2024 Toyota HiLux GR Sport Review

There is no doubt that the 2024 Toyota HiLux GR Sport is THE BEST HiLux ever.

However, at just over $80,000 including on-road costs, that’s almost a given.

Australia’s best selling ute is receiving another trim level to go head-to-head with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X, adding some big additions including a new engine tune to provide 10% more power and torque than the regular HiLux. 

Although, with this generation having been on sale since 2015 the cracks are starting to show with the Toyota HiLux, with a dated interior, average driving dynamics and a questionably high price point to match.

Today we’re reviewing the all-new Toyota HiLux GR Sport to see whether the best Toyota HiLux on sale is in fact the best ute for you.

How much does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport cost?

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport will set you back $73,990 AUD before on-road costs. 

That does see it beat its main competitor - the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X - by $2,000 AUD, which sells for $75,990 AUD before on-road costs.. 

However, that does beat it out quite significantly in standard kit, including a roll-top tonneau, Ford’s flexible rack system, permanent 4wd, and more.

Still, it’s cheaper, so a win for HiLux there.

Here’s how much a dual-cab 4x4 HiLux will cost you:

• 2024 Toyota HiLux Workmate 2.4TD 6MT: $47,985 
• 2024 Toyota HiLux Workmate 2.4TD 6AT: $49,985
• 2024 Toyota HiLux SR 2.8TD 6MT: $52,445
• 2024 Toyota HiLux SR 2.8TD 6AT: $54,605
• 2024 Toyota HiLux SR5 2.8TD 6MT: $60,490
• 2024 Toyota HiLux SR5 2.8TD 6AT: $62,490
• 2024 Toyota HiLux Rogue 2.8TD 6AT: $70,760
• 2024 Toyota HiLux GR Sport 2.8TD 6AT: $73,990

Note, all prices are before on-road costs.

What’s the main difference for the HiLux GR Sport?

If you want the most off-road capable factory Toyota HiLux, then the GR Sport is your best bet.

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is heavily based on mechanical changes found in the similarly off-road capable HiLux Rogue, however, it deletes the rear sway bar for extra wheel articulation.

Despite sharing the same 135mm wider front track and 155mm wider rear track as the HiLux Rogue, the HiLux GR Sport also gain KYB monotube dampers which aids significantly for on-road performance.

Here’s a full list of all upgrades of the HiLux GR Sport versus a standard HiLux:

• Most powerful diesel engine ever fitted to a factory-produced HiLux with 165kW/550Nm.
• Extended front and rear tracks by 135mm and 155mm respectively compared to standard HiLux variants.
• Enhanced suspension set-up: Stands 15mm taller, Features KYB monotube dampers in all corners, Retuned springs (front coil, rear leaf).
• Deletion of the rear sway bar for extra articulation.
• Standard 265/65-series Bridgestone Dueler A/T tyres.
• Exclusive black Dakar-inspired alloy wheels.
• Disc brakes in all four corners: 338mm front rotors with four-piston callipers, 312mm rear discs with floating single-pots.
• Unique front bumper designed to improve approach angle.
• GR-specific black front grille with 'TOYOTA' block capital lettering.
• Widened bash plate, 2mm rock sliders, and red recovery points.
• Black rear bumper with pre-installed tow bar, tow ball, and trailer wiring harness.
• “Rally-inspired” leather-clad steering wheel with paddle shifters, red centre stripe, and GR logo.
• GR-branded sports front seats.
• Leather and suede upholstery.
• Red seat belts.
• Aluminium pedals.
• GR Sport shift lever.
• 'Technical Mesh' dashboard trim.
• All-weather floor mats.
• Nine-speaker JBL sound system.

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport definitely feels significantly different to a regular HiLux with all these changes - they may as well be different Utes!

What’s the interior and tech like of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

This is arguably the most disappointing and borderline unacceptable part of any HiLux, let alone the GR Sport.

At over $80,000 drive-away, the interior SHOULD NOT feel as lacklustre as it does.

Touch around and there are hard materials absolutely everywhere - on the dash, on the door and even the A-Pillars are wrapped in scratchy plastic.

That makes for a sound reflection chamber when driving on the road, with the agricultural sounding diesel entering into the cabin, including loads of road noise and wind noise bouncing off the hard, scratchy surfaces.

