review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

In an effort to capture even more market share of the bustling bakkie segment, Toyota has officially launched its boldest and sportiest model yet and let us behind the wheel of their 165 kW Hilux GR-S 2,8 GD-6 4X4 automatic in the magnificent Greater Kruger area. It’s the brand’s second Hilux locally to feature the GR badge but unlike the previous Hilux GR-Sport from 2019 which was limited to a production run of just 535, this model will be a permanent fixture in the range.

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

Day 1

As we flew over the Greater Kruger Region and touched down at Eastgate Airport, once a military airforce base where the spectacular Mirage paraded itself, there was an ever-growing buzz and excitement that filled the cabin while coming into land. We watched wide-eyed tourists from foreign countries and listened to them share our keenness and sentiments, in a variety of different languages and dialects, as we all anticipated the Safari experience that lay ahead of us. But try as we might, nothing could have prepared us for this phenomenal experience, and there was no better way to spend time with the box-fresh and highly-anticipated Toyota Hilux GR-S.

We were warmly welcomed (it was a sweltering average of 36 degrees Celcius during our stay, so pardon the pun) by our friendly and courteous safari tour guides roofless Toyota Landcruiser game-viewing vehicle and then set off for our short drive to our accommodation, Kapama Private Game Lodge. Despite how short the drive was,  it was certainly not short of animal sightings and goose-bump moments as we spotted a number of wildlife en route. The best part was arriving at the lodge and meters before the entrance gate, the traffic officer of the wild, fondly known as Gerry the Giraffe by your average Grade R pupil, welcomed us in all his long-legged majesty.

The staff at Kapama Private Game Lodge settled us in with 5-star treatment and wasted no time in getting us oriented with the stunning yet vast space (80 000 hectares), and by late afternoon it felt like home. The Kapama Private Game lodge can only be described as a sanctuary for the mind, body, soul and spirit. It boasts a number of facilities that effortlessly transport you into a different place from time and the mood of comfort, relaxation and luxury was not difficult to get into.

After meeting up with Team Toyota as well as everybody else in the motoring fraternity and their wonderful partners, we sat down for a delicious lunch at a restaurant that overlooks a sizeable body of water where we watched one of the Big 5, the Buffalo, enjoy some much-needed hydration in the numbing heat. We then set off for some R & R which involved unwinding with some drinks around the pool, a walk about the reserve or if it was your turn for your spa treatment, that is where you were heading. Our unique African Spa treatment was unmatched, and the serenity was a religious experience. The disposable underwear that we were given to wear under our gowns resembled a thin disposable face-mask,  made popular by the dreaded Covid-19, and our inner teenagers could not be curbed. It is said that our guffawing can still be heard by a pride of Lions on the other end of the park closer to the Drakensberg Mountain range. It was then time for the product briefing and presentation where the pricing, specs, performance and other graphic details around the Hilux were discussed with the brands product planner Mtobisi Cele, a man who knows all things Hilux like the back of his hand.

review: toyota hilux gr-s 2,8 gd-6 4x4 automatic – into the wild part 1

Image: Toyota

Dinner time was an opportunity to catch up again and enjoy some mouth-watering meals that undoubtedly turned us all into ‘foodies’ for the night. It was also where some of us had decided to join for the 05:00 AM Game Drive the next morning, and although the wine may have contributed to this decision to be up at the Crack of dawn after a day of traveling. As it turned out it was single-handedly the best decision made during our time there before setting off on a scenic route to drive and experience the Hilux GR-S on the best roads Mpumalanga has to offer…

Toyota Hilux GR-S 2,8 GD-6 4X4 Fast Facts

Price: R 865 400

Engine: 2,8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel

Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission with Auto LSD

Power: 165 kW

Torque: 550 N.m

Top speed: 175 km/h

Stay tuned for part two for eye-watering heights, gin-tasting, a starlit game drive and the Hilux GR-S on potholed roads.

The full Toyota Hilux GR-S 2,8 GD-6 4X4 automatic launch review will feature in the CAR February 2023 issue on store shelves January 13th.

Keyword: REVIEW: Toyota Hilux GR-S 2,8 GD-6 4X4 automatic – Into the wild part 1

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Here’s Everything You Get In The Base 2024 Toyota Tacoma

The steel wheels say “work truck,” but adaptive cruise and push-button start were the stuff of luxury cars only a few years ago.

View more: Here’s Everything You Get In The Base 2024 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota to sell massive $4.7B stake in top supplier as it looks to catch up in EV race

Toyota is securing substantial funding as it looks to catch up in the EV race. Sources close to the matter say Toyota and its affiliates will sell a stake of around $4.7B in Denso, the second-largest global auto supplier. Toyota plans to sell around 10% (roughly $4.7 billion) of ...

View more: Toyota to sell massive $4.7B stake in top supplier as it looks to catch up in EV race

The Crown Signia Is A Wagon Regardless Of What Toyota Says

Image: Toyota American car buyers, for the most part, are not fans of wagons. The long roof body style has almost disappeared from the U.S. car market with only a few models remaining. There is the ever-popular Subaru Outback, and some more expensive options from Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo. ...

View more: The Crown Signia Is A Wagon Regardless Of What Toyota Says

Five most affordable automatic cars in South Africa

Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL Auto – R188,900 Renault Kwid 1.0 Zen Auto – R212,999 Proton Saga 1.3 Standard Auto – R224,900 Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL Auto – R225,900 Toyota Vitz 1.0 XR Auto – R239,900 When it comes to city driving, an automatic gearbox is one of the best ...

View more: Five most affordable automatic cars in South Africa

2024 Toyota Tacoma First Drive: A Sure Bet Remains So

•    Auto123 gets in a first drive of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Toronto, ON – This past May, Toyota unveiled the new generation of its Tacoma pickup truck. That happened in Hawaii, an exotic locale to be sure, but it happens to be where the model has been the best-selling ...

View more: 2024 Toyota Tacoma First Drive: A Sure Bet Remains So

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Starts At $32,995

It’s still one of the most affordable trucks in the segment.

View more: The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Starts At $32,995

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Adds Some Polish But Keeps The Fun

Thanks to a torquey, 270-hp four-cylinder and an available six-speed manual, the new Taco is a charmer.

View more: The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Adds Some Polish But Keeps The Fun

Toyota Selling Shorty Land Cruiser 70 For $46,000 But There’s A Catch

The Land Cruiser 70 Series will turn 40 next year but it's still going strong.

View more: Toyota Selling Shorty Land Cruiser 70 For $46,000 But There’s A Catch

Exclusive: Toyota group companies plan $4.7 billion sale of Denso stake

Exploring the unseen beauty of Kashmir: A drive along the LoC

2024 Toyota Camry NASCAR Cup Series Contender Gets The Road Car's New Looks

The Only New Toyota Camry That Won't Be A Hybrid Is Racing In NASCAR

New Toyota Hilux Champ – Engines and interior revealed

You Can Buy Toyota's Tiny $13,000 Work Truck But Not In The US

Kia Sonet Vs Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Price, Engine Specs & Dimensions Comparison

The Toyota Corolla GR Sport - Unassuming, Uncompromising Thrills

Affordable hatchbacks with the best warranties in South Africa

Next-gen Ford Mustang – The competitors at R1.5 million

5 car brands South Africa’s middle class loves

Toyota and Solid-State Batteries for EVs: Patience Is In Order

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel