The Toyota GR Yaris — a vehicle we adored
— set our expectations high when we heard about a GR-badged Hilux. The pickup, known globally for its robustness and reliability, would be a hoot with more power, more performance and more off-road capability, taking the fight to the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Toyota told us that the Hilux GR Sport draws inspiration from its Dakar-winning GR DKR Hilux T1+, but it turns out that the word ‘inspiration’ does a lot of heavy lifting.
What we’ve ended up with is a Hilux that features some ‘GR Sport’ badges rather than ‘GR’. For those that know what the Gazoo Racing (which is where the GR comes from) division of Toyota can do, it might as well read ‘GR Lite’.
Visually, there are some bolt-on cosmetic parts, a black grille with bold TOYOTA logo, a dash of carbon fibre, some bright red detailing, and GR badges everywhere. Under the skin, you’ll find a bit of an adjustment to the suspension.
What you won’t find is more power, as it makes do with the same 2.8-litre diesel engine you’ll find in the regular Hilux, the same six-speed automatic gearbox and the same all-wheel drive system.
Toyota Hilux GR Sport: Cabin
Putting some deeply sculpted sports seats inside a working pickup truck initially feels out of place, but a blend of faux-carbon fibre with retro red highlighting and a mix of suede and leather trim somehow brings it all together, even if there’s a subtle 1980s vibe.
Despite those bold additions and more GR logos, the cabin remains much as it has done since the latest Hilux was introduced in 2020.
That means there’s an 8.0-inch infotainment screen mounted high up on the dashboard that’s a generation (and more) behind its rivals. It’s functional but slow, with dated graphics and a tricky user interface. Happily, there’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can skip Toyota’s software and use something more modern and familiar.
Those leather and suede-clad sports seats are comfortable and supportive, although the seats in the regular pickup are a little more luxurious. There’s plenty of head and shoulder room up front, with the rear seats offering almost as much space. Only an adult passenger in the rear centre seat will have any cause to complain, but that’s the case in each of the Hilux’s rivals.
Most won’t find any issue with in-cabin storage, with large door bins, multiple cup holders, and a sizable glove box. The rear seat can also fold down, revealing another compact yet secure storage space.
Toyota Hilux GR Sport: On the Road
The challenge of striking a balance between comfort and capability in pickup trucks is one few have mastered; to have a vehicle that can carry a tonne, you need somewhat stiffer suspension than you might like, so Toyota’s decision to firm up the GR Sport even further is a brave one.
Out on the motorway, the Hilux GR Sport delivers a reasonably pleasing experience, mirroring the familiar ride of other Hilux models. It moves around a little, but it’s quite refined by pickup standards. However, it falls apart at low speeds, where the stiffened front end adds some dynamic qualities to the handling but results in barely acceptable ride quality.
There’s little payback for the discomfort. While cornering is sharper, with the GR Sport resisting roll impressively, it’s undermined by fitting the truck with all-terrain tyres that slip and shudder as you would expect.
All-wheel drive offers plenty of traction off-road, but you shouldn’t use that on tarmac, which means you’re limited to rear-wheel drive for most motoring. With 500Nm of torque available, it’s easy to spin up an inside rear wheel on a corner, but that’s no different from any other pickup.
Get the power down, and it’ll sprint to 62mph in 10.7 seconds, although it never feels quite as quick as that; the engine has to be worked hard to extract the most from it, where it gets very noisy and reveals its lack of refinement. It’s quiet and smooth when cruising, though, and where the GR Sport is at its best.
Despite the changes, ultimate off-road capability doesn’t appear to have been compromised. While we only put the GR Sport to some light off-road duties during our time with the pickup, it maintains its 310mm ground clearance, approach and departure angles (29° and 26°), and a 700mm wading depth.
Toyota Hilux GR Sport: Economy and Running Costs
The Hilux GR Sport commands a considerable price as the top-of-the-range model in its lineup. Toyota’s asking £40,528 (plus VAT) for it, making it over £1,800 more expensive than the Invincible X, the model it’s based on. As it can carry a tonne of cargo, reclaiming the VAT on the Hilux GR Sport should be straightforward and please business users.
Fuel economy is something to consider, especially if you cover a lot of miles. Anything weighing 2.3 tonnes and powered by a 2.8-litre engine will never be described as frugal, but the 29.6mpg we got from the pickup was arguably better than we might have expected. That said, the official fuel economy figure is 28.5-30.0mpg, so we were bang in the middle of that range.
As with all Toyotas, the Hilux GR Sport is backed by the manufacturer’s impressive Toyota Relax warranty package. This service-activated warranty can see your Hilux covered for up to 10 years, although there are caveats, of course.
Toyota equips the Hilux with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, trailer sway control, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist, which should help to keep you clear of any accidents, reducing repair costs.
Toyota Hilux GR Sport: Payload and Towing
Despite its ‘hot’ model status, the Hilux GR Sport maintains practical cargo-carrying capabilities. Its payload capacity marginally exceeds the one-tonne mark, crucial for VAT considerations, standing at 1,010kg.
The load box is almost perfectly square, measuring 1,525mm in length and 1,540mm in width. This size places it in the middle of its class: it offers a smaller loading area than competitors like the Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok but surpasses the Isuzu D-Max in bed size, but it’s all fairly marginal.
As with every Hilux, the GR Sport will tow 3.5 tonnes, but the gross train weight is limited to 6,300kg, meaning it can’t two the maximum weight and carry the maximum allowable payload at the same time — you’ll have 3,975kg to split between the pickup and its trailer.
Toyota Hilux GR Sport: Verdict
The Hilux GR Sport’s aesthetic is its appeal, although we can’t help but think that larger wheels and a wider track would help to fill those sizable wheel arches. The interior is a delightful blend of retro touches and plush materials but does feel a little dated in places.
Its off-road capabilities also remain a standout feature, and it’s impressive that Toyota has preserved this strength without compromising on-road performance.
However, the suspension modifications in the GR Sport are less favourable. If we could combine the GR Sport’s cosmetic upgrades with the mechanicals of the Invincible X model, we feel this would be a near-perfect working truck that doubles as family transport.
Despite the delightful touches, the GR Sport is a little too compromised to heartily recommend. Save some cash and opt for the Invincible X instead.
- Pickup registrations fall for 10th month as tax changes hit market - 10 August 2026
- Toyota adds commercial two-seat Hilux conversion - 10 August 2026
- Chery invests $75m in KGM as Korean manufacturer expands Chinese technology partnerships - 3 August 2026