The interior already felt quite average when it first came out in 2015 according to reviews back then, and in 2023 it honestly feels as if Toyota haven’t given the love the HiLux requires or deserves.

The GR Sport does add some niceties to the cabin, including the “rally-inspired” leather steering wheel which does feel nice to hold onto and with some cool red-effects to it.

The leather and suede seats look great, feel nice and provide enough support for longer journeys - though some lumbar support would be nice.

The 9-speaker JBL sound system, although looking like an afterthought in how they are placed on the dashboard, do sound fantastic and provide a great if not a little bass heavy tone.

Storage too is genuinely fantastic, with a split glovebox design (including an aircon vent in the top glovebox to keep items cool - nice!) and cupholders in the dash.

In terms of charging, however, it is a bad situation. Just a single USB-A port up front with no wireless charger, which is a huge miss at this pricepoint.

There is, however, 2 x 12v sockets although you’ll need to buy an adapter to get those to charge anything. And also a household socket does live within the centre-armrest, which will power most work computers and is a good addition.

Although the 8.0-inch infotainment screen has had processor updates over the years, being surprisingly responsive, the graphics are very poor, the brightness is bad and again it feels like a 2015 unit.

It does come with Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which is nice, and also its great the air-conditioning controls aren’t relegated within the display like the Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok.

The instrument cluster in-front of the driver is also just ‘okay’, with a small low-resolution display in front of the driver with enough information, and a couple of analogue gauges.

If it sounds like I’m being critical, it’s because I am. You will find a nicer interior on the GWM Cannon, a ute half the price of the HiLux. Even the Isuzu D-Max, which I recently criticized for an ageing interior, feels far nicer than the HiLux GR Sport.

As I said in our full YouTube review, I’m really hoping Toyota releases a new generation HiLux soon with an updated interior that I know they can make fantastic - like in the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

To summarise, the interior of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport has fallen far behind the current meta of Utes.

What about the back seats of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

On a lighter note, the back seats of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport are up there with the best in class.

At 5’11”, I have plenty of leg-room behind my driving position, a good amount of toe-room and a decent amount of head-room too.

You can also lift up the back seats easily, and uncover some underfloor storage.

Although you do get 2 x air vents in the rear, there is no way to charge devices - which is a big miss for anyone with kids.

How much can fit in the tub of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

The Tub does have a couple of cool GR Sport easter-eggs, with a GR badge at the beginning (or end depending on your perspective) and a GR badge on the side. Neat little touches.

The tub is 1569mm long, 1645mm wide (1109mm wide between the wheel arches) and 470mm deep.

That’s actually quite good for the class in most areas.

It also has a plastic tub-liner as standard, but unlike the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X, there is no bed cover or sports bars.

Similarly, the tailgate has no assistance to it (like the torsion bar in the Ranger) which means it’s quite heavy to open and close. That may not be difficult for you, but for kids or the elderly it certainly might be.

What’s under the bonnet of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

My favourite thing about what Toyota have done with the HiLux GR Sport is the re-tune of the engine.

The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel now outputs 165kW of power (at 3000RPM) and 550Nm of torque (between 1600-2800rpm).

That’s up 10% versus the same engine in every other HiLux with that 2.8-litre engine.

And yes, even though it is just a software tune, no other factory produced HiLux will receive that power and torque bump.

The same 6-speed torque converter transmission comes standard, however it has also received a tuning update to provide snappier and sportier gear shifts.

All power is sent through a part-time four-wheel drive system, which means on sealed surfaces it is a rear-wheel drive Ute only.

Fuel economy is rated at 8.1L/100km (which is weirdly 0.3L/100km better than the HiLux Rogue), although we saw an average fuel economy of 10.3L/100km over our week of testing.

How does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport drive?

Immediately noticeable in the Toyota HiLux GR Sport is the engine tune.

The standard 2.8-litre engine tune is quite good already, but the extra power and torque in combination with the transmission retune makes a world of difference to how the HiLux performs on-road.

In fact, despite the larger Dueler All-Terrain tyres, we clocked the 0-100km/h sprint at just 9.94 seconds whilst in the wet.

That’s made more impressive when you consider the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X did the same sprint to 100km/h in 12.71 seconds with its bi-turbo 4 cylinder in the dry.

