Toyota Motor Philippines recently unveiled the 2023 Model Change Toyota Hilux GR-S at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup leg two at the Clark International Speedway. The new pickup had a prominent display at the front of the venue, showcasing its unique body and tougher looks for all eventgoers.

The new Hilux GR-S isn’t just a bunch of exterior modifications slapped onto a stock vehicle; this time, Toyota has given it some mechanical upgrades similar to what you would find in the Australian version launched earlier this year. 

With its new upgrades and looks, the new 2023 MC Hilux GR-S looks poised to take on the Ford Ranger Raptor, a long-time leader in the segment. As both are now available in the Philippine market, we will compare the off-road-ready pickup trucks to see which will come out on top. 

Also Read: SPEC SHOWDOWN: 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor vs. 2023 Toyota Hilux GR-S

Exterior: Purpose built vs. kitted out

These pickup trucks look similar to their stock variations. The 2023 MC Toyota Hilux GR-S takes the stock body of the regular model and adds fender flares to it, giving it a wider stance.

Toyota has also added a new GR-Sport mode bumper, grille, and under-body protection. It also has unique 17-inch Dakar Rally-inspired wheels, new monotube KYB shock absorbers, and stiffer coil springs.

Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger Raptor is more business at the front with a clean-looking design that looks purpose-built for its application. It comes with a more OEM fit and finish versus the aftermarket look that the GR-S Hilux offers.

 Still, compared to the regular Ranger Wildtrak model, the Raptor gets wider fenders, a wider stance, a different grille, and more under-body protection, denoting its more off-road-oriented use. 

As for the looks, we prefer the cleaner and business end of the Ford Ranger Raptor versus the more after-market appeal of the 2023 MC GR-S Hilux.

Winner: Ranger Raptor

Interior: Familiar cabins

The interiors of both vehicles remain largely the same as their stock variations. The 2023 MC Toyota Hilux GR-S still comes with a leather interior that now has red accents on the dashboard and the seats. Gazoo Racing logs are also prominent inside the vehicle on the headrests and near the gear shifter.

