The latest addition to the HiLux range is the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport – which is off-road focused and more capable than before. Trent Nikolic samples Toyota's new off-road double cab at launch to find out if the added secret sauce has made Australia's most popular vehicle even more impressive.
Just when you thought you didn't need another HiLux variant... Toyota announced the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport. I'll call it the GR HiLux. Is the HiLux you never knew you needed? We'll let you be the judge.
One thing that cannot be debated is the price. We've detailed them below, but for quick reference, the GR HiLux we're testing here is the most expensive HiLux ever sold in Australia. Starting at $73,990 before on-road costs.
Will it be popular? Even though inventory is already on its way, if you make a deposit now, you'll still have to wait four to six months for delivery. Well then, I'll take that as a yes.
Toyota's reputation in this country has been forged in the most difficult and remote off-road environments on our vast and diverse continent. If you imagine a remote location in this amazing country that is accessible by four-wheel drive, chances are a HiLux has been there. Along with the LandCruiser and 70 Series, the HiLux has a loyal fan base that is the envy of almost any other manufacturer.
Why is Toyota making a GR version of the already very popular HiLux? After all, it is the best-selling vehicle in the country.
Maybe it's because the Japanese giant knows there's a lot more it can access, especially off-road. And, almost certainly because it identifies that customers like the idea of a more capable off-roader that doesn't require mass modifications and still has a comprehensive factory warranty.
My foray would be short, with some decent off-road work and an on-road loop allowing me to sample the latest legend to wear the HiLux badge. To say that we already have a list of tests that we will be conducting in the coming months is an understatement.
The HiLux GR Sport now sits at the top of the HiLux range in Australia starting from $73,990 before on-road costs. Since this off-road-focused double cab comes at the party from a slightly different angle, it's hard to align them directly.
I'm not advising buyers to do this cross-shopping, but the two most logical competitors are the Ford Ranger Raptor and Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior. I chose them because of their stubborn off-road focus.
The Ranger Raptor is the performance option and the most expensive starting at $89,190 before on-road costs following its latest price increase. At the same time, the Navara Pro-4X Warrior starts at $70,765 before on-road costs with automatic. You can see that the Nissan is in line with the HiLux Rogue, while the Ranger goes it alone, and as such, struggles to match the new GR Sport HiLux head-to-head with the competition.
However, there are a few things that are becoming clearer in 2023. Everyone (or almost everyone) wants a double cab, and most people want it to be capable of going off-road, whether they intend to use it or not. Buyers will happily modify it themselves, but the appeal of a full factory warranty cannot be denied. Therefore, even if the GR HiLux is expensive, its target buyers won't care one bit.
Important details of the 2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport
The price is $73,990 plus travel costs
Test car color Fever Red/Black Roof
Two-tone paint options – $1030
The price as tested was $75,020 plus travel costs
Drive away price $81,655 (Sydney)
Isuzu D-Max rival | MazdaBT-50 | Ford Ranger
The GR HiLux is familiar but a little different. Toyota has managed to deliver a sports-focused (in this case rally-inspired) feel without going overboard.
If you've driven or owned a HiLux Rogue, the cabin will feel familiar to you. The black perforated leather accented seats are different and get gray accent trim as well. As usual, and I noted this in the launch video, they feel comfortable at all times on any road – as we've come to expect from Toyota.
The driver's seat is eight-way electrically adjustable, and the second row can be folded 60/40. There's blue lighting for the door trim and instruments, as well as a black headliner, and front and rear floor mats are also standard. I think most GR buyers will opt for rubber mats – much more practical if you want to take the HiLux off-road.
Everything in the cabin, even the new trim items, retains the rugged, hard-wearing feel you've always gotten from a Toyota, and this effectively proves that the HiLux started life as a workhorse and not as a luxury car. And, the GR version is even better suited for roughing it out with the family.
You get two cupholders in the front console, plus one each on the dash for the driver and front passenger. There are also two gloveboxes with cooling piped through the top box to keep drinks and snacks cool. There's a small amount of storage in the center console.
2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport
Seat Five
Payload 780kg
Length 5320mm
Width 2020mm
Height 1880mm
Wheelbase 3085mm
Front Track 1670mm
Rear Track 1705mm
The GR HiLux gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with Bluetooth if you want to go old school. There's also wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as satellite navigation, AM/FM, and digital radio, as well as a quality nine-speaker JBL premium audio system.
