Toyota Hilux GR-Sport Gets Power Bump – 20 PS and 50 NM Added

It seems UMWT has quietly introduced an upgraded version of Toyota Hilux GR Sport this week.

More pick-up truck news today, this time from the local front. It seems UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has quietly upgraded the sporty flagship flavour of its staple pick-up truck, by which we mean the Toyota Hilux GR Sport.

We’ve sampled the sporty pick-up truck earlier this year and, while we noted its improved on-road handling abilities, it did come at the price of ride comfort and a sizeable price hike over the Hilux 2.8 Rogue it underpins. We also highlighted that the sporty style and ride didn’t get sporty power outputs to match.

According to UMWT's website, the Hilux GR Sport's output has raised by 20 PS and 50 NM to 224 PS (221 HP) and 550 NM now. Prior to this, it made do with just 204 PS (201 HP) and 500 NM.

That doesn’t seem to be the case now as we’ve discovered through UMWT’s website. Specifically for the GR Sport variant of the Hilux, power and torque outputs from its 2.8-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel heart has increased by 20 PS and 50 NM respectively, bringing the total up to 224 PS (221 HP) and 550 NM now.

The upgrade now puts this Malaysian-spec Hilux GR Sport on par – at least in output figures – with the Ranger Raptor-baiting Australian-spec Hilux GR Sport model. Said Aussie-spec version also boasts radical styling to match, complete with flared wheel arches, blacked-out wheels, and sporty front bumper design.

It's unclear how the power bump was made, but we suspect it stemmed from an engine mapping software upgrade minus any new additional hardware.

Though the added figures seem modest, it is quite the upgrade over the Rogue variant’s 204 PS (201 HP) and 500 NM. More importantly, the upgrade now sees the Hilux GR Sport stand arguably slightly peppier than the rivalling Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo, which boasts 210 PS and 500 NM outputs.

There’s no indication what was upgraded in the powertrain, though given the next set of facts, we’re inclined to believe that the Hilux GR Sport was given a new engine management software mapping – there seems to be no indications of new hardware based on the materials published online via the UMWT site.

Besides a sporty GR-themed interior to match, the GR Sport is also the only Hilux variant to offer steering-mounted paddle-shifters.

Surprisingly, despite the bump in power and torque promising slightly beefier performance, UMWT has NOT altered the Hilux GR Sport variant’s price. As it stands, it continues to command RM169,080 sans insurance and optional accessories in Peninsular Malaysia.

Would you pick the now upgraded Hilux GR Sport (right) over the rivalling Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo (left)?

Said price sees this upgraded Hilux GR Sport continue to underprice itself against the aforementioned 2.0-litre Ranger Raptor variant from Ford that commands a whopping RM248,888 starting price. For context this upgraded Hilux GR Sport is closer in price against the Ranger Wildtrak instead.

So, what do you reckon folks? Could this now see the Hilux GR Sport stand as the bang-for-buck sporty performance pick-up truck of your choice? Or would rather bank on the pricier but arguably more desirable Ford alternative mentioned? Hit the comments below – and our social media pages – with your take…