Concerns about Fuel Consumption in Kluger Hybrid

[Deshika Jayasena]

Hi Toyota enthusiasts,

I recently purchased a Toyota Kluger Hybrid 2022 and embarked on a long drive, but I’m a bit perplexed by the fuel consumption results. Throughout the journey, the vehicle consistently idled within the ECO section, operated in eco mode, and the drive took place in a normal elevation setting. However, the fuel consumption averaged around 7.6L/100km, which seems higher than expected.

I’m curious if anyone else in the community has experienced a similar issue with their Kluger Hybrid or if this is a common concern. I’ve taken the necessary steps to optimize fuel efficiency, but the results have left me somewhat disappointed.

If anyone has insights into potential reasons for this fuel consumption discrepancy or suggestions on how to improve it, I would greatly appreciate your input. Perhaps there are specific settings or maintenance checks that could address this issue.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

[wilsact]

Hybrids do their best work in stop start city style driving, less so highway stuff. What fuel type are you running? (98, 95, standard 91?)

Tyre pressure?

7.6l/100 is actually pretty decent for a petrol 2 plus tonne SUV.

Cheers 

 

[Tony Prodigy]

On 12/23/2023 at 8:40 PM, Deshika Jayasena said:

the fuel consumption averaged around 7.6L/100km, which seems higher than expected.

7.6lt/100 is seriously not an issue for a heavy rig. I don't know what you expect from a 2T vehicle that's probably laden too. I would've assumed a figure of around 12LT/100 would be the norm for something of that magnitude.

[Novicebutnice]

On 12/23/2023 at 8:40 PM, Deshika Jayasena said:

Hi Toyota enthusiasts,

I recently purchased a Toyota Kluger Hybrid 2022 and embarked on a long drive, but I’m a bit perplexed by the fuel consumption results. Throughout the journey, the vehicle consistently idled within the ECO section, operated in eco mode, and the drive took place in a normal elevation setting. However, the fuel consumption averaged around 7.6L/100km, which seems higher than expected.

I’m curious if anyone else in the community has experienced a similar issue with their Kluger Hybrid or if this is a common concern. I’ve taken the necessary steps to optimize fuel efficiency, but the results have left me somewhat disappointed.

If anyone has insights into potential reasons for this fuel consumption discrepancy or suggestions on how to improve it, I would greatly appreciate your input. Perhaps there are specific settings or maintenance checks that could address this issue.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

The specs listed in October 2023 for Hybrid Kluger:

"Extra urban" = 5.6L per 100km 

However "Extra urban" Is a standardised test, but unknown how this compares to our highway driving.

For example how many uphill sections did you encounter in your road trip etc

What was the ambient temperature etc

The Specs also list that the minimum Octane fuel to be used is 95 Octane.

A few things that you can try:

- Use BP or Shell 95 or 98 Octane fuel (I would use 98).
- Drive slightly under the speed limit (100-105 km/h).
- Don't drive with the air-con on all the time.... use it to get the car cool then switch it to recirculate, followed by leaving it on recirculate and turning the air-con off (not the fan, just the aircon component)
- Use the cruise control as much as possible

My non-hybrid 2017 Camry RZ whilst fairly loaded, only yesterday

Between Tuncurry and Newcastle MATCHED it's claimed fuel economy (6L per 100 km/h) 

However whilst driving between Newcastle and Sydney at a "higher cruising speed" I would normally get 7.6 l/100 or worse.....



 

Edited February 25 by Novicebutnice

[DavidH]

I have to agree that the Toyota Kluger Hybrid has a few concerns from me. This is a long email explaining my testing process so read on and see my issue and explanation if you have time.

I have had mine since new for just over 18 months. IF I fill the tank from empty ( and I mean completely run out of fuel ) It happened... I had to test it! It doesn't fill to the claimed 65 litre capacity.

I am also averaging 6.8 litres per 100km, and I drive extremely conservatively and most of my driving during the week is just myself in the car and air con used only when I'm very uncomfortable to try and get the economy down as close to the apparent 5.6l/100km it's supposed to sip on. . I'll also add that I'm usually on the road for 50 mins a day or less and the commute is in light local traffic. 

My findings are that the fuel tank is unable to be filled to the 65 litre mark, even when I have run out of fuel and the hybrid battery warning has come on indicating that I have 0.5km left of hybrid battery to get to a petrol station or pull over and shut the vehicle off.. really gets you nervous when it's beeping away and the car is having a panic attack too... anyway, I just made it with 0.1km (100m) left until the car would shut down due to having no fuel in the tank at all and no battery left.

