The widebody Toyota Hilux GR Sport III is due to launch in South Africa soon – and we’ve managed to unearth pricing! Here’s how much you’ll pay for what Toyota bills as the “ultimate off-roader”…
In January of this year, Toyota South Africa Motors confirmed plans to launch the new widebody Toyota Hilux GR Sport III at some point in March 2024 (though the media launch is scheduled for the 2nd week of April). Now, ahead of this local market introduction, Cars.co.za can reveal pricing for what the Japanese firm bills as the “ultimate off-roader”.
According to our information, the widebody Hilux GR Sport III – which was displayed at Toyota’s State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) 2024 event in January – will be priced from R999 000, slipping in just under the 7-figure mark. For the record, that represents a R51 400 premium over the outgoing version, which is currently pegged at R947 600.
As before, the GR Sport model interestingly isn’t the most expensive Hilux in the range, with that title instead going to the mild-hybrid 2.8GD-6 Legend RS 6AT 4×4 48V (which will cost you R1 023 400, as detailed in our earlier pricing-scoop story). The non-electrified 2.8GD-6 Legend RS 6AT 4×4 (currently sitting at R 1 005 000) is also more expensive than the new GR Sport.
So, what will set the Hilux GR Sport III – or “GR-S”, for short – apart from the outgoing version? Well, while Toyota has yet to release detailed specifications for the local market, the major change is obviously the upgrade to a widebody configuration.
But before we delve into that, let’s briefly touch on the powertrain. In short, the SA-spec version will retain the uprated 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine – not to mention 6-speed automatic transmission, driving all 4 wheels – of its predecessor, which means peak outputs will again come in at 165 kW and 550 Nm.
Back to the so-called widebody configuration. It’s worth noting the recently announced UK-spec version – which will likewise be sourced from Toyota SA Motors’ Prospecton factory in KwaZulu-Natal – gains a wider track, increased by 140 mm fore (to 1 675 mm) and 155 mm aft (to 1 705 mm) compared with the standard Hilux, boosting the double-cab bakkie’s overall width to 2 020 mm.
Toyota’s UK division furthermore bills the latest GR Sport as the “best-driving Hilux yet, on and off-road”, thanks to the wider track and “significant improvements” in handling characteristics, including a reduced roll angle and “more precise” steering response. There is also ostensibly less noise and vibration, while the suspension and brakes – the latter system featuring larger front discs and new rear discs in place of the previous drums – have also been revised.
The UK-spec bakkie’s approach angle improves slightly (from 29 to 30 degrees), while ride height grows by 20 mm. New monotube dampers take the place of the previous twin-tube items, ostensibly providing “better performance and faster response in tough conditions”, while the 17-inch wheels are shod in all-terrain tyres (interestingly, the UK version rides on Bridgestone Dueler A/T rubber, while the model shown on stage at SOMI 2024 was wearing BFGoodrich items with a more aggressive tread).
Styling changes include red coil springs and coloured dampers (finished in black at the front and red at the rear), plus chunky black overfenders and red brake callipers. There’s also a new black grille – replete with bold “Toyota” lettering – as well as a silver-coloured front bashplate and an “aero-styled sport bar and deck cover”.
As a reminder, Mzansi has seen 2 versions of the Hilux GR Sport before now. The first came in mid-2019, with a revised iteration (complete with the aforementioned extra power and torque) hitting the local market in September 2022. Both, of course, featured standard bodies.
How much will the new Toyota Hilux GR Sport III cost in SA?
Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 DC 4×4 GR Sport III – R999 000
The above price includes Toyota’s 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-service/90 000 km service plan (with intervals of 10 000 km).
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