Toyota Australia has announced updated Klugers for 2018 model year, adding some very welcome active safety technologies to the 7 seater’s entire range that were previously reserved only for the top-spec Grande.
The Kluger had been due for this update for a good while now, as it remained the a crucial part of Toyota’s local SUV offensive that did not include standard pre-collision tech following their recent inclusion on the RAV4 last October and the 2018 Prado that debuted last November.
Specifically, the update endows all Klugers variants - including the base GX and mid-range GXL - with features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Alert, Active Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beam.
The hardware that makes this enhanced safety suite possible is based on cameras and radar data analysis, using them to monitor the road for cars or obstructions ahead as well as detect pedestrians.
Should the system detect a possible collision, it will use audible and visual warnings to prompt the driver to take action. Failing to do so will engage the vehicle engage the brakes on its own, or come to a complete stop if applied early enough, reacting quicker than a human can in some more extreme situations.
The active cruise control feature makes use of the same array of sensors mounted at the top of the windscreen, helping the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead by independently control acceleration and braking. Meanwhile, lane departure alert will help warn the driver when the vehicle is straying outside of its intended lane.
Mechanically, we still find the 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol under the Kluger’s bonnet. It delivers 218kW and 350Nm of torque and is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
There is a literal price to pay, though, for the additional tech onboard. Prices for the Kluger have risen across the range to accommodate the more comprehensive safety suite with the base GX increasing by $950 while the GXL, which adds rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert, costs $1,400 more than before.
2018 Toyota Kluger 2WD
- GX - $44,500
- GXL - $54,950
- Grande - $65,646
2018 Toyota Kluger 4WD
- GX - $48,500
- GXL - $58,950
- Grande - $69,617
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