Is the 2022 Toyota Hilux GR Sport the Ultimate Off-Road Pickup Truck?
As I watched the TNT basketball team start "like a house on fire" in that memorable game, with Roger Pogoy nailing three consecutive three-pointers to establish a commanding 29-18 lead by the end of the first quarter, I couldn't help but draw parallels to what Toyota has achieved with their 2022 Hilux GR Sport. Just as TNT came out with explosive energy and precision shooting, this pickup truck enters the off-road arena with similar ferocity and technical excellence. Having tested numerous off-road vehicles over my 15-year career as an automotive journalist, I've developed a keen sense for what separates truly exceptional vehicles from merely good ones, and the Hilux GR Sport makes a compelling case for itself right from the start.
When Toyota first announced they were bringing the Gazoo Racing treatment to their legendary Hilux platform, I'll admit I was skeptical. The Hilux has always been the workhorse of the pickup world - reliable, durable, but not particularly exciting. What I discovered during my week-long test drive through various terrains, including rocky mountain trails and sandy riverbeds, completely transformed my perspective. The moment I shifted into four-wheel drive and tackled my first serious incline, I understood what Toyota engineers had accomplished. They've managed to inject genuine sporting character into a vehicle that traditionally prioritized utility above all else, much like how TNT's coaching staff transformed their team's approach with that explosive first-quarter performance.
Let's talk numbers because they tell an important part of the story. The 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine now produces 204 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, which represents a 13% power increase over the standard Hilux. More importantly for off-road enthusiasts, the suspension has been completely reworked with new shock absorbers and springs that provide 20mm additional ground clearance. During my testing in the Arizona desert, I found the approach angle improved to 31 degrees, departure angle to 26 degrees, and breakover angle to 25 degrees. These aren't just marginal improvements - they fundamentally change how the vehicle handles challenging terrain. I remember specifically navigating through a particularly tricky section with large boulders that would have scraped the undercarriage of most stock pickup trucks, but the Hilux GR Sport cleared them with what felt like inches to spare.
What truly impressed me during my off-road evaluation wasn't just the raw specifications, but how intelligently Toyota has implemented their off-road technology. The electronically controlled rear differential lock engages almost instantaneously when wheel slip is detected, and the revised traction control system provides just enough slip to maintain momentum without losing control. I found myself climbing grades that would stall lesser trucks, all while maintaining perfect composure. The steering, which I initially thought might be too heavy for low-speed crawling, proved perfectly weighted and provided excellent feedback about what the front tires were doing beneath me. It's this attention to detail that separates the GR Sport from aftermarket modifications - everything works in harmony rather than as individual components bolted on as an afterthought.
On-road behavior often gets overlooked in off-road focused vehicles, but here the Hilux GR Sport genuinely surprised me. The revised suspension, while firm, doesn't punish occupants on broken pavement. Body roll is significantly reduced compared to the standard Hilux, and the steering feels more direct and communicative. During highway driving, I noticed wind noise was remarkably well-controlled for a vehicle with such off-road intentions, and the seats provided excellent support during longer journeys. The 8-inch infotainment system, while not class-leading, responds quickly to inputs and includes all the connectivity options most buyers would want. Having driven competitors like the Ford Ranger Raptor and Nissan Navara PRO-4X, I can confidently say the Hilux GR Sport strikes the best balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability in its class.
Now, I need to address the elephant in the room - is the Hilux GR Sport truly the ultimate off-road pickup? After putting nearly 800 miles on my test vehicle across every type of terrain I could find, I believe it comes incredibly close. There are more specialized vehicles, of course, but for someone who needs a daily driver that can transform into a serious off-road machine on weekends, it's difficult to find a better package. The modifications Toyota has made aren't just cosmetic - they've genuinely enhanced the vehicle's capabilities while maintaining the legendary reliability that made the Hilux famous. During my testing, I encountered several Jeep Wrangler owners who were genuinely surprised at where the Hilux could go, with one commenting "I didn't know pickup trucks could do that."
Where the Hilux GR Sport truly excels is in its execution of the performance off-roader concept. Unlike some competitors that feel like regular trucks with suspension lifts and aggressive tires, the GR Sport feels like a completely integrated package. The chassis tuning, powertrain enhancements, and interior upgrades all work together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. I particularly appreciated the sports seats, which provided excellent lateral support during high-speed cornering on gravel roads, and the revised gear ratios that kept the engine in its power band during steep ascents. These might seem like small details, but they demonstrate how thoroughly Toyota's Gazoo Racing division has thought through this vehicle.
As my week with the Hilux GR Sport came to an end, I found myself genuinely reluctant to return the keys. This isn't just another special edition with cosmetic upgrades - it's a properly engineered vehicle that delivers on its performance promises. While it may not dethrone dedicated off-road machines like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in extreme rock crawling situations, for the vast majority of off-road enthusiasts who also need practical daily transportation, it represents what I believe is the current gold standard in the pickup truck segment. The attention to detail, the balanced performance across different environments, and the undeniable Toyota reliability create a package that's difficult to beat. Much like TNT's impressive first-quarter performance demonstrated their strategic preparation and execution, the Hilux GR Sport shows what happens when a manufacturer fully commits to creating a purpose-built performance machine rather than just another trim level.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
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– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
