New Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III officially goes on sale in South Africa – Pricing and specifications

The beefy Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III has finally gone on sale in South Africa at a starting price of R999,000.

A Hilux dialed up to eleven, the GR-Sport (GR-S) III was on the receiving end of several functional and cosmetic upgrades to make it the most capable of its kind ever produced.

The GR treatment

It is immediately apparent that the new GR-S is no ordinary Hilux as it strikes a more aggressive pose than any of its stablemates.

It sports a black G-mesh grille featuring classic Toyota lettering; a silver front underguard; black sidesteps, mirrors, and door handles; a black rear bumper; red brake callipers; distinctive GR logos dotted around the body; and model-exclusive decals on the sides.

Furthermore, it features a revised air curtain structure in the front fascia incorporating a new bumper with a functional fog lamp bezel that optimises drag efficiency and reduces turbulence in the wheel arch.

Attention-grabbing black overfenders add to the brawny design and accommodate model-exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres.

Not only do these wheels complement the overall look but they also contribute to performance, said Toyota, as the large rim area reduces aerodynamic drag while an ultra-efficient central spoke trims weight.

Other functional upgrades take the form of a tuned suspension system with improved front-and-rear balance which results in a more stable ride, improved handling, and reduced vibration noise.

Additionally, ground clearance is increased by 20mm and track width by 140mm at the front and 155mm at the rear, resulting in a 30-degree approach angle which is one degree more than the standard bakkies.

The GR-S also gets a more powerful braking system courtesy of front discs expanded from 16 to 17 inches, and new 15-inch discs at the rear which replace the previous drum brakes.

The double cab is still driven by Toyota’s familiar 2.8-litre, turbo-diesel powerplant in partnership with a six-speed automatic gearbox just like the previous GR-Sport, which generates 165kW and 550Nm.

Average fuel consumption for the rig is pegged at 8.7l/100km and it supports a maximum payload capacity of 1,000kg and towing capacity of 3,500kg.

The athletic aesthetic of the GR-S III is carried over into the cabin, where it sees a black monochrome theme spruced up by red accents on the seatbelts and the 12 o’clock marker on the GR-branded steering wheel.

A new hydrographic ornament on the door trim and dashboard is also included, as are paddle shifters and suede/leather sports seats with silver needlework that provide more support during dynamic driving.

The bakkie also comes with an 8-inch central touchscreen that offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 9-speaker JBL sound system.

Each purchase of the new Hilux GR-Sport III carries a 9-services/90,000km service plan and a 3-year/100,000km warranty.

Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III