Toyota Australia has driven up the value of its popular Kluger SUV with a midlife makeover and reductions in prices across the range. Retail prices of the entry-level KX-R five-seat variant have been cut by $1000 with incremental price drops further up the range. All models get sharper styling with a new bonnet, front and rear lights, grille and front bumper, plus minor changes inside.
The second-generation Kluger has been successful in driving up Toyota’s sales in the medium-sized SUV market, holding second place on the dais in 2008 and 2009 next to the market-leading, harder-core Prado 4WD. But in recent times it has come under fire from resurgent models in the range, such as Holden’s Captiva and the once-dominant Ford Territory.
The question to ask now is whether this latest upgrade will be enough to take the Kluger back into a solid second place?
Kluger
Released: August 2007
Ended: November 2010
Family Tree: KlugerThe second-generation Kluger is a bigger wagon than its predecessor and it brought higher levels of refinement when it was launched in 2007. A new 201kW V6 petrol engine, a versatile five- or seven-seat interior and the option of two-wheel drive were also new to the light-duty mid-size SUV at the time. The added size and power made it a formidable competitor to the locally made Ford Territory, which was the king of the class at the time.
Super Test
Facebook Twitter Instagram