Driven: Toyota Kluger Hybrid demand underestimated?

TOYOTA Australia has admitted that its gross sales predictions for Hybrid variants within the fourth-generation Kluger giant SUV line-up could also be conservative because the hybrid share for different Toyota fashions continues to rise.

Talking on the current Kluger launch, Toyota Australia vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, instructed the assembled media that preliminary estimates of the V6/Hybrid break up had been round 50 per cent.

“However fact is I feel that may be a bit conservative; I anticipate it is going to go over 50 per cent (and) I feel the Hybrid variant can be very fashionable within the Kluger line-up,” he stated.

Towards a backdrop of six-month common wait occasions for RAV4 Hybrid variants, which account for for 80 per cent of complete RAV4 quantity in Australia, Mr Hanley remained assured that provide of Kluger Hybrids could be adequate.

“We imagine that we’re fairly properly lined with the launch expectation (of Kluger Hybrid provide), nevertheless, given the recognition of Hybrid (in different Toyota fashions) I’d anticipate it to go over 50 per cent,” he stated.

“We’ve ordered to that planning combine, nevertheless in the end I assume the market will decide it. However I’m fairly assured with our launch provide of this automobile.”

Since 2016 the gross sales break up of the previous-generation Kluger – typically the second most-popular giant SUV behind the Toyota Prado, and supplied solely with a 3.5-litre petrol V6 – favoured the front-drive variant at 57 per cent, with the rest being all-wheel drive.

Nevertheless, as a result of new Kluger Hybrid variants being completely AWD in the interim, Mr Hanley stated a reversal of the 2WD/AWD break up within the new mannequin “wouldn’t shock me”.

As for brand spanking new Kluger additionally being supplied as a front-wheel-drive Hybrid like RAV4, Toyota Australia common supervisor of product planning and improvement, Rod Ferguson, stated “we targeted on the AWD Hybrid – we expect that’s going to be very fashionable within the line-up”.

“We’ll proceed to take a look at whether or not or not we will or must introduce the 2WD Hybrid down the monitor. We’ll see how the break up between the petrol and hybrid variations goes as properly.

“If (Kluger) exceeds all expectations and goes actually excessive on Hybrid then that’s an important factor and we’ll simply have to regulate as fast as we will and attempt to preserve that ready time down.”

Mr Ferguson added that sourcing the Kluger from Toyota’s Princeton plant in Indiana, United States offered a “completely different state of affairs” to the RAV4 provide challenge.

“It doesn’t essentially imply it might be the identical as RAV4 if we needed to flex (past Kluger’s projected 50 per cent Hybrid gross sales break up),” he stated.

“The automobile’s bought a unique supply, it’s coming from the US, it’s a unique state of affairs, so we’ll do our greatest to flex as a lot as we will.”

In addition to the overwhelming majority of RAV4 gross sales being Hybrid, different Toyota fashions are following swimsuit with Hybrid variants making up 89 per cent of Camry gross sales, 74 per cent of Yaris Cross gross sales and 67 per cent of Corolla gross sales.   

This, in accordance with Mr Hanley has elevated petrol-electric Toyotas to “slightly below 30 per cent of our complete gross sales”.

“They usually have been above that degree in each April and Could,” he stated.

“We’ve additionally reached a milestone, promoting our 200,000th hybrid automobile on this nation final month (Could 2021), with half these gross sales occurring in simply three years.”

Australia is the one market outdoors of the US and Japan to obtain all 4 generations of Kluger (badged Highlander elsewhere) and native Toyota executives stated particular influences from this market throughout the improvement of the fourth-generation Kluger associated to towing capability and powertrain capability.

Each the hybrid four-cylinder and petrol V6 are rated to tow braked trailers weighing as much as 2000kg.

The Australian Kluger line-up is obtainable in three mannequin grades – GX, GXL and Grande – every with three drivetrain configurations. These embody a 184kW 2.5-litre Atkinson Cycle hybrid four-cylinder with AWD, and a 218kW/350Nm 3.5-litre direct-injection V6 with both front- or all-wheel drive.

The hybrid makes use of an digital CVT transmission and three motor mills – one driving the rear axle for its ‘eFour’ AWD system – whereas the V6 makes use of an Aisin eight-speed computerized and traditional on-demand AWD system (the place fitted).

Kluger pricing begins at $47,650 (earlier than on-road prices) for the GX front-drive V6, with the mid-range GXL beginning at $56,860 (earlier than on-road prices) and the Grande from $68,900 (earlier than on-road prices).

In every occasion, including AWD to the V6 instructions a $4000 premium, whereas choosing a Hybrid AWD provides a further $2500 to the value.

Servicing is capped at $250 per go to (for the primary 5 years/75,000km), with advisable servicing each 12 months or 15,000km.

2021 Toyota Kluger pricing*

*Excludes on-road prices

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