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is also relatively comfortable on the road, soaking up most bumps with ease thanks to the KYB monotube dampers. They aren’t quite Volkswagen Amarok levels of comfort, but still, comfortable enough.

However, the ride of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport is still relatively stiff which does make for some decent handling characteristics.

But when you do turn the steering wheel, the hydraulic system is borderline laborious to turn - especially at lower speeds. It’s always heavy, and not in the fun ‘connected to the road’ kind of way.

Also noticeable is how much the tail-end likes to come out in the wet. This is a pretty common issue for Utes - being rear wheel drive - however the HiLux’s key competitor, the Wildtrak X, comes with a permanent 4WD system. 

Sure, it makes the Wildtrak X slower in a straight line due to the added weight and drivetrain loss when sending power to the front wheels, but it also means that it feels much, much more secure on the road in wet weather.

Still, the wider track of the GR Sport does help to add grip on the road over say an SR5 trim HiLux, and so the Toyota HiLux is certainly still up towards the top of the pack in overall ride quality and performance.

As far as autonomous driving features are concerned, the HiLux also loses out. Its hydraulic steering rack means that unlike the Ford Ranger or Isuzu D-Max, it cannot steer itself in lane which means longer drives can become tiring.

Combined with heavy steering, it can mean that on big days of driving the HiLux is just less comfortable to live with then competitors.

How does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport perform off-road?

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport comes with a part-time 4WD system, with selectable four-wheel drive (2-high, 4-high and 4-low) and low range transfer case.

It also has a locking rear differential.

Because of the raised ride height (+20mm), the ground clearance of the GR Sport is quite good at 265mm.

Combined with a 2mm thick steel bash plate up front, the HiLux GR Sport is (hopefully) protected in case of any big bumps off-road.

The KYB monotube dampers, combined with taller coil springs up front and taller leaf spring in the rear, along with the deletion of the rear sway bar, means wheel articulation is the best on HiLux GR Sport versus every other HiLux.

Like the HiLux Rogue, for which the HiLux GR Sport shares much of its underpinnings with, the HiLux GR Sport has an improved approach angle of 30 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees due to the change in front and rear bumpers.

The regular HiLux has always been a go-to off-roader in the Ute segment, and the GR Sport is a continued step in the right direction.

Is the Toyota HiLux GR Sport Safe?

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is not ANCAP rated specifically.

However, the regular Toyota HiLux did receive a 5-star ANCAP safety rating when the facelifted HiLux was released in July 2019.

It received an adult occupant protection score of 96%, a child occupant protection score of 87%, a vulnerable road user protection score of 88% and a safety assist score of 78%.

Although not the most comprehensive list of active safety features, the HiLux GR Sport still comes with plenty of kit, including:

• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keeping assist (aka Active Yaw Control - it’s not very good)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Surround-view (360-degree) camera
• Seven airbags – dual front, front side, driver’s knee and full-length curtain

What are the specs and features of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

The Toyota HiLux comes with a relatively comprehensive list of standard equipment:

HiLux Workmate:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Two-speaker sound system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic headlights
• Air-conditioning
• Power windows
• Cloth upholstery
• Vinyl floors
• Halogen headlights and daytime running lights
• Reversing camera (Double Cab ute only)
• 16-inch wheels (17-inch in Double Cab, 4×4 variants)
• 4.2-inch information display
• Basic cruise control and turn-key ignition

HiLux SR (Adds over Workmate):

• Four- or six-speaker sound system (Extra Cab and Double Cab, respectively)
• Side steps
• Front air-conditioned cooler box
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Body-coloured door handles
• Colour-matching bodywork
• Premium fabric interior trim
• Improved seats
• Additional drive modes
• Rear differential lock

HiLux SR5 (Adds over SR):

• LED headlights, daytime running lights, and front fog lights
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Surround-view camera
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Privacy glass
• Dual-zone climate control air-conditioning
• Rear air vents (Double Cab only)
• Keyless entry and start
• Premium shifter and steering wheel
• Carpeted floors
• Chrome door handles
• Puddle lights
• 18-inch alloy wheels in a two-tone finish
• Stainless steel sports bar
• Additional power sockets
• Rear disc brakes
• Parking sensors
• Tow bar receiver
• Additional safety systems

HiLux SR5+ (Adds over SR5):

