All-new Toyota Crown Kluger revealed in China

KUALA LUMPUR: A few days back, the images of Toyota's latest SUV, the Crown Kluger, surfaced on the internet through China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which is now officially unveiled at the ongoing Auto Shanghai. Joining the new Crown Kluger on the stage is the fourth-generation Toyota Highlander, on which it is based. 

For these two models, the Japanese automaker has made joint ventures with FAW and GAC in the People’s Republic. The FAW-Toyota will make the Crown Kluger, while the Toyota Highlander will be under the GAC-Toyota.

Said to be the fancier version of the Highlander, the Crown Kluger features a revamped mesh grille at the front with a Crown’s signature logo instead of a Toyota badge. Included in the tweaks is a restyled front bumper with larger intakes in the centre lending a distinct look to the SUV. It underpins the same TNGA-K architecture on which the models like the Toyota Harrier, Camry, and RAV4 are also based.

According to the previously sighted MITI documents, the Crown Kluger SUV measures 5,015 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, 1,750 mm in height, and carries a wheelbase of 2,850 mm. The model tips the scale at 2,000 kilograms and stands on 18-inch wheels.

Inside the cabin also, the Crown Kluger looks identical to the Highlander with a few differences, including the different colour scheme and the Crown badge on the steering wheel.

About the mechanical bits, Toyota just mentioned that the new SUV equips a hybrid engine shared with the Highlander. However, the MITI documents specified that a hybrid 2.5-litre petrol engine will be onboard generating a maximum power of 189 hp. 

According to Toyota, the new Crown Kluger and the fourth-gen Highlander are set to hit the Chinese market in the middle of this year.

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