Toyota Kluger in depth

The Kluger's mid-life facelift adds a dash of style into a brew that's still dominated by comfort, practicality and space.

In late 2010, Toyota gave its Kluger range a mild facelift, and rejigged some specifications and pricing.

Australian Klugers are offered with only one engine option: a 3.5-litre petrol V6 that puts out 201kW of power and 337Nm of torque.

Overseas Klugers can be had with a hybrid drivetrain that's similar to the Lexus RX450h's that features a 3.5-litre V6 working together with two electric motors (one up front and one at the rear).

Slimmer headlights with projector main beams help to reduce the car's visual bulk.

Fog lights and their spear-like surrounds are standard on the mid-range KX-S and top-of-the-range Grande models.

The rear windscreen can be flipped up by itself; buttons found on the plipper and chrome surrounding the numberplate activate the windscreen's lock.

All Klugers now come with puddle lights mounted on the underside of the wing mirrors.

The redesigned tail-lights don't feature LED indicators or brake lights.

In five-seat mode, the Kluger has plenty of space in the boot for gear.

A roll-up luggage blind keeps prying eyes away from your goods.

The luggage blind conveniently stows away underneath the boot floor should you not want it.

Although air-con is standard throughout the Kluger range, the mid-range KX-S and range-topping Grande both get three-zone climate control as well. Rear-seat passengers get their own controls, too.

Only the top-of-the-range Grande has an electrically operated tail-gate. Given the heft of the Kluger's boot door, that's a real shame.

If you want to fold down the middle row of seats to carry long and large items, this can be easily done thanks to these levers in the boot.

Both the KX-S and Grande are fitted with a third row of seats, for a total people-carrying capacity of seven. Space back there is decent, but the foot well is shallow so you have to sit with your knees up.

The middle seat in the second row can be removed and replaced by a lidded bin and cup-holder arrangement (pictured). The middle seat or the bin/cup holder is stored in a slot underneath the centre armrest when not used.

All three trim levels can be had with all-wheel drive, although this adds AU$4500 to the asking price.

The different Kluger grades can now be distinguished by their alloy wheel designs (if you're into that type of thing). The KX-R rides on 17-inch rims, while the KX-S and Grande have 19-inch items.

All-wheel drive models feature Downhill Assist Control that can maintain a constant low speed when you're heading down an off-road track.

Roof rails, with a rather attractive metal finish, are standard on the KX-S and Grande.

Every Kluger model has audio controls mounted on the steering wheel.

On the other spoke are controls for the climate control air-con that's fitted to the KX-S and Grande.

Cruise control is fitted throughout the range, although the light on the instrument panel only informs you of when the system is on, not when it's actually regulating the car's speed.

The base KX-R and mid-range KX-S have (different) audio head-units with an auxiliary jack, iPod/iPhone-compatible USB port, and Bluetooth for both hands-free and wireless music streaming.

While the range-topping Grande gains a sat-nav audio system with touchscreen display and rear seat DVD entertainment setup, it loses out on the lower models' USB port and Bluetooth music streaming.

The only transmission on offer is a five-speed automatic.

The three-zone climate control system that's present on the KX-S and Grande features a riot of buttons that are hard to comprehend whilst driving. No wonder Toyota likes putting a set of controls on the steering wheel.

The 3.5-inch display between the air vents can display a variety of information from the trip computer and is controlled by the Disp button on the steering wheel.

In addition to the average fuel economy meter, the Kluger stores a fuel economy history so you can revel in your thriftiness or marvel at your lead foot.

The display is also used for the climate control system.

Compared to the outside, the updates to the Kluger's interior are rather minor. There's shiny silver painted plastic on the KX-R and KX-S, black carpets and dashboards for everyone, and marginally less fake-looking "wood" on the Grande.

The front seats gains all electric adjustment and heating on the KX-S and Grande.

The front passengers' cup holders feature removable rubber liners so keys and other odds and sods don't bang about too much when you're driving.

With its imposing presence and large rearward blind-spot, it's a good thing that all Klugers are equipped with a reversing camera. Pity that the screen's on the small side.

Thanks to Optitron lighting, the Kluger's instruments are clear and easy to read no matter the conditions.