The Toyota Hilux has always had a reputation as one of Australia’s toughest and most dependable utes. From farms to worksites and everything in between, it’s the kind of vehicle that Australians have trusted for decades. But in recent years, Toyota has recognised that many owners don’t just want durability and practicality, they also want performance, refinement, and a touch of sportiness and something that looks great on the road. Enter the Toyota Hilux GR Sport, the most performance-focused diesel HiLux Australia has seen.
With a 10% power boost, a sophisticated new suspension package, and styling that leans heavily into Toyota’s Gazoo Racing DNA, the GR Sport delivers a more engaging driving experience while retaining the everyday usability that has made the HiLux such a staple. From the countryside to the city, we found it to be the perfect mix of ruggedness and comfort, blending weekend practicality with weekday dependability.
Design and Presence
The Hilux GR Sport immediately stands out with its styling. Finished in an all-black exterior, our vehicle had a commanding presence that was both subtle and aggressive. Unlike some utes that rely on oversized chrome accents or excessive decals, the GR Sport gets its message across with clean, confident lines and tasteful details.
The wide stance, flared wheel arches, and unique GR badging hint at its performance-focused nature, while the 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres add a purposeful edge. Around town, it turns heads without screaming for attention. Parked in the driveway, it looks impressive, like a vehicle that belongs everywhere, and can go anywhere.
Power and Performance
At the heart of the Hilux GR Sport is a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. While that might sound familiar, Toyota has turned the dial up. The GR Sport gets a 10% power boost, taking output to 165kW and 550Nm of torque. That’s a serious figure, and it puts the GR Sport at the top of the HiLux diesel range.
The six-speed automatic transmission, paired with paddle shifters, offers more control than you might expect in a ute. Around town, shifts are smooth and predictable. Out on the highway, the extra torque makes overtaking feel easy, while towing heavy loads or tackling steep climbs is no challenge at all. The GR Sport isn’t trying to be a sports car, but it does inject a level of responsiveness and engagement that elevates it above the standard HiLux range.
Handling and Suspension
Perhaps the biggest transformation lies in the suspension. Toyota has fitted KYB monotube shocks, stiffer coils, and improved damping. This combination doesn’t just toughen the Hilux, it makes it sharper, more stable, and more confidence-inspiring on rough tracks. Heat dissipation has been improved, meaning the suspension continues to perform even under prolonged punishment.
On gravel backroads, the GR Sport feels planted and composed. It soaks up ruts and corrugations while maintaining steering precision, something that can be hard to achieve in a vehicle of this size. On highways, the ride is surprisingly smooth, with the suspension tuning striking a balance between firmness and comfort. It’s a setup that feels equally at home navigating country tracks or cruising between cities.
Everyday Practicality
Living with the Hilux GR Sport highlights its versatility. The double-cab design with four doors and five seats makes it family-friendly, accommodating kids, friends, the family dog or workmates without feeling cramped. The cabin layout is functional but comfortable, with premium materials and supportive seats that make long drives less tiring.
On weekends, we used the tray to pick up bulky items for the garden, and it swallowed them with ease. The payload capacity of 780kg means you can throw just about anything in the back, whether it’s tools, supplies, or camping gear. During the week, it proved just as useful for smaller tasks, like school drop-offs, grocery runs, or running errands around town. It’s the kind of ute you don’t have to plan your day around, whatever you need to do, it’s ready.
Interior and Comfort
Step inside the Hilux GR Sport, and it’s clear Toyota wanted the interior to feel special. There are GR-branded sports seats, red stitching and seatbelts and subtle design touches that distinguish it from the rest of the range. The driving position is high and commanding, offering excellent visibility, while the steering wheel feels chunky and confidence-inspiring.
Technology-wise, the GR Sport is well equipped. There’s an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a crisp instrument cluster, and convenient features like dual-zone climate control. The cabin isn’t trying to be luxury SUV-like, but it’s polished enough that spending hours behind the wheel never feels like a chore.
Technology and Features
The GR Sport comes loaded with features that make life easier. Smart entry and push-button start are standard, as are multiple USB ports and plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin. The infotainment system is straightforward and intuitive, though not as cutting-edge as some rivals.
Driver assistance features are well covered too. Adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and a pre-collision safety system add an extra layer of reassurance, particularly on longer drives. The reversing camera is clear and accurate, making manoeuvring such a large vehicle in tight spaces far less intimidating.
