Toyota HiLux GR Sport returns in 2027: flagship off-road ute confirmed for new generation
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Toyota South Africa boss Andrew Kirby confirmed a new HiLux GR Sport is coming "next year sometime", meaning 2027.
- The current ninth-generation HiLux launched in Australia in December 2025 without the flagship GR Sport grade.
- Wide body, tuned diesel engine, and off-road suspension are likely, but Toyota has confirmed no specs yet.
The toughest Toyota HiLux is coming back. Toyota's boss in South Africa confirmed that a new GR Sport version of the HiLux will arrive in 2027. It will top the range of the new ninth-generation ute.
The news came from Andrew Kirby. He is the president and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors. He spoke to a South African motoring site at the SA Auto Week 2026 event in Durban.
South Africa has seen three GR Sport versions so far. The first came in mid-2019, and a revised one with extra power followed in September 2022. The widebody GR Sport III launched in March 2024 and lasted just over two years.
What happened
When the site asked Kirby about a HiLux GR Sport for the new model range, his answer was short. "Next year sometime," he said. He called it "an exciting product", then added, "that's about all I can say".
That is a confirmation, but with no details. The model has not been revealed yet. No photos, specs, or prices exist.
The current ninth-generation HiLux went on sale in Australia in December 2025. It arrived without a GR Sport grade. The top models in Australia are the HiLux Rogue and Rugged X, both priced at 71,990 Australian dollars before on-road costs. A new GR Sport would sit above them.
Toyota Australia has not confirmed the car for local showrooms. A spokesperson told Drive that the previous GR Sport was very popular with customers. "Should a GR Sport become available in the future, we will certainly look at it," the spokesperson said.
"But we don't have anything to announce today," he added. Australia may still miss out. For now, South Africa is the only confirmed market.
Why it matters
The GR Sport is the HiLux's answer to the Ford Ranger Raptor. It is the flagship model for buyers who want the strongest, best-equipped version.
The first HiLux GR Sport launched in 2018. Australia received its version in 2023. It drew inspiration from Toyota's Dakar Rally-winning off-road racers. The price was 73,990 Australian dollars before on-road costs.
The old model was much more than a styling pack. Its 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine made 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque. That was 15kW and 50Nm more than the standard engine.
It also had wider tracks, which means the wheels sat further apart. The front track grew by 135mm and the rear by 155mm compared with the standard SR5. Toyota fitted KYB shock absorbers and stiffer springs. Ride height rose by 15mm.
Other changes included 17-inch black wheels with all-terrain tyres, rock rails to protect the sills, a restyled front, and an interior with suede trim. Four-wheel disc brakes came from the Rogue. These are upgrades that Toyota diesel models owners understand well.
The HiLux is Toyota Australia's most popular model. Between January and September 2026, Toyota sold 36,616 HiLux utes in Australia. That was 23.9 per cent of every new Toyota sold in the country.
Only the Ford Ranger outsells it outright. A GR Sport return would give Toyota a higher-priced hero model for that battle.
That matters when pickup trucks keep getting more expensive and buyers keep asking for more. The flagship version carries more profit per sale.
What happens next
The biggest questions are the body style, the engine, and where it gets built.
The previous widebody version fell away in June 2026 when the first ninth-generation models went on sale. Kirby did not say whether the new GR Sport would keep the wide tracks.
The South African site thinks the wide body is likely. Buyers loved the old model, and Toyota spent a lot developing it.
The engine is also unconfirmed. The site expects the tuned 2.8-litre turbodiesel to carry over. It made 165kW and 550Nm in the old model.
A six-speed automatic and four-wheel drive are expected as standard. Readers curious about engine tech can compare diesel and hybrid cars here.
Toyota Australia chief designer Nick Hogios hinted at this in late 2025. When Australian media asked about a wide-track HiLux, he replied, "That's, I guess, in the future." He added, "we'll get to that."
Toyota Australia product planner Rodney Lyons echoed that in September. He said there was "a possibility for that in the future", but "nothing to announce at the moment."
South Africa builds its HiLux models at the Prospecton plant in Durban. Australia imports its HiLux range from Thailand, where the previous GR Sport was made. It is not yet clear which factory will build the new GR Sport.
The timing fits Toyota's pattern. The old GR Sport arrived late in the previous generation's life. Launching the new one roughly a year after the ninth-generation debut follows the same playbook.
For now, the message is simple. The car is coming in 2027. Toyota will share the details later. Until then, buyers can expect a tougher, taller, wider HiLux with the GR badge on the grille.
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