Toyota: Hilux GR Sport II premieres in Anavyssos

November 17, 2023

Members of the International Pick-up Award jury saw and drove the new Hilux GR Sport II months before anyone else. VASSILIS DARAMOUSKAS and CHARLEEN CLARKE were particularly impressed with its on-road performance.

The new Hilux GR Sport II, which the participants saw and drove in Greece many months before anyone else, looks quite different from other models in the Hilux range and it also differs from the first-generation GR model. You can’t miss the new black front grille featuring the classic Toyota name logo; black sidestep, mirrors, and door handles; silver-coloured protective front underguard; black rear bumper; and distinctive GR SPORT logos.

The interior is super cool too. We loved the red seatbelts, paddle controls, and aluminium sport pedals. The black suede and leather sport seats, with silver stitching and perforation, look elegant. There’s also what Toyota calls “a new hydrographic ornament” on the door trim and dashboard, which also features GR details on the information display and instrumentation. Quite what is meant by “a hydrographic ornament” we’re not sure. Not to worry, it looks nice anyway.

But as with the GR Sport I, the improvements over the standard Hilux can be found not only in the interior and exterior of the bakkie, but also in mechanical components like the suspension, axles, brakes, and steering.

Essentially, the designers have taken almost all the (design) interventions of a Dakar racer and dressed them in civilian clothing, but the big news here is the increase in tread. Specifically, in Toyota’s “sporty” bakkie – which was inspired by Gazoo Racing (where the GR initials come from) – the lateral distance between the wheels has been expanded by 140mm at the front and 155mm at the rear compared to the standard Toyota Hilux, with the obvious aim of improving road holding as well as “grip” on any kind of surface.

This change only applies to the GR Sport II, and the same is true of the suspension and brakes, which are also fitted only to this model. The new lighter, black 17-inch wheels and red brake callipers (bigger 17-inch front discs and new 15-inch rear discs) are also exclusive to the GR Sport II. The wheels are equipped with all-terrain tyres to enhance grip and overall stability.

The 2.8-litre, 152-kW (500Nm peak torque) diesel engine is unchanged and the “just” six-speed automatic gearbox makes well-timed shifts.

On tar, the Hilux GR Sport II was sublime, trumped only by the Raptor. The same could not be said of its off-road performance: in the ultra-rough high-speed sections, it was totally outclassed by the Amarok and Ranger. Having said that, it was very good at conquering obstacles at extremely low speeds, in no way thanks to the 20mm increase in minimum ground clearance, the higher approach angle (from 29 to 30 degrees), or the new shock absorbers.

All in all, if you were expecting a competitor to the (two-litre diesel) Raptor, you won’t find one here. What you will find is the most daringly designed Hilux ever made, with wider tracks and top-notch comfort on tar. According to a Toyota South Africa spokesperson, the company cannot confirm at this stage if it will be introduced in South Africa. However, the possibility is under study.