Towing and Payload
Utility remains a central part of the Hilux GR Sport’s appeal. With a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, it can comfortably tow boats, trailers, or caravans. During our time with it, hitching up a mid-sized trailer was straightforward, and the GR Sport barely flinched under the load.
The tray itself is wide and practical, while the 780kg payload ensures you can haul heavy equipment or supplies without hesitation. It’s this combination of power, towing ability, and payload capacity that makes the Hilux GR Sport so versatile. Whether for work or play, it’s always up for the task.
Out in the Countryside
Where the Hilux GR Sport truly shines is in the countryside. Gravel roads, muddy tracks, and uneven terrain are dispatched with ease thanks to its tuned suspension and four-wheel-drive system. Driving it out of the city feels natural, like it was designed to spend its life exploring rural backroads and farm tracks.
On one trip, we ventured into rolling hills and found the GR Sport made the experience effortless. The combination of torque, suspension travel, and ground clearance meant we didn’t need to think twice about where we were going, it simply got on with the job. For anyone who lives regionally or enjoys weekend escapes to the country, this ute feels right at home.
The Experience
Having the Hilux GR Sport in the driveway gave us a newfound sense of convenience. It was always ready, whether for work, a quick family trip, or a weekend project. Unlike some vehicles that feel specialised or limited in their use, the Hilux GR Sport is a true all-rounder.
The black-on-black styling gives it a premium edge, while its performance and practicality mean you don’t have to compromise. It’s just as comfortable parked outside a café as it is covered in dust from a weekend adventure. That duality is what makes it so appealing, it adapts to your lifestyle rather than asking you to adapt to it.
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport is the embodiment of what many Australian drivers want: toughness, reliability, and performance, blended with comfort, style, and everyday usability, capable of handling the Aussie roads. With 165kW of power, 550Nm of torque, a 3500kg towing capacity, and suspension tuned for Australian conditions, it’s as capable as they come.
But it’s the way it integrates into daily life that impressed us most. From family duties to countryside adventures, from hauling gear to tackling the commute, the Hilux GR Sport never feels out of place. If you want a ute that can handle it all, work, play, and everything in between, the Hilux GR Sport may just be the perfect fit. To see more visit here.
The Toyota Hilux has always had a reputation as one of Australia’s toughest and most dependable utes. From farms to worksites and everything in between, it’s the kind of vehicle that Australians have trusted for decades. But in recent years, Toyota has recognised that many owners don’t just want durability and practicality, they also want performance, refinement, and a touch of sportiness and something that looks great on the road. Enter the Toyota Hilux GR Sport, the most performance-focused diesel HiLux Australia has seen.
With a 10% power boost, a sophisticated new suspension package, and styling that leans heavily into Toyota’s Gazoo Racing DNA, the GR Sport delivers a more engaging driving experience while retaining the everyday usability that has made the HiLux such a staple. From the countryside to the city, we found it to be the perfect mix of ruggedness and comfort, blending weekend practicality with weekday dependability.
Design and Presence
The Hilux GR Sport immediately stands out with its styling. Finished in an all-black exterior, our vehicle had a commanding presence that was both subtle and aggressive. Unlike some utes that rely on oversized chrome accents or excessive decals, the GR Sport gets its message across with clean, confident lines and tasteful details.
The wide stance, flared wheel arches, and unique GR badging hint at its performance-focused nature, while the 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres add a purposeful edge. Around town, it turns heads without screaming for attention. Parked in the driveway, it looks impressive, like a vehicle that belongs everywhere, and can go anywhere.
Power and Performance
At the heart of the Hilux GR Sport is a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. While that might sound familiar, Toyota has turned the dial up. The GR Sport gets a 10% power boost, taking output to 165kW and 550Nm of torque. That’s a serious figure, and it puts the GR Sport at the top of the HiLux diesel range.
The six-speed automatic transmission, paired with paddle shifters, offers more control than you might expect in a ute. Around town, shifts are smooth and predictable. Out on the highway, the extra torque makes overtaking feel easy, while towing heavy loads or tackling steep climbs is no challenge at all. The GR Sport isn’t trying to be a sports car, but it does inject a level of responsiveness and engagement that elevates it above the standard HiLux range.
Handling and Suspension
Perhaps the biggest transformation lies in the suspension. Toyota has fitted KYB monotube shocks, stiffer coils, and improved damping. This combination doesn’t just toughen the Hilux, it makes it sharper, more stable, and more confidence-inspiring on rough tracks. Heat dissipation has been improved, meaning the suspension continues to perform even under prolonged punishment.
