First Drive: Toyota Hilux GR-S III

First Drive: Toyota Hilux GR-S III

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My last interaction with a Toyota Hilux was with my former boss’s 2.8D SRX double cab, a fun thing with ample torque at relatively low revs. It was supremely comfortable, despite the “standard” low ride height. 

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I miss those days of bakkies just being bakkies! Simple, with no frills. So it was exciting to be reunited with one at the launch of the third-generation Gazoo Racing-inspired Hilux in my home province of the Eastern Cape.

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The flared wheel arches make it immediately noticeable. It reminds me of the haughty swagger of Vince McMahon, the former WWE CEO. 

The new-look front end further enhances this—a redesign of the bumper and grille, along with an air intake and bash plate, round off the front quite well.

The side profile’s biggest drawcard is the aforementioned big wheel arches, which house 17-inch gloss black wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich rubber and huge mud flaps. 

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The rear bumper also benefits from gloss black inserts and more hardened plastic, while the LED taillights are decent, especially when viewed under the night sky. Did I mention lots of GR Sport badges?

The interior oozes sportiness. The mix of leather and suede on the sports seats; the GR logo on the front headrests; the centre-marked, multifunction steering wheel with pedal shifters; sports pedals; and a power button show what this vehicle is about. 

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The infotainment screen resolution is crisp, with user-friendly functionality for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a booming JBL sound system to boot. 

Space is ample and functional. 

Under the bonnet is the trusty 2.8-litre turbodiesel powerplant that generates an impressive 165kW and 550Nm via a 6-speed automatic transmission that has a manual override option. This is done by flicking the gear lever to the side or via the paddle shifters. 

The 20mm increase in ride height, the 70mm wider front track, and the 77.5mm wider rear track all contribute to a huge sense of occasion.

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New mono-tube shocks and a reworked suspension add to the markedly improved ride we experienced on the tar, sand, and a lot of gravel driving. 

The power is not lacking, as the 165kW is ample for a bakkie of this calibre. Some bounce on gravel is tolerable, and the road handling is impressive, even with the thick rubber, which was surprisingly quiet.

Our launch route consisted of various surfaces, and the Hilux was able to take them on with ease. 

The route on a Jeffreys Bay farm started with steep inclines, which allowed us to test departure and approach angles, as well as hill-descent control. The newcomer fared very well, as wide as it is.

We then engaged in some sand-driving exercises through a course set up on the beach, which it also handled well. Mind you, we had deflated our tyres to between 0.9 and 0.85 bar.

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The experience was enjoyable and reminded me of Namibia, which remains the benchmark for sandy, off-road driving. 

The sand was dry and also tough, and that can be detrimental if one does not tread carefully, even with flowing traffic, because we create paths to follow on the trail. 

We had one casualty, though, which was not the car’s fault but rather a lack of sufficient momentum on the driver’s part to clear the obstacle. 

The gravel stretch from Plett to George was intriguing, as it was dry with a lot of undulations. The dust was serious, and safe following distances had to be maintained. 

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This was where we could feel if the improvements that have been made to this vehicle were worth it or a waste of time. The vehicle’s performance wasn’t all that bad, but a multilink suspension would go a long way towards improving comfort. 

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In my opinion, the latest Toyota Hilux GR-S exceeds expectations and, despite common misconceptions, it does not compete with the Ford Raptor.

I get the sense that it is up against the Ford Ranger Tremor, as they have similar qualities, although the Ford is better equipped with modern technology.

The Toyota is a simpler vehicle, yet it can dance easily on sand and gravel, has great on-road manners, and it looks the part. 

Price: R999,000

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Words: Wezile Bonani