I managed to get 834 litres out of the tank of fuel, which based on IF I actually used all 65 litres of fuel in the tank, it would mean my actual fuel consumption figure would be closer to the 8L/100km, however the cars digital info system indicates to me that it was 6.8L/100km.. so off by about 1.2 litre per 100km that's if it actually has the capacity to hold 65 litres. I can tell you it doesn't! So the figure is worse than that.

So to further reiterate the fact that the fuel tank capacity (which I believe is the main problem here) can not be filled as stated to 65 litres - Or - it isn't empty due to a design problem/fault and the balance of possible fuel left in the tank is not able to be utilised, I then filled the car from dead empty with Shell Premium 95 fuel. From an "empty" tank, I was only able to fill it with 57.68litres before the bowser clicked and the valve shut off the fuel flow. So, I waited 20 seconds and gave it another burst and it clicked off at 58.48 litres. The fuel tank capacity from that would indicate lets round it up to 58.5 litres, 6.5 litres short of what it should actually be able to physically hold. I then decided to pull the nozzle out and see if it could keep filling in case there was an early gas shut off causing the premature valve closure. I slowly pumped watching the fuel going in to make sure that it wouldn't overflow onto my feet, and I managed to get a further 3 litres, which in one way isn't good, because I filled it right to the top of the fuel cap line. So all I did was fill a full tank and fill the fuel line from the tank to the top of the fuel cap.. something wrong here..

So I have obviously refuelled the car (more than I should have) and then started the car up and waited for it to do it's thing to work out how many km's I will get until empty. I apparently have 804km.  WTF? I just put in 61.48 litres of fuel filling it to a point that the apparent 5.6L/100km claimed consumption of this vehicle should work out the distance to empty should be 1100km! Now looking back at the ACUTAL figures released from Toyota, this car should hold 65 litres of fuel and have a travel distance based on 5.6l/100km  = 1160km to a tank! So in fact, I'm unable to achieve the additional 356KM as stated. 

The main reason, lets face it, I purchased the hybrid was;

1. Fuel economy = saving $ at the pump by offset of a higher purchase price, so it's a investment that will slowly pay itself off over a 5 year period.

But

2. the main one, when you hear you can achieve over 1000km between refilling the car, that's got me there, who honestly wants to be going to the service station! Neither of the two things you purchase a hybrid for and pay the extra is adding up right now.

Sure, it's cheaper than the older 2019 V6 petrol Kluger I had before to "fill up" at the pump BUT

1. I could use E10 in the old 2019 Kluger, cheaper fuel and got around 580km to a tank on E10

2. The old 2019 Kluger itself was $8,000 cheaper than this Hybrid... $8000 buys you a hell of a lot of fuel! But lets base it on current model, difference is still $4200 between the petrol now 4cyl turbo to the Hybrid. Still $4200 worth of fuel average $140 to fill from empty = 30 full tank fills! - that in terms of average km I drive is equivalent to 3 years of fuel..

So moving on, I am now into my 2nd testing phase after the overfill episode explained above where I filled to the point where I had to carefully put the fuel cap back on after filling it up so much.. I have again run the tank down to the "refuel" and hit that after driving 835.2km, which is 31.2km further than the car info provided after I refilled the car. My economy has also improved and now at 6.5L/100km BUT to achieve that I have been pressing the EV button and running that mode in start stop traffic and in carparks.. Still 325km short of Toyota's claim it should be good for. So I am now driving around with a jerry can in the boot waiting to see how much I have left until it stops again and see the actual fuel comparison and I will refill it to the same point again so I know it's full.. 

For those who read on, sorry for the long message but I hope it may also shed some light on the same problem you are having.

I will also note that in the states, where this car is sold as the Toyota Highlander, there has now been a class action against Toyota over a fuel tank issue in the hybrids, which sounds like what I am and possibly a number of other Kluger hybrid owners are experiencing.

I will repost my new findings once my Toyota Kluger Hybrid runs out of fuel. I will then be contacting Toyota to discuss so If anyone wants in on this when I contact them, drop a note and we will work out a way to all get in touch!

 

[James chui]

I have the same issue with my 22 new Hybird Kluger.   I also found my (grande) new Kluger has missed 220V power point and camera view on central mirror comparing with same car in US.  This clearly are the short cuts to Australia Toyota customers which is unacceptable.

[recharging]

On 6/2/2024 at 9:00 PM, James chui said:

I have the same issue with my 22 new Hybird Kluger.   I also found my (grande) new Kluger has missed 220V power point and camera view on central mirror comparing with same car in US.  This clearly are the short cuts to Australia Toyota customers which is unacceptable.

Was there ever a 220V outlet for Australian spec? The US one is only 110V. I would be interested to retrofit.

With regards to fuel consumption, what is your Eco score? Regularly hitting an Eco score above 95 combined for acceleration/cruise/brake, I can achieve 6.5L/100km