So.. another Hilux GR-S, huh?
Yes, yes it is. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has now officially launched the updated Hilux GR-S following its sudden reveal at the second leg of the 2023 TGR Vios Cup. It boasts bold new styling and a beefier overall look but this time, with significant mechanical upgrades.
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Upgrades? Aren’t these GR-S models all about the stickers?
You’ll still find stickers and Gazoo Racing badging around the truck, but there’s a lot more to this pickup than just aesthetic tweaks. As I mentioned, this gets mechanical upgrades including the improved suspension and the slightly more powerful engine.
The Hilux GR-S also has bulkier fenders than before, but those are a result of the wider track underneath. Frankly, I have mixed feelings about the design. It looks angrier and chunkier than before, but the angles on those fenders—especially when I try to look at the truck from the rear—just don’t exactly do it for me.
Okay. Tell us more about that engine.
Under the hood of this thing is the same 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine found in the old Hiluxes, but it’s now capable of 224hp and 550Nm of torque, which now makes it slightly more powerful than even the Ford Ranger Raptor. We were only able to drive the pickup around the open roads of Clark so speed limits didn’t allow us to go flat out with it, but I could already tell that the improved powertrain is a lot punchier than before nonetheless.
Acceleration is smoother, and I’m pretty sure it’ll be even more impressive on the highway. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take the truck to Sacobia River (pretends to be shocked) during our quick test drive, so we’re not sure yet how the added oomph will translate to off-road driving. But the moment we get our hands on this again, we’ll pit it against the Ranger Raptor and see if it can really compete with Ford’s Baja-conquering high-performance truck.
What about that new suspension?
Again, no off-road driving yet, so I can’t say if it’ll have a better outing than the old GR-S outside the asphalt. I do have high expectations, though, because the new GR-S does ride relatively well on properly paved roads.
Going to Clark, we were driving the Hilux Conquest, and I could say that the difference in the suspension setup of those two pickups is night and day. The Hilux GR-S might still feel a bit stiff for those who aren’t used to riding pickups, but for others—especially those who used to regularly drive or ride the non-GR-S Hilux—you’ll immediately feel the difference.
I can’t comment on handling yet either—we basically drove this on straight highways—but I acknowledge that there must be a proper comparison made in the future. This one has softer dampening and a wider track, after all, so there have to be significant changes here. But at least when maneuvering tight spaces, the steering now feels a bit lighter than the Conquest we were driving.
Can it really challenge the Ford Ranger Raptor?
On paper, the new Hilux GR-S makes for a solid Raptor rival. It’s not just the performance aspect, because Toyota’s new truck also undercuts the Ford it competes against. The new Toyota Hilux GR-S stickers for P2,166,000. You’d have to pay an extra P20,000 for the two-tone or the Emotional Red finish.
But as we all know, it’s not always about the spec-sheet. It still remains to be seen how exactly the Hilux GR-S will hold up against the Ranger Raptor. Let’s be honest: That’s quite a tall task. But at the very least, I can say that Toyota truly has something new that will not only shake up both its own lineup and the segment but also try to give the Raptor a run for its money. Ford hasn’t seen a real Raptor fighter.. ever, right? It better keep an eye out for this one.