On gravel backroads, the GR Sport feels planted and composed. It soaks up ruts and corrugations while maintaining steering precision, something that can be hard to achieve in a vehicle of this size. On highways, the ride is surprisingly smooth, with the suspension tuning striking a balance between firmness and comfort. It’s a setup that feels equally at home navigating country tracks or cruising between cities.
Everyday Practicality
Living with the Hilux GR Sport highlights its versatility. The double-cab design with four doors and five seats makes it family-friendly, accommodating kids, friends, the family dog or workmates without feeling cramped. The cabin layout is functional but comfortable, with premium materials and supportive seats that make long drives less tiring.
On weekends, we used the tray to pick up bulky items for the garden, and it swallowed them with ease. The payload capacity of 780kg means you can throw just about anything in the back, whether it’s tools, supplies, or camping gear. During the week, it proved just as useful for smaller tasks, like school drop-offs, grocery runs, or running errands around town. It’s the kind of ute you don’t have to plan your day around, whatever you need to do, it’s ready.
Interior and Comfort
Step inside the Hilux GR Sport, and it’s clear Toyota wanted the interior to feel special. There are GR-branded sports seats, red stitching and seatbelts and subtle design touches that distinguish it from the rest of the range. The driving position is high and commanding, offering excellent visibility, while the steering wheel feels chunky and confidence-inspiring.
Technology-wise, the GR Sport is well equipped. There’s an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a crisp instrument cluster, and convenient features like dual-zone climate control. The cabin isn’t trying to be luxury SUV-like, but it’s polished enough that spending hours behind the wheel never feels like a chore.
Technology and Features
The GR Sport comes loaded with features that make life easier. Smart entry and push-button start are standard, as are multiple USB ports and plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin. The infotainment system is straightforward and intuitive, though not as cutting-edge as some rivals.
Driver assistance features are well covered too. Adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and a pre-collision safety system add an extra layer of reassurance, particularly on longer drives. The reversing camera is clear and accurate, making manoeuvring such a large vehicle in tight spaces far less intimidating.
Towing and Payload
Utility remains a central part of the Hilux GR Sport’s appeal. With a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, it can comfortably tow boats, trailers, or caravans. During our time with it, hitching up a mid-sized trailer was straightforward, and the GR Sport barely flinched under the load.
The tray itself is wide and practical, while the 780kg payload ensures you can haul heavy equipment or supplies without hesitation. It’s this combination of power, towing ability, and payload capacity that makes the Hilux GR Sport so versatile. Whether for work or play, it’s always up for the task.
Out in the Countryside
Where the Hilux GR Sport truly shines is in the countryside. Gravel roads, muddy tracks, and uneven terrain are dispatched with ease thanks to its tuned suspension and four-wheel-drive system. Driving it out of the city feels natural, like it was designed to spend its life exploring rural backroads and farm tracks.
On one trip, we ventured into rolling hills and found the GR Sport made the experience effortless. The combination of torque, suspension travel, and ground clearance meant we didn’t need to think twice about where we were going, it simply got on with the job. For anyone who lives regionally or enjoys weekend escapes to the country, this ute feels right at home.
The Experience
Having the Hilux GR Sport in the driveway gave us a newfound sense of convenience. It was always ready, whether for work, a quick family trip, or a weekend project. Unlike some vehicles that feel specialised or limited in their use, the Hilux GR Sport is a true all-rounder.
The black-on-black styling gives it a premium edge, while its performance and practicality mean you don’t have to compromise. It’s just as comfortable parked outside a café as it is covered in dust from a weekend adventure. That duality is what makes it so appealing, it adapts to your lifestyle rather than asking you to adapt to it.
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport is the embodiment of what many Australian drivers want: toughness, reliability, and performance, blended with comfort, style, and everyday usability, capable of handling the Aussie roads. With 165kW of power, 550Nm of torque, a 3500kg towing capacity, and suspension tuned for Australian conditions, it’s as capable as they come.
But it’s the way it integrates into daily life that impressed us most. From family duties to countryside adventures, from hauling gear to tackling the commute, the Hilux GR Sport never feels out of place. If you want a ute that can handle it all, work, play, and everything in between, the Hilux GR Sport may just be the perfect fit. To see more visit here.
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