Finally, a true Ford Ranger Raptor contender lands on our shores. The 2024 Toyota Hilux GR Sport has more than just decals and badges giving it street and off-road cred—this is quite a big upgrade over the previous model, which was more GR Sport in name, but not in spirit.
We were able to take it out on a quick drive during the last leg of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup 2023, and we guarantee the improvements were apparent over the brief time we had with this Dakar-inspired truck. Click play on the video above for our initial impressions.
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We were able to take it out on a quick drive during the last leg of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup 2023, and we guarantee the improvements were apparent over the brief time we had with this Dakar-inspired truck. Click play on the video above for our initial impressions.
Dig cars?
Read more about cars and motoring here: http://www.topgear.com.ph
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TopGearPH
Tweet us: http://www.twitter.com/TopGearPH
Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TopGearPH
Join us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topgearph
#topgearph #toyotahilux #gazooracing
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MotorTranscript
00:00 For years, Ford has dominated the high-performance pickup segment with the Ford Ranger Raptor.
00:06 There was basically nothing that could compete with it, but now Toyota Motor Philippines
00:11 has the ultimate answer to that Raptor.
00:14 Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the new Toyota Hilux GR-S.
00:18 [Music]
00:30 Before you comment on anything about stickers and decals and whatnot, this isn't anything
00:37 like the old GR-S Hilux.
00:40 The new one has a lot of mechanical upgrades to it, but before we get to that, let's check
00:44 out the exterior first.
00:46 Now, as you can see, it has this menacing new grille with that chunky black plastic
00:51 trim on the hood and the embossed Toyota badge up front.
00:54 Of course, it also has the GR emblem right here.
00:57 You might also notice that the new Hilux GR-S also has a chunky new fender.
01:03 And underneath these fenders, you have these large 17-inch wheels with chunky Bridgestone
01:08 tires all around.
01:10 This is much wider than the regular Hilux because the Hilux GR-S now has a wider tread.
01:16 You also have this large sport bar at the back, and you have what appear to be larger
01:21 mud flaps underneath.
01:25 At the back, you have this gloss black finish on the bumper, more blacked-out bits, and
01:29 of course, another GR sport badge here.
01:32 What Toyota changed here basically, not just the wider tread, but there's a new engine
01:36 under the hood, and it has a new and improved GR suspension, which we will be able to try
01:42 out in a bit.
01:43 We're not gonna give you a tour of the cabin anymore because they didn't really change
01:46 much about the interior, save for the GR seats and the red seatbelts, so let's just head
01:51 straight to driving.
01:53 So we're finally behind the wheel of the new Toyota Hilux GR-S, and right off the bat,
02:01 let me tell you this.
02:02 This is one comfortable truck.
02:04 Actually, I wouldn't even call it a truck anymore because it kind of rides like a proper
02:10 SUV because it's a lot more comfortable, it's softer than the old Hilux.
02:15 We drove the Hilux Conquest going to Clark, and I can confirm that from there to here
02:23 is a huge improvement.
02:24 Now we just moved on to smoother asphalt, and man, this just feels great.
02:31 It's a lot more comfortable to drive because the steering is just a lot lighter.
02:34 The old one was also still electronic power steering, but I guess they improved it in
02:38 the new GR-S.
02:39 Maybe it felt like when Anton was driving the old Innova versus the Zenix, the truckishness
02:47 was gone.
02:48 Well, here, it's not gone, but it's so much better.
02:51 As far as performance goes, I'm sure a lot of you are curious about that one.
02:55 In case you haven't seen it yet, the new GR-S Hilux is powered by a new and improved 2.8-liter
03:02 turbo diesel that churns out 224 hp and a whopping 550 Nm of torque, making it now the
03:11 best in its class.
03:12 It's now more powerful than its direct competitor, the Ford Ranger Raptor, and compared to the
03:18 old turbo diesel, which was already impressive, by the way, this one just feels a lot smoother.
03:23 This is a brand-new unit.
03:24 It just has about 80 kilometers on it, but the difference is staggering.
03:31 It's smoother.
03:32 It accelerates smoother, and I'm sure on the highway, you're gonna feel that.
03:36 What I am eager to try out, though, is how it's gonna hold up off-road because this does
03:43 feel like a very off-road-ready truck.
03:46 It was Dakar-inspired after all, and I'm curious about how the turbo diesel, how the new and
03:51 improved GR suspension, and how the wider track is gonna perform when you take it, say,
03:57 jungle-based or probably Secovia River.
04:00 Speaking of off-roading, once we are able to try this out for a proper review, we are
04:05 gonna do a proper big test between this and the Ranger Raptor.
04:08 I'm sure a lot of you are gonna be asking for that one.
04:12 Now for the biggest question, how much is it?
04:15 Well, the new Toyota Hilux GR-S stickers for Php 2,186,000, which makes it just a few hundred
04:22 Ks above the Conquest.
04:25 Is it a segment shaker?
04:26 We haven't tried it out enough yet, but we think it will be.
04:30 [Music]