstery
• Carpet floor mats

Kluger GXL adds:

• Roof rails
• Power tailgate
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats
• Power driver seat lumbar support

Kluger Grande adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Projector LED headlights
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Power tailgate with kick sensor
• Chrome grille
• Painted rear lower bumper
• Head-up display
• 11-speaker JBL premium sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Second-row retractable sunshades
• Interior ambient lighting
• Leather upholstery
• Ventilated front seats
• Driver’s seat memory
• Premium soft instrument panel
• Wood-look ornamentation

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

Is the Toyota Kluger safe?

The Toyota Kluger has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2021.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 7 airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• • Pedestrian detection (day/night)
  • Cyclist detection (day)
  • Junction assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Emergency steering assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lane Trace Assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Traffic sign recognition
• Tyre pressure monitoring system

Grande adds:

• Surround-view camera

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

How much does the Toyota Kluger cost to run?

Toyota Australia backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

As for rivals, Everest maintenance is very similarly priced, with a five-year service plan costing at $1596, while servicing is more expensive for the CX-80 P50e, with five years totalling $2766.

Five years of Palisade maintenance, meanwhile, will cost a total of $2839. BYD has yet to outline service pricing for the Sealion 8.

To see how the Toyota Kluger stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Toyota Kluger Grande

The Kluger continues to be a good basic family SUV, but it's being outpaced by many rivals these days when it comes to technology, standard equipment, and overall value.

Despite its comfortable interior, pleasant ride, and low fuel consumption, there's no denying that alternatives like the Palisade make it look quite dated. Both are expensive, sure, but at least Hyundai's flagship SUV gets second-row seat heating and ventilation – and even the third row gets heating.

That's just one small thing in a long list of equipment the Kluger Grande is missing, which makes its price harder to justify. One of the two cheaper Kluger grades would make more sense, but you'd have to miss out on leather upholstery and that JBL audio setup.

Newer competitors like the Sealion 8 also pose issues for Kluger sales people, given it's significantly cheaper yet arguably better equipped. Badge loyalty will no doubt keep the Kluger popular, but it's especially difficult to make a case for the Grande if you're a private buyer.

If you're fine with spending the money, the top-spec Palisade will give you far greater bang for your buck. If not, you'll probably be walking into a Chinese brand's showroom instead.

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