Review - 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport

It sets atop Toyota’s ute range and boasts a brand new engine, sporty styling package and a revised suspension system that Toyota says is its most dynamic HiLux to date.

Before it arrives in Australia, lets take a closer look at the special touches Toyota has given the HiLux GR Sport, and how it stacks up as a versatile all-rounder.

Toyota HiLux GR Sport Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Toyota is yet to confirm prices for the HiLux GR Sport, however, we can expect to see it priced above the current flagship, the Rogue, which is priced at $70,000 before on-road costs.

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Toyota Hilux - GR-SPORT (4x4) Specifications

What Features Does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport Have?

Headlining the range of updates for the Toyota HiLux GR Sport is a revised 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, which is paired with a sportier tune for the six-speed automatic transmission.

The HiLux GR Sport also offers a widened front track, and a heap of new suspension hardware that includes a new set of wishbones, stiffer coil springs, updated shock absorbers and a reinforced rear axle.

Visually, the HiLux GR Sport comes fitted with a GR Sport body kit that adds a set of black protective wheel arches, a revised front grille finished in black with GR badging, 17-inch alloys with all-terrain tyres, skid plates, side rails and red brake calipers.

Inside, the HiLux GR Sport gains a set of sportier seats, a GR Sport steering wheel with head highlights and badges, sports pedals, red seatbelts and GR logos embossed onto the headrests, as well as an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Toyota will give us the full run-down of the GR Sport’s specifications closer to its arrival later in 2023.

Range Features

• Updated 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine

• Revised six-speed automatic transmission

• Widened front track

• New suspension hardware with updated wishbones, coil springs & shocks

• 17-inch alloys wrapped in all-terrain tyres

• Skid plates & side rails

• Disc brakes front & rear with red brake calipers

• Sports seats with GR logos embossed into headrests

• Sports pedals & red seatbelts

• GR logos for the tub liner

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

What’s New Under the Bonnet?

Perhaps the biggest update for the HiLux GR Sport is the updated 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine that offers 10 per cent more power and torque than the current flagship engine.

Toyota has updated the fuel injectors and the turbo-supercharging hardware under the bonnet, with the HiLux GR Sport offering power outputs of 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

This is a modest upgrade over the current flagship’s 2.8-litre turbo-diesel that kicks out 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque, making it the most powerful diesel HiLux introduced to the Australian market.

What Suspension Hardware does the HiLux GR Sport Add?

Before we get to the suspension, Toyota says that its updated platform for the HiLux GR Sport has widened the front track by 140mm and the rear by 155mm, which now measures 1675mm and 1705mm respectively.

At the front wheels, there’s a redesigned set of wishbones paired with stiffer coil springs and some added reinforcement for the rear axle, as well as a set of upgraded shock absorbers that are stiffer than the HiLux Rogue and a set of new control arms.

Toyota says that its tweaks for the HiLux GR Sport result in off-road approach and departure angles of 30 and 26 degrees, respectively.

For the brakes, Toyota has installed disc brakes at all four corners, with 338mm front discs and 312mm rear discs with a set of single-piston floating calipers.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Inside, the GR Sport sticks with the familiar cabin layout on offer in the current HiLux dual cab platform, which makes for a comfortable and relatively practical cabin that can double as a workhorse and a family package.

Visually, the front of the cabin gains a new set of seats, a new steering wheel and a new set of driving pedals that make it feel sportier than the rest of the HiLux range, while the rest of the switchgear and the dashboard design has been carried over from the current-generation HiLux.

That means there’s an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting in the centre of the dashboard, with a set of climate control dials and charging ports underneath that round out the technology package.

Practical elements in the front of the HiLux GR Sport include a pair of cupholders with some added storage at the base of the dashboard, a small storage tray in the centre tunnel, a large folding armrest and a two-tiered glovebox for added storage.

Move to the rear of the cabin and there’s a heap of headroom and enough legroom for even adults to sit quite comfortably in the second row, meaning you won’t hear any complaints from kids seated in the back of the HiLux GR Sport on long road trips.

Is it Safe?

Toyota is yet to confirm the full list of safety gear for the HiLux GR Sport, however, using the current flagship as a reference, we can expect to see the five-star ANCAP safety rating carry over, as well as a range of active safety tech.

That means the GR Sport will likely gain adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warnings with steering assist, traffic sign detection, hill-descent control and front and rear parking sensors as standard.

For reference, the HiLux range has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 96 per cent for adult protection, 87 per cent for child protection, 88 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 78 per cent for safety assist.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Toyota is yet to confirm fuel economy figures for its updated 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, although we can expect to see some similar fuel efficiency scores as the standard powertrain from the HiLux range.

For reference, the HiLux GR Sport’s closest relative, the existing HiLux range powered by Toyota’s range-topping 2.8-litre turbo-diesel returns fuel economy figures between 7.4 - 8.0L/100km.

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota HiLux GR Sport Worth it?

If you’re looking for a package that offers a fairly significant upgrade over the standard HiLux dual-cab platform, the HiLux GR Sport is set to impress as Toyota’s current flagship ute.

Toyota’s revised engine makes the GR Sport the most powerful turbo-diesel HiLux we’ve seen yet, while the added suspension hardware is set to make it more agile on the road and while pushing off-road alike.

Buyers looking for the maximum HiLux experience should keep their eyes peeled for the arrival of the HiLux GR Sport sometime later in 2023. If you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Upgraded 2.8-litre turbo-diesel is the most powerful yet

2. 160kW/550Nm power & torque outputs

3. Revised six-speed automatic transmission

4. Revised suspension setup with new wishbones, springs & shocks

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating