Toyota Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S drive to San Pablo

ROAD TRIP

Toyota Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S drive to San Pablo

GR-eat reason to drive south

In late October, Toyota Motor Philippines invited us to drive their latest launched additions to their lineup, the Toyota GAZOO RACING Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S, the Sport variants of their pickup and midsized SUV.

We started off the day at Alabang Town Center and with only two participating publications on that day, we decided among ourselves which vehicle we’d like to drive out to San Pablo and swap that with the other for the drive back. We set off at around 9am and made our way to our lunch destination with more than enough time for us to get through morning rush hour

traffic. For the drive out, I chose the Hilux GR-S, and I’d be driving it roughly 50km’s to Sulyap Gallery Café and Restaurant in San Pablo City.

HILUX GR-S Pickups these days are more capable, they are easier to drive in and around tight urban parking areas than their workhorse origins. Getting out of the mall parking of ATC was easy with it’s new Panoramic View Monitor. Making my way to SLEX and merging with traffic was easy with the Hilux GR-S’ turbocharged 2.8L diesel made short work of “getting up to speed” and joining the flow at highway speed.

Launched recently, the Hilux GR-S is the next step up after the Conquest variant. It gets a new black gloss G-MESH front grille design, body colored overfenders and around the back, you get a black gloss sports bar. Finding our way to our lunch destination was easy with Apple CarPlay connectivity allowing us to use WAZE and at the same time, listen to either the radio or our favorite playlist on spotify.

We made our way through winding country roads and some morning through Calamba, Pansol, Anos and past UPLB, and it eased up as we made our way to San Pablo.

Making it early to Sulyap Gallery Café and Restaurant, we did some catching up with each other in person. Since the pandemic, events like these were few and far between. On a side note, we all tested negative for covid prior to the drive.

After a sumptuous Filipino lunch, and quite a bit of time to spare, we took photos of both the Hilux and Fortuner, then went for a drive around San Pablo. We checked out Sampaloc Lake behind the City Hall, and we found a nice open space where locals can safely spend time outdoors.

When it was time to head back, and this time it was my turn to drive the Fortuner GR-S back to Manila.

FORTUNER GR-S I was looking forward to driving this Fortuner, equipped with JBL speakers, which would help me stay alert on the ride back. It closely resembling the LTD variant, the GR-S has a more aggressive front end with a redesigned bumper and fog lamp combination. The wheel arches are body colored, a bi-tone rear spoiler, back door garnish and a redesigned rear bumper. The rear hatch is powered and now opens with a kick-sensor.

It’s also equipped with the same safety suite found in the LTD and Q variants, Toyota’s Safety Sense consisting of Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control. There’s also the Panoramic View Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

WHAT DO THEY SHARE? The experience behind the wheel is definitely different for both vehicles, but the two have a few things in common. Both are relatively easy

to maneuver in city streets and tight parking situations, both are definitely fun to drive on the open road and with the same engine and tuning both putting out 204Ps at 3,400rpm and with 500Nm of torque coming in between 1,6002,800rpm and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, you’ve got more than enough power on demand, whether you’re carrying cargo, friends or both in either the Hilux or Fortuner GRS, and that torque comes in early where you want it.

Both Hilux and Fortuner get black tinted clear coat on their 18” alloy wheels and bright red brake calipers with GR markings. Both cabins are as equally sporty as the exterior, with red, black and smoke silver metallic accents on surfaces, leather wrapped steering wheels, suede and leather sport front seats all with red stitching. Aluminum pedals are standard on both Hilux and Fortuner GR-S and they also have paddle shifters. Both get 8-way power adjust seats for the driver and interiors are unmistakeably GR with the logo on the headrests, the steering wheel, the engine start button, and even the floor mats.

The Hilux GR-S is a long way away from it’s humble pickup origins. It’s got car comfort and amenities similar to top of the line sedans. It will still remind you that it is a pickup, especially if you’ve not put anything in the bed or are driving alone. The ride can be somewhat stiff due to it’s cargo carrying capacity, but it’s not harsh.

The Fortuner GR-S as expected, has a more civilized ride than the Hilux, the 7-seater SUV is more composed on the open road and is more comfortable. Getting back to Manila was helped by Apple Carplay allowing WAZE to guide me while my spotify playlist sounded awesome on it’s JBL speakers.

You can’t compare the two as they represent two different lifestyles, both are capable vehicles, made even more appealing with Toyota GAZOO RACING appointments. Our lunch south of Manila was a great excuse to catch up with friends and drive these two well built vehicles. The Toyota Hilux GR-S we drove in Emotional Red is priced at Php2,005,000 and the Fortuner GR-S we drove in White Pearl CS/Attitude Black Mica is priced at Php2,509,000.