The 2021 Toyota Kruger GX is a practical SUV in two-wheel drive that delivers elegant and powerful road performance. This large SUV feels very rounded, family-oriented, with a touch of refinement, but it's the base model.
Our front-wheel-drive test vehicles are powered by a 3.5-litre 6-cylinder petrol engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It claims fuel consumption of 8.7 liters/100 km, which is almost value for money to be fair.
It is also quite lively, can be quickly increased speed and has no lag. You can put your right foot on the accelerator and take advantage of around 218 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque, this is a truly interesting car.
Despite the size of the SUV, the 2021 Toyota Kluger GX has a truly car-like feel, with a fast-responding handling feel good, and a soft plush suspension setup that provides a comfortable, family-centric driving experience.
We also noticed minimal body roll compared to other large 2WD SUVs in the space (and even some 4WD products). The Kluger GX uses Toyo Open Country A43 tires mounted on 18-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels.
This package feels good and can handle road conditions very comfortably, absorbing bumps and potholes. The Seven-Seater has a reasonable 2,000 kg braking towing capability (remember it's not a Land Cruiser).
Toyota's pre-crash safety suite also provides adequate protection, including pedestrian (day and night) and cyclist detection (daytime only), intersection turn assist, emergency steering assist, road sign assist, active cruise control, lane tracking assist and lane departure warning.
Other safety features of the Kluger GX include blind spot monitoring, rear intersection alarms, front and rear parking sensors, reversing cameras, seven airbags, rear privacy glass, and power windows.
All Kluger models come with an 8.0-inch JBL color touchscreen display, while the GX models come with a 6-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The touch screen has been cleverly integrated into the console housing, but it feels a bit small. The instrument cluster includes a 4.2-inch display between two analog meters that provides vehicle travel data, fuel consumption, and distance traveled.
Honestly, it feels very dated, a bit like it's inherited from a previous model. In addition to this, there is plenty of space throughout the cabin, and you will truly feel huge and comfortable inside kruger.
This is great for large, family-centric SUVs and will provide plenty of space for taller drivers without compromising the spacious second row of passengers. The ratio of the rear seats in the second to third rows is 60:40.
The capacity is 241 litres, with the third row of seats upwards, 552 litres, the third row of seats reclining, and 1,150 litres, with the second row of seats reclining. These dimensions are slightly smaller than the modern Palisade it competes with.
In terms of exterior design, the Kluger GX and the rest of the series have truly turned the tide, with extraordinary new exterior styling, LED daytime running lights and an updated front grille. It looks stylish, but could be further improved.
The 2021 Toyota Kluger GX is available in eight colors, including Crystal Pearl, Silver Storm (tested), Graphite, Atomic Rush, Galena Blue, Liquorice Brown, Eclipse Black, and Saturn Blue.
In its 2WD 3.5-liter gasoline spec, it starts at just over $52,000 depending on paint selection and comes with Toyota's 5-year unlimited-kilometer warranty, as well as concurrent price limits.