Drive launches often make it difficult to test infotainment systems, given that we often run separate mapping systems or use pre-programmed standard systems. But this time, the drive loop worked on Google Maps from my smartphone. The system connects quickly (of course with a cable), doesn't drop out, and the touch screen is responsive.
We've written this review many times before, Toyota's systems are rarely the most advanced in the segment, but the hardware works. It's also usually easy to understand.
Toyota does offer connected services via a smartphone app with the ability to check the fuel level, lock, and light status, plus the ability to contact emergency services in the event of a collision. Access to Toyota Connected Services is free for three years.
The HiLux has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and was retested in 2019 to maintain the rating in line with safety updates at the time.
Toyota is not seeking an ANCAP rating for its GR vehicles, and despite sharing the same structure, modifications, and safety features as the five-star Rogue and wider HiLux range, the HiLux GR Sport is still unrated at this time.
The HiLux scored 96 percent for adult occupant protection, 87 percent for child occupant protection, 88 percent for vulnerable road user (pedestrian) protection, and 78 percent for safety assistance systems.
2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport
ANCAP Rating Not yet rated
Safety report Link to ANCAP report for the HiLux range
What safety technologies does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport have?
The GR HiLux has the same suite of safety features as the Rogue. Thus, you get Toyota Safety Sense including forward autonomous emergency braking with daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, high-speed active cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping via braking intervention (rather than the more modern steering assist found in some competitors), speed sign recognition, 360-degree view camera, seven airbags, rear cross-traffic alert, and a blind-spot monitor.
There's no rear AEB, but there is trailer sway control and hill descent assist control.
How much does it cost to maintain the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?
Toyota's warranty period starts from five years. Private buyers have no kilometer limit, but commercial users are subject to a 160,000 km limit. Private buyers also get an extended warranty of up to two years for the engine and driveline on cars serviced according to Toyota's maintenance schedule.
Considering Toyota service costs are capped at just $290 per visit for five years, although every six months may seem a bit burdensome, a cost of $1740 for three years or $2900 for five years is reasonable.
At the time of launch, we were not yet able to access our regular insurance quote guide.
2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport at a glance
Five-year guarantee, unlimited km
Service interval 6 months or 10,000 km
Service fee $1740 (3 years)
$2900 (5 years)
Is the Toyota HiLux GR Sport fuel efficient?
Given our protracted launch trip, and focus on low-range off-road work, we weren't able to measure fuel consumption like we did during our week behind the wheel.
On a motorway loop, with speed limits between 60km/h and 100km/h, straight-forward readings ranged between 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers and 8.1L/100km. This matches Toyota's official claim of 8.1L/100km for the HiLux GR Sport.
What is it like to drive the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?
My first experience behind the wheel of the GR HiLux was somewhat the opposite of what you might expect from the GR badge. This means facing some pretty nasty off-road challenges.
I write counter-intuitively because the GR Sport has, so far, indicated a more refined or more focused version of the fast road car. Think Yaris, Corolla, 86, or Supra. You might not expect that badge to have a place on the HiLux.
However, the explanation given by Toyota – which is not surprising given its relatively conservative brand – makes sense. GR Sport is related to Toyota's various competitive efforts. And, that includes rally-raid competitions or events like the Dakar. Thus, a HiLux modified for off-roading makes a lot of sense for consumers.
You won't notice the extra power and torque on the heavy stuff, where articulation, grip, ride smarts, and traction control tuning make the biggest difference. Unsurprisingly, Toyota's work here on the GR HiLux is excellent.
In low range, you simply ride the diesel delivery effortlessly to a crawl however slowly you need to go up, down, or over obstacles. The mechanical grip on offer is so smooth, that you'll rarely spin the all-terrain tires furiously, even on crisscrossing hills.
If slippage comes into play, Toyota's traction control tuning is, as always, in tune with off-road work. This means you can get the job done with as little effort as possible.
Removing the rear stabilizer bar – to facilitate wheel movement – has done the right thing, so you'd have to be in serious shape to hang the wheels. The added ground clearance (+20mm) makes a difference in ramp-over jobs, and on the off-road course we drove, the HiLux may have landed once, or even at all.
