Item: 2014 Toyota XU50 Kluger
Rating: 4

Refined 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 engine
Spacious interior and cargo bay
Comfortable front seats
High standard of interior fit and finish
Generally accomplished ride/handling balance…

… though suspension lacks low-speed compliance on 19-inch wheels
For all-wheel drive Kluger, heavy steering at low speeds
Abrupt ESC intervention
Unjustified retail price premiums for higher-specified variants

Review: Toyota XU50.I Kluger (2014-16)

Overview

Released in Australia in March 2014, the Toyota XU50 Series I (XU50.I) Kluger was a seven seat SUV. Manufactured in Indiana, United States, the XU50 Kluger was available in front- and all-wheel drive models and powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. As per the table below, the XU50 Kluger range consisted of GX, GXL and Grande variants.

2GR-FE engine

The 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 petrol engine had an aluminium block and cylinder head, double overhead cams per cylinder bank, four valves per cylinder, dual variable valve timing (which controlled phasing on intake and exhaust camshafts), an Acoustic Control Induction System (ACIS) which increased the length of the induction tract for low-rev torque and shortened the tract for top-end power, and a compression ratio of 10.8:1.

Toyota XU50 Kluger specifications
Drive	Variant	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
FWD, AWD	GX, GXL, Grande	3.5-litre petrol V6 (2GR-FE)	6sp auto	201 kW at 6200 rpm	337 Nm at 4700 rpm

AWD system

Like the Toyota XA40 RAV4 , the XU50 Kluger had a ‘Dynamic Torque Control’ all-wheel drive system which utilised an electromagnetically-controlled coupling in the rear differential housing. In normal conditions, drive was primarily directed to the front wheels for maximum fuel economy.

When additional traction was needed, the coupling could engage to direct up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels (i.e. a 50:50 front:rear torque split). The driver could also engage a ‘Lock’ function via a dashboard button to provide a fixed 50:50 front:rear torque split for speeds under 40 km/h. However, when brake controls systems such as ABS or ESC were deployed, rear-drive torque would be disengaged to prevent interference with these functions.

When cornering, a ‘pre-torque control’ function could direct 10 per cent of the available torque to the rear wheels as soon as the driver started to turn the steering wheel. Furthermore, ‘yaw-rate feedback control’ could increase torque to the rear wheels in six millisecond increments up to a maximum of 50 per cent. The AWD system would also control torque distribution to ensure the Kluger followed the driver’s intended line when cornering, adjusting the torque distribution to compensate for oversteer or understeer.

In Grande variants, the driver could view the torque distribution in real time on the multi-information display.

Dimensions and body

Compared to the Toyota XU40 Kluger , the XU50 Kluger was 80 mm longer (at 4865 mm) and 15 mm wider (1925 mm), though height (1730 mm) and wheelbase length (2790 mm) were unchanged. Furthermore, the XU50 Kluger had a more rigid chassis due to the increased use of high-strength steels, while greater refinement was achieved through the fitment of an ‘acoustic’ windscreen, increased use of insulation in the floor, greater coverage of the dashboard silencer and improved body sealing.

Inside, access to the third row of seats was improved due to the fitment of sliding second row seats, while the luggage capacity was increased by over one-third to 195 litres. Visibility was also improved by repositioning the A-pillars and having larger rear-quarter glass panes.

Steering and suspension

The Toyota XU50 Kluger had electric rack-and-pinion steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and trailing arm double wishbone rear suspension. Australian-delivered Kluger vehicles had unique suspension settings – developed by Toyota Australia’s Technical Centre – with increased rear spring rates and recalibrated dampers.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Toyota Kluger included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Toyota Kluger Grande variants were further equipped with:

Toyota’s Pre-collision Safety System (PCS): used a millimetre-wave radar in the grille to detect the distance and relative speed of the vehicle ahead. Initially, a warning tone would sound to alert the driver of a possible collision. In its secondary stage, the system would increase braking assistance. If the driver failed to respond, the system would automatically apply the brakes and pre-tension the front seatbelts;
Lane Departure Alert: used a camera mounted on the vehicle’s windscreen to recognise lane markings and would warn the driver when the vehicle was about to deviate from its lane via an audible tone and visual representation in the multi-information display screen;
Blind Spot Monitor: used a sub-millimetre radar used to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes and alert the driver if changing lanes; and,
Active Cruise Control (ACC): when activated, ACC used the same radar as the PCS to monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead and maintain a safe distance from that vehicle.

Brakes

The Kluger had 328 mm by 28 mm ventilated front disc brakes with twin-piston calipers and 309 mm by 10 mm solid rear discs.

ANCAP crash testing

In ANCAP crash testing , the XU50 Kluger received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 35.57 out of 37. In the offset crash test, protection of the front occupants’ heads and thighs were rated as good, though chest and lower leg protection was rated as acceptable (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury).

Features: Kluger GX, GXL and Grande

Standard features for the Kluger GX included 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/60 R18 tyres, a six speaker sound system with Toyota Link multimedia system, Bluetooth connectivity and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB), air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lights, daytime running lamps, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, automatic headlights, 60/40 split and folding second and third row seatbacks, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment, three 12 volt power sockets, rear privacy glass, a cargo cover, trip computer and an immobiliser.

The Kluger GXL was further equipped with three-zone climate control air conditioning, leather seat trim, a ten-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, keyless entry (i.e. proximity key), push-button start and roof rails.

Finally, the range-topping Kluger Grande was distinguished by its their 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/55 R19 tyres, a navigation system with an eight-inch display and SUNA live traffic updates, DAB+ digital radio, a 4.2-inch TFT information display, ventilated front seats, projector LED headlamps with Auto High Beam, a nine-inch rear seat entertainment system with a Blu-ray player and three wireless headphones, a back guide monitor for the reversing camera, heated door mirrors and puddle lamps, an electrochromatic rear view mirror, ambient lighting, driver memory settings (for the seat and mirrors), a tilt-and-slide moonroof, second row sunshades, a power-operated tailgate and woodgrain-look interior trim.

Brochure

Brochure: Toyota XU50 Kluger (February 2014)