What’s the fastest Toyota Hilux in South Africa? We pit the Hilux GR Sport against the 48V Hilux and the Hilux Legend on a drag strip to find some answers. Watch the video to see the result!
We headed to an airport runway to race three brand-new eight-gen Toyota Hilux double-cab bakkies. The new Toyota Hilux GR Sport is so much more than just a sticker pack and boasts more power, better brakes and uprated suspension.
But why race Hilux double-cabs against each other? It’s not about novelty. Hilux has been the best-selling vehicle in South Africa for decades. It is nearly a sub-brand of its own in South Africa. And that’s why everyone is interested in everything related to Hilux. And how it goes.
The eight-generation Hilux has seen Toyota be more daring than with any previous Hilux range. Adding the GR Sport version, with a focus on all-terrain high-performance driving. A little bit more engine power than the standard 2.8 turbodiesel Hilux engine, but does it really make a difference, or is it a pure spec-sheet flex by Toyota?
We wanted to find out the truth. To know if the GR Sport’s 165 kW upgrade really makes a difference in real-world acceleration. And how better to measure that than against other Hilux 2.8 turbodiesel-powered derivatives? Especially one of the light-hybrid versions, with its 48V integrated starter motor/generator, which is the first time Toyota has brought its hybrid tech into a South African bakkie model.
So, that’s exactly what we’ve done. Bringing together all the Hilux 2.8s that matter, in a drag race that is very relatable to South Africans.
With Jacob Moshokoa behind the wheel, the GR Sport faces off against the brand-new Toyota Hilux 48V, the brand’s first diesel-electric hybrid. Could the electric boost cause a massive upset and give David Taylor bragging rights?
A standard Hilux Legend came along for the ride, just to keep the new protagonists in check, but Ashley Oldfield felt he wouldn’t be completely outgunned thanks to his considerable motorsport experience.
Which Hilux do you think won the race? Watch the video!
