Revamped in 2020, the latest Hilux is offered with a new 2.8-litre powertrain that offers improved performance both on & off-road, whilst inside the range features updated instrumentation & multimedia technology. We drove an Invincible X in 2021 & came away impressed. That model was the range topper but inspired by their 2022 Dakar Rally win, Toyota have introduced a new range topper, the Gazoo Racing inspired Hilux GR, which we drove recently
What is it ?
The GR Sport gains bespoke styling & premium equipment features, with a new black mesh front grille, larger front fog light surrounds, 17″ alloy wheels with a contrast black & machine finish & all-terrain tyres. The door mirror casings, side steps & tailgate handle are all finished in black, plus a sports bar is fitted as standard.
Any other additions ?
GR Sport also comes with red shock absorbers & new stiffer front springs, with monotube shocks on the rear to improve damping.
Interior & specification
The functional cabin offers GR Sport branding on the seat back, carpet mats, info display & even the starter button. New sports front seats are clad in a mix of leather & synthetic suede & are finished with contrast red stitching.
The cabin features an 8″ multimedia screen mounted on the centre console. The multimedia system enables easy smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. GR also comes with heated front & rear seats & a Panoramic View Monitor which provides an all-round view of the vehicle’s location whether manoeuvring over rough terrain or squeezing into a supermarket parking space.
Other features include smart entry & push-button start, SatNav, automatic air-con, front & rear parking sensors & a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system with an 800W eight-channel amplifier & CLARI-Fi technology for improving the reproduction quality of digital music files.
Workhorse capability
Where practicality is concerned, Hilux’s one-tonne payload & 3.5-tonne towing capacity are delivered across all three body types: Single Cab, Extra Cab & Double Cab. Hilux remains one of the few vehicles to still use a body-on- frame construction, a design that is hard- wearing and better able to withstand the twisting forces encountered in extreme off-road driving conditions.
Safety & off-road functions
GR Sport also comes with Toyota Safety Sense, which is a Pre-Collision System with pedestrian & cyclist detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Road Sign Assist & Automatic limited-slip differential.
Standard pick-up fixtures include Emergency Brakeforce Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, Trailer Sway Control, Downhill Assist Control, Active Traction Control & Hill-start Assist Control.
Customers can also choose from a wide range of accessories to personalise their Hilux & equip it to suit their specific work or leisure requirements. Items include a range of hard tops & roll covers, a locking tailgate & a 12V power supply mounted on the deck.
New engine
Hilux’s powertrain range has been bolstered by the addition of a more powerful, 201bhp 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine, that generates 500Nm of torque & can accelerate Hilux from 0-62mph in 10 seconds – up to 3.2 seconds faster than the old 2.4-litre unit.
The new powertrain is available with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission & all UK versions have all-wheel drive, with off-road performance enhanced with the lowering of engine speed at idle from 850 to 680 rpm. The vehicle stability control has also been updated & a new tyre angle monitor has been adopted.
Driving
Whilst the improvements to the Hilux are aimed at making it more on-road friendly, the GR Sport has been developed in essence to be better off-road & at speed. There’s no doubting it’s ‘hard as nails’ off-road capabilities. Our NGMW colleague, http://themudlife.co.uk who knows the North West’s green lanes better than most, proved this with some proper workouts, whilst http://companycarandvan.co.uk took a longer look at how the GR Sport performed on road.
A good place to begin is with the motorway. The GR Sport features a six-speed auto gear box & to be fair, it’s pretty good. The gear changes are short making the shifts smooth & once up to motorway speed, adaptive cruise control which comes with the GR, makes short work of the motorway miles. And, unlike many similar cruise control systems it’s really simple to engage. However, if you really put your foot down, the four-cylinder engine can get a little noisy.
Despite it’s size & its weight, what impressed us most was the GR’s road holding, which even on tight motorway bends was exemplary. The tweaks to the suspension are not too noticeable on a flat road, but venture into green-lane territory & it’s a different story. Shake, bounce, shake & bounce again. The harder Dakar set-up is not skeleton friendly !
In town, or driving along more local roads things improve, with little or no body roll & far less bouncing. Of course any pick-up will always feel more stable as well as more comfortable with a sizeable load in the rear, so do bear that in mind.
Fuel economy & emissions
As far as fuel economy goes, GR Sport has a claimed return of 28.6 to 30.1mpg with us achieving 27.8mpg in a week of 200 mostly motorway miles. CO2 emissions are 248g/km.
Pros
Looks fantastic, good quality cabin. Will go anywhere anytime. Reliability is it’s mantra.
Cons
Expensive. Hard ride off road & over uneven surfaces. Rear tailgate doesn’t feature soft-closing.
Conclusion
Toyota have succeeded in making the last Hilux better & more car-like to drive with the new 2.8 engine a highlight. Even in GR Sport spec, it’s definitely a more refined motorway cruiser than the old model. The range also features a well equipped cabin, the latest safety tech & a decent infotainment system. Being GR specific, it’s slightly let down by the uncompromising ride off-road & the cost, with an Invincible offering almost all of what the GR does for quite a lot less.
Reassuringly, the Hilux GR Sport will still take you places other’s fear to go, which is clearly illustrated by the Hilux winning the Dakar Rally in 2022.
Whether off-road or on, Toyota’s Hilux GR Sport is sure to turn a head or two 4//.5
