2022 Toyota Kluger puts Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe on notice with new update: Price and features detailed for upgraded family SUV

Toyota Australia has updated the fourth-generation Kluger large SUV for MY22, ushering in improved standard equipment and higher pricing for most variants.

As before, the Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe rival is available in three grades: the entry-level GX, mid-range GXL and flagship Grande.

The GX still costs the same, but the GXL is now $300 more expensive, while the Grande has become $293-300 dearer (see full pricing table below).

So, what’s changed specification-wise? Well, both of the Kluger’s rear USB ports and two of its three front USB ports have upgraded from the old USB-A standard to the newer USB-C standard.

For reference, the other front USB port is still of the USB-A standard, with it supporting data transfer (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support), as opposed to just charging.

The GXL and Grande go further in justifying their price rises by upgrading their front passenger seat’s power adjustment from four ways to eight.

Otherwise, the Kluger is unchanged, meaning standard equipment in the GX includes dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, digital radio and cloth upholstery.

Advanced driver-assist systems extend to autonomous emergency braking with intersection assist and pedestrian (day and night) and cyclist (day) detection, lane-keep and steering assist (including emergency), adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

The GXL picks up a power tailgate, satellite navigation, heated front seats, three-zone climate control and artificial leather upholstery.

Meanwhile, the Grande also adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, an 11-speaker JBL sound system, a head-up display, cooled front seats, leather-accented upholstery and surround-view cameras.

Of note, all three grades are available with a 218kW/350Nm 3.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol V6 engine, which is mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

The other powertrain option is a ‘self-charging’ hybrid that combines three electric motors with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder for AWD and a system power output of 184kW. It uses an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT).

2022 Toyota Kluger pricing before on-road costs