The ground clearance is recorded at 265 mm. The wider track doesn't hurt off-road either, but as always, the HiLux feels perfectly balanced and capable on trails that many buyers will never tackle. New KYB shock absorbers, and taller coilovers up front, with taller leaf springs in the rear, are all aimed at off-road work.
Our launch didn't allow time for a proper towing test, but Toyota has made the most of its 3500kg braked tow rating, and the extra power and torque never hurt when it comes to moving heavy loads, so we'll give it a proper test once we get the GR HiLux through the garage Drives.
My lap of the road at the launch told an interesting story. It's all country B roads, with lots of rough surfaces, bumps, ruts, and broken edges. The GR HiLux takes it all in its stride, without ever feeling like the modified suspension can't handle it.
Interestingly, while other brands' off-road models produce a different feel on the road, the GR HiLux doesn't feel much different from other HiLux variants we've tested.
It's still sturdy without weight on the tray, and can noticeably wobble on the rear axle with repeated bumpy movements. However, the solid feel you feel behind the wheel hasn't changed, so while you can feel the rear suspension working and its tightness, it's not uncomfortable.
On the road – at least on dry surfaces – the extra boost from increased power and torque figures makes a real difference. While the Ranger Raptor isn't fast, it's certainly fast enough for everyday activity, with enough mid-range punch to get going when you need it. We'll take the time to pull it to see how it adds weight to the tow ball.
The 2.8-liter turbocharged diesel engine is familiar but now produces 165kW and 550Nm, up from 150kW and 500Nm, a 10 percent increase in power and torque that puts the HiLux squarely in the middle of its dual-cab 4WD competition. Turbocharger characteristics have been modified, along with ECU tuning that changes fuel delivery.
The six-speed automatic transmission has also been adjusted to match the new engine's power and torque, and the part-time 4WD system remains. According to Toyota, "changes to the oil pressure control have increased the speed of gear shift operation, while the gear shift mapping has been revised to provide a more direct and responsive feel, in both normal and sport modes."
As you'd expect, the GR HiLux feels very similar to the HiLux, only with more power. The improvements that have been made to the powertrain make an already easy package feel even more comfortable. Not only did we send it off-road, but we also simulated an on-road tour, as we spent more time with the new GR HiLux post-launch.
Important details of the 2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport
Engine 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine
Power 165kW @ 3000rpm
Torque 550Nm @ 1600–2800rpm
Drive Type Part-time four-wheel drive
Transmission Six-speed torque converter automatic
Power to weight ratio 72.7kW/t
Weight (curb) 2270kg
Spare tire type Full size
Tow rating 3500kg braked
750kg unbraked
Spinning a 12.6m circle
Should I buy a Toyota HiLux GR Sport?
There are strong reasons for and against any model from any manufacturer at the top of the price tree. Thus, you could argue that you buy the more affordable HiLux, set it up exactly how you want it for off-road work, and live happily ever after. This is certainly the way HiLux owners have done it for decades when exploring our vast continent.
However, if your budget extends beyond the top predator in the HiLux range, there's a lot to like about the GR Sport fettling that has been added to the already hugely popular HiLux. This is a straight-up off-road performance without spending a dime on it. It still tows as well as any other HiLux in the range, and is as familiar of an old jumper as any other Toyota off-roader.
Furthermore – and this is the important point – it comes with all the standard factory capabilities and warranties. We've seen with the Ranger Raptor and Navara Warrior that Australians like the idea of an off-road-focused double cab that comes with a factory warranty, and there's no reason to think Australia's most popular vehicle will be any different.
This is a Toyota and it does very well in tough conditions, but we expect that as we always do. Arrive early and deposit if you wish. It's fair to say, it's going to be popular.
How to buy a Toyota HiLux GR Sport – next steps?
As you would expect with a new variant, any manufacturer wants to get to work immediately, and Toyota is no different. According to Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia's Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Franchise Operations, "GR Sport sales are projected at 3,500 per year. Production is flexible if more is needed. HiLux production and supply is healthy."
This is good news for anyone looking to get their hands on a GR HiLux, and since its launch, you'll have to wait four to six months if you take your order now. Our advice, despite not having tested the GR HiLux either against other HiLux models in the range (such as the Rogue) or others, is to go to the dealer and get a deposit if you want one. If you're interested in other models in the HiLux range, you can view the cars for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale.
