This 2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport Is A Genuine Ranger Raptor Rival

At this point, you know what the Toyota Hilux GR Sport looks like. It’s essentially a slightly sportier version of the current Hilux, but it’s far from being a true Ranger Raptor competitor. Things have changed for the Hilux GR Sport it seems, and it’s turned into the sport truck that we’ve been begging Toyota to build.

For now, this model has been developed by Toyota Australia for their market. It is still unknown whether it’ll be sold elsewhere. Unlike the Hilux GR Sport for Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, the Australian version comes with a Dakar-inspired design–characterized by its gaping grille and wide fenders to accommodate the wider track. As a matter of fact, the Australian Hilux GR Sport is 140 mm wider at the front wheels and the rear axle is 155 mm wider.

The chassis upgrades aren’t just limited to the wider track, because the suspension receives new monotube shocks on all four wheels, which feature higher damping force and heat-dissipation capacity. There are also stiffer coil springs up front, redesigned wishbones, and a reinforced rear axle–which still comes with leaf springs it seems. Topping it all off are larger disc brakes on all four wheels.

Matching those chassis upgrades is a familiar 2.8-liter turbo diesel engine that’s been tuned to produce 221 hp and 550 Nm of torque–an increase of 20 hp and 50 Nm. This is thanks to “revised turbo-supercharging and fuel-injection control”. We’re not sure what they meant on the supercharging part because the Hilux’s diesel engine doesn’t come with one in the first place. All of that power is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic. While the Hilux GR Sport’s power figures sound delicious, the new Ford Ranger Raptor’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 produces significantly more horses at 392, but roughly the same torque.

The interior of the Australian Hilux GR Sport, however, looks unchanged from the standard model–or even the Asian and European Hilux GR Sport. This means that it gets the exact same GR Sport goodies as those models, such as the steering, seats, carpets, push-button starter, and gauge animation.

The 2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport is going on sale in Australian showrooms in the second half of 2023. Here’s to hoping that it’s a special edition Hilux that will be brought to the Philippines as well.