• Power driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather-accented upholstery

HiLux Rogue (Adds over SR5+):

• Nine-speaker JBL sound system (optional to downgrade to 6-speaker for a $750 credit)
• Motorised roller cover
• Widened track (+140mm)
• Raised suspension (+20mm)
• Rear stabiliser bar
• Ventilated rear disc brakes
• Wheel arch flares
• Mud flaps
• 18-inch wheels in a unique design
• Rogue-specific body colour options and contrasting trim items
• 'Wide-track' over fenders
• 'Marine-grade' tub liner
• Resin-finished sports bar
• LED lighting for the tray
• Standard leather interior trim
• Eight-way power adjustable driver's seat

HiLux GR Sport (Adds over SR5+):

• Most powerful diesel engine ever fitted to a factory-produced HiLux with 165kW/550Nm.
• Extended front and rear tracks by 135mm and 155mm respectively compared to standard HiLux variants.
• Enhanced suspension set-up: Stands 15mm taller, Features KYB monotube dampers in all corners, Retuned springs (front coil, rear leaf), Deletion of the rear sway bar for extra articulation.
• Standard 265/65-series Bridgestone Dueler A/T tyres.
• Exclusive black Dakar-inspired alloy wheels.
• Disc brakes in all four corners: 338mm front rotors with four-piston callipers, 312mm rear discs with floating single-pots.
• Unique front bumper designed to improve approach angle.
• GR-specific black front grille with 'TOYOTA' block capital lettering.
• Widened bash plate, 2mm rock sliders, and red recovery points.
• Black rear bumper with pre-installed tow bar, tow ball, and trailer wiring harness.

• “Rally-inspired” leather-clad steering wheel with paddle shifters, red centre stripe, and GR logo.
• GR-branded sports front seats.
• Leather and suede upholstery.
• Red seat belts.
• Aluminium pedals.
• GR Sport shift lever.
• 'Technical Mesh' dashboard trim.
• All-weather floor mats.
• Nine-speaker JBL sound system.

How much can the Toyota HiLux GR Sport tow?

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is rated to tow 3.5 tonnes in braked towing capacity, or 750kg unbraked.

However (THIS IS IMPORTANT!), because of the increased weight of the GR Sport versus a standard HiLux, the maximum payload capacity of the HiLux GR Sport is just 780kg (curb weight is 2270kg and gross vehicle mass is 3050kg).

The Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is 5850kg.

When a 3.5 tonne payload is connected onto the tow-ball the weight of the payload means that just over ~80kg is left for the payload. That would mean that I, for instance, could not legally drive the HiLux because I would be over the rated weight for the Ute.

Keep that in mind if you’re purchasing a Toyota HiLux GR Sport for heavy towing, a regular SR5 would be better in that instance.

How much does the Toyota HiLux GR Sport cost to run?

The Toyota HiLux comes with a 5-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.

This extends out to 7 years for the drivetrain when you have your logbook maintenance carried out (best of all, it doesn’t need to be done with Toyota - which is great for rural / remote buyers!)

Servicing is required very often: every 6 months or 10,000 kilometers.

And with the cost per service at about $280, that means $560 dollars a year for the first 3-years of capped price servicing.

That makes it almost double the cost and frequency of servicing versus a Ford Ranger ($330 per year for the first 4 years, 12 months or 15,000 kilometers)

What’s CarSauce’s take on the Toyota HiLux GR Sport?

At CarSauce we give our honest truth and expert opinion on every car we review, from supercars to Utes.

That means we need to be honest about the Toyota HiLux GR Sport too, which is that in isolation it’s not at all a bad ute - but when you consider the competition, the Toyota HiLux GR Sport falls well behind the mark.

Although the engine is great and so is the transmission, the driving experience is let down by an old steering rack system, poor cabin refinement and just okay ride comfort.

The interior space feels old - but even worse feels cheap, which is not acceptable at over $80,000 dollars drive-away.

Standard kit as well is also quite a lot less than its closest rival, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X.

I’m still rooting for the Toyota HiLux though, considering some of the epic vehicles they’ve recently released - like the Toyota Corolla Cross - it’s clear that with a bit of passion, Toyota can still make class-leading cars (or Utes, for that matter).

But what do you think about the Toyota HiLux GR Sport? Let us know in the comments section below!