The new variant is called the Hilux GR Sport and this isn’t to be mistaken for the “GR-S” which will still be made available. At P 2,164,000 (P 2,184,000 for the Emotional Red), the Hilux GR Sport slots between the top-of-the-line Hilux GR-S (P 2,178,000) and the Hilux Conquest 4x4 (P 2,084,000).

If you’re good at mental math, you’ll notice that the price difference isn’t all that big: P 14,000. So, what’s changed?

Reaching out to Toyota Motor Philippines, they’ve confirmed that the creation of the Hilux GR Sport is a response to the issue the brand had with the Hilux GR-S’s sports bar.

As a reminder, last year, Toyota has found that the brackets used to install the sports bar may crack under severe usage conditions. After a while, this may cause the sports bar to potentially detach from the vehicle causing a hazard to other vehicles and pose a safety risk to pedestrian traffic.

This has resulted in Toyota Motor Philippines having to remove the sports bar in affected units until an improved version of the sports bar becomes available.

Finding an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade, the carmaker has now introduced the Hilux GR Sport which has its sports bar removed straight from the factory. This saves customers P 14,000—money which could very well go to an aftermarket sports bar or a bed cover.

For customers who still insist on getting their Hilux model with the OE sports bar, they can still do so and this one is the new and improved design already. 

The rest of the Hilux GR Sport and GR-S package remains identical and is similar to the specs and features first introduced in the 2023 update. Both variants are powered by a 2.8-liter turbo diesel 4-cylinder producing 224 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 550 Nm of torque from 1,600 to 2,800 rpm. This is mated to a 6-speed automatic with a rear locking differential with auto disconnect differential.

Other standard features include the wide track look with 265/65R17 GR alloy wheels, front and rear disc brakes, special GR-tuned monotube shock absorbers, an 8-way power adjust driver’s seat, a 9-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, and the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS).