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- Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 4×4 GR-Sport (2023) review – faster and grippier with the looks to match
Toyota keeps the established Hilux relevant and in the fight by improving the suspension, trimmings, and aesthetics and giving it a dollop of extra power. This is the Hilux GR-Sport.
Interior & Space
A few years ago, the name Gazoo Racing was only recalled by a few with extensive motorsport knowledge but today it seems that everywhere you turn, Gazoo Racing is loud and prominent. What, in more recent years, started out as a branding exercise for Toyota South Africa’s Dakar efforts, has been reabsorbed by Toyota globally and given a new lease on life, both on the racetrack and on the road. Think of it as a high-performance division of Toyota (and AMG or M Disivion, if you will) that is dedicated to building winning race cars and road cars for the enthusiast.
The GR hierarchy starts with GR Parts (still to come to SA) where aftermarket accessories allow one to express their individuality. GR-Sport is next on the list where you get tweaked and tuned versions of road vehicles, focusing primarily on handling and aesthetics. After this, you get GR; vehicles designed with performance in mind. You see this in bespoke models such as the GR Supra, GR Yaris, and GR86. The top tier is reserved for the GRMN creations; limited editions created with motorsport in mind.
The Toyota Hilux GR-Sport is the latest offering in the GR-Sport category, offering enhanced appearances and minor upgrades to handling and performance.
Styling
You’ll be able to spot a Hilux GR-S from a fair distance away thanks to the tasty treatment given to the front. A large, blacked-out grille with a strong centre cross bar features a GR badge and rests between LED headlights and fog lamps situated lower down in a Raider-style bumper. The GR-Sport also wears wider over-fenders for a more imposing stance but you’re not going to get the widebody treatment that you would on a Raptor though.
What you will get is a set of polished face 17-alloy wheels, unique to the GR-Sport shod in beefier 265/65R17 tyres for added off-road capability. They are complemented by a black sports bar and additional GR branding along the sides with GR-branded running boards along the sills. The GR treatment continues at the back with more branding and a tonneau cover for the load bin.
You can get the GR-Sport in one of four colours. Our test model was finished off in Arizona Red but you can also select Graphite Grey, Attitude Black or Glacier White. Either way, you get a Hilux that looks special without being ostentatious or overbearing. We wondered if a little more pizzazz would go down well as sometimes the subtle approach is just a little too subtle.
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Space & Interior
The interior of the GR-Sport hasn’t been left untouched and you’ll probably notice the most changes here. It starts with the Alcantara-trimmed seats with their embroidered GR logos and raised red stitching. sporty and surprisingly supporting, the driver’s seat gets electric adjustment. The raised, contrasting red stitching is carried across to other areas of the well-trimmed cabin including the leather-bound multifunction steering wheel which, yes, also has a GR badge in the lower spoke.
Carbon-look panels add an air of sportiness and these are supplemented by bright red trims, drawing your eyes to the instrument cluster that features a unique gauge design with red needles. Aluminium pedals round off the look and GR-branded floor mats carry the theme into the rear of the cabin where you will get the same dark grey upholstery.
Dimensions and capacities don’t change from your regular Hilux and there’s ample storage space with a split-level glove compartment and centre armrest bin.
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Comfort & Convenience
Part of the GR treatment with the Hilux is an upgraded suspension. While this certainly helps your confidence in the corners on the tarmac and indeed, on gravel as well, it compromises the overall ride quality. The regular Legend Hilux rides remarkably well over most surfaces but the GR tends to transmit a lot more through the bodyshell. This is due to the upgraded monotube shock absorbers and stiffer coil springs that Toyota has installed. It’s not bone-jarring, but by comparison, it certainly is stiffer. It’s a small price to pay for the confidence it instils.
Similarly specced to the Legend grade, the GR-Sport has many of the creature comforts that you will find in these models with the omission of an auto-dimming rearview mirror and JBL sound system. That latter one is a genuine omission and we would have loved to have seen that included in the GR-Sport. You do get the Toyota Display Audio infotainment system with tethered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the surround-view camera system makes parking considerably easier. It’s also a boon off-road as it allows you to position your wheel correctly and avoid rocks.
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Performance
It’s not all show and no go. While you’re not going to terrorize a V6 Amarok (those things are fast, period) you will not be disappointed with the additional power that Toyota has given you. It may not sound like much, but Toyota has tuned the ECU to boost the power ever so slightly. Power is up by 15 kW to give you 165 kW total and torque is bumped up by 50 Nm for a final figure of 550 Nm. This is enough to make the Hilux GR-S get up from a standstill and get to 100 km/h 0.65 seconds faster than before.
The programming of the 6-speed automatic gearbox is well-considered and switching it into Sport mode sees each gear give you a reassuring kick in the back. Alternatively, you can manually select gears with the steering wheel-mounted paddles but this is truly not necessary as the programming is hard to fault. The three drive modes will alter the throttle and gearbox responses with the Power mode being extremely useful for overtaking manoeuvres.
Fuel Economy
Toyota claims a combined cycle fuel consumption of 8.0 l/100km with a calculated fuel range of 1 000 km. The real world will see you in the mid-9s with some open road driving allowing it to drop to mid-8s. This is palatable and on par with the opposition.
Safety
In addition to the standard active and passive safety systems found in the Hilux range, which includes 7 airbags, the GR-Sport receives Toyota Safety Sense (TSS). This suite includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Pre-Collision System (PCS). Naturally, it is also equipped with ABS, VSC, EBD, Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Brake Assist.
Price
Tickling the top end of the Hilux range, the GR-Sport commands a small premium over the 2.8GD-6 Legend it is based on. It’s not astronomically more and it’s still less than the Legend RS and comes in at R891 400, all-inclusive. With this, you get a 9-services/90 000 km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty.
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Competitors
With so much changing in the LCV market this year, the Hilux starts to feel a little dated. Comparing apples with apples, you’d be looking at the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross or the Nissan Navara PRO-4X. You’ll be saving yourself a few thousand by going that route but then there’s also the new Ranger to consider. The Wildtrak 2.0 is a smidge cheaper but the one you really want, the Wildtrak 3.0 V6 will cost you R60 000 more.
Verdict
As established as the Hilux is, it’s been updated to still feel contemporary. Plus, it’s a Toyota which means that age is but a number. You may be tempted to go with the latest and greatest for this sort of money but you can justify the GR-Sport’s premium for the peace of mind that comes with it. The GR-Sport isn’t an outright rocketship and it’s not going to win the Baja, but it wears the same GR badge that just recently took yet another Dakar win, and that has to count for something…
Chad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.View News & Reviews
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Keyword: Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 4x4 GR-Sport (2023) review - faster and grippier with the looks to match