Review – Toyota Hilux GR Sport (2025), the ultimate Hilux?
Off-road Toyota Hilux GR Sport
Upon seeing the Toyota Hilux GR Sport, the message is immediately clear. This pickup is tailored for power and off-road capability. The double cab offers space for five, while under the hood is a familiar 2.8-liter diesel engine, an engine that has been in the Hilux lineup since 2020. Good for 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm of torque. Shifting is done with a six-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. The pickup’s controls feel nice and old school, and the turbodiesel has a nice nostalgic sound. Toyota clearly developed this model with durability in mind. So don’t expect soft trim on the dashboard, but robust harder plastics.
Wider and higher
The new GR Sport version is distinguished mainly by its wider track width. At the front the pickup is 135 millimeters wider than the standard Hilux, at the rear even 155 millimeters. Combined with 20 mm extra ground clearance (now 323 mm) and a modified suspension, this ensures more stability, even in rough terrain. The front bumper has been redesigned, with improved aerodynamics and reduced drag around the wheel arches.
In addition, the off-road angle has been increased: from 29 to 30 degrees. This gives just a little more clearance during rougher off-roading. Monotube shock absorbers replace the earlier twin-tube dampers and improve responsiveness to bumps and potholes. An aerosport bar and cover over the cargo box also help with straight-line stability at higher speeds.
Towing and loading capacity
With a towing weight of 3,500 kg and a payload of 1,105 kg, the Toyota Hilux GR Sport meets the demands of serious work users. The combination of a robust ladder chassis and all-terrain tires in size 265/65R17 makes it suitable for rough terrain, towing, or both at the same time. The new 17-inch alloy wheels are also lighter than before. Rear drum brakes have been replaced by 15-inch discs for more powerful braking. In front, the 17-inch brake discs remain.
Toyota HILUX GR Sport (2025): workhorse with tracksuit – REVIEW – AutoRAI TV
Appearance: black, red and GR
From the outside, the GR Sport is instantly recognizable by black fender extensions, a black grille with G mesh and the classic Toyota logo. Door handles, mirrors and side steps are also finished in black. Red brake calipers and GR Sport logos complete the picture. The front bumper has a silver protective plate; at the rear, the bumper is also black. Inside, black and red dominate. Sport seats with black leather and suede feature silver stitching and perforations. Red seat belts provide a striking contrast. The seats and steering wheel are heatable, but that’s okay for the price. We’ll come back to that in a moment.
Multimedia and security
The infotainment system consists of an 8-inch touchscreen with physical buttons and a fixed menu on the driver’s side. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Navigation works through the cloud with real-time traffic info, or offline through the built-in system.
In terms of safety, things are good: Toyota Safety Sense is standard, including adaptive cruise control, Pre-Collision System with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Trace Assist, automatic high beam, traffic sign recognition and trailer stability control.
Maximum control in the Hilux GR Sport
The GR Sport rides more stably than earlier versions, thanks mainly to wider track width and improved damping. Grip on loose terrain is firm, thanks in part to the all-terrain tires and electronics that quickly correct grip loss. The steering is direct and offers sufficient feedback, although it sometimes feels a bit nervous at higher speeds on asphalt. Moreover, a Hilux also drives better with load than without. With load there is more calmness in the car, while without load the car becomes a bit bouncy.
Cappadocia as the ultimate proving grounds
During an extreme test in Turkish Cappadocia – an area of tuff, lava rubble, boulders and steep trails – the GR Sport proved itself a capable climber. The terrain was varied: dry river beds, loose rocks and sandy slopes. The modified shock absorbers filtered out a lot, without losing contact with the surface. Off-roading is child’s play in this pickup. Even when you think you can’t go any further, this Toyota simply takes you to the final destination and back again. It is unprecedented how much development work goes into this Hilux. It has to be, because Toyota sells it in all countries worldwide except China and the United States. Otherwise, the Hilux is a global player. Therefore, the pickup should be able to hold its own in any scenario. That confidence is certainly there.
Cappadocia is a region with a striking landscape composed of soft tuff, created by volcanic eruptions, and limestone in which karst phenomena can be seen. Because these rocks wear away at different rates due to erosion, an erratic and irregular landscape has been created. In caves created by karst formation, churches were later built. The region was formed by geological processes such as plate tectonics: the African continent shifted toward Eurasia, pushing smaller continents such as Italy and Turkey forward.
Ash rains and lava
About 60 million years ago, Europe and Asia collided, leading to mountain formation and prolonged volcanic activity. Ash rains and lava, including from Hasan Dağı volcano, covered the area. The ash layer solidified into tuff, and in some eruptions, lava flowed and hardened into solid pumice. Through millions of years of wind, rain and the action of the Kızılırmak River, the landscape continued to erode.
In places where hard lava rock came to the surface, it remained as a “protective cap,” while the softer tuff around it continued to be eroded. This created the familiar cone-shaped rocks. Where these protective layers were missing, rivers carved out broad table formations and deep ravines. As early as prehistoric times, people began working the soft tuff. The cones were eroded into dwellings. People lived in these caves until the 1950s. Now many rocks and cones can still be recognized by their eroded openings, making some parts of the landscape look like hole cheese.
Cappadocia is known not only for its unique landscape, but also for its many hot-air balloon rides. Dozens of balloons take off at the same time every day in the morning. Part of Cappadocia, including Göreme National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Points of interest Toyota Hilux GR Sport
The quality of the parking camera lags behind the rest of the equipment. The image is grainy and has little depth, which is a missed opportunity off-road. The steering column also has limited adjustment, particularly the depth adjustment. For some drivers, this makes it difficult to find a proper seating position. In addition, the pickup is very pricey. The price in the Netherlands comes to 72,284 euros, excluding VAT and including 20,834 euros bpm. On yellow license plates it is completely crazy. Then we are talking about a recommended retail price of 167,550 euros, including – do not be alarmed – 106,963 euros in bpm. Whew!
Conclusion
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport 2025 has been firmly upgraded. More track width, improved suspension, stronger brakes and more comfort provide better performance on and off the road. For those looking for a rugged pickup with extra sporty trim and better handling, this is the most complete as well as the most ultimate Toyota Hilux to date. It is a workhorse in a tracksuit.
Technical specifications Toyota Hilux GR Sport 2025
- Engine: 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV four-cylinder turbodiesel
- Engine capacity: 2,755 cc
- Power: 150 kW (204 hp) between 3,000 and 3,400 rpm
- Torque: 500 Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 Nm
- Top speed: 175 km/h
- 0-100 km/h: 10.7 seconds
- Weight: 2,125 to 2,355 kilograms
- Towing weight braked: 3,500 kilograms
- Unbraked towing weight: 750 kilograms
- Length: 5,325 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,085 mm
- Width: 2,020 mm
- Height: 1,880 mm
- CO2 emissions (WLTP): 280 g/km
