6 October

Have used our Kluger hybrid for 2 longer trips, Broken Hill and the Gold Coast. For a family car using a combustion engine, it’s about as good as it’s ever going to get. Beautifully engineered. The hybrid means it uses 5.5-6L/100km, for a vehicle over 2 tonnes, also fully loaded. Toyota’s series-parallel hybrids ensure you get just the amount of power you need, at every speed, with minimal fuel use, and no need for changing gears. Makes it a pleasure to drive. I say as good as it’s ever going to get, because the ultimate vehicle will always be a full-electric. There’s not one way a combustion engine can ever compete, all that keeps them in the game is putting huge fuel tanks in them to give them (very expensive) greater range. That gap is closing fast, in fact it’s already closed with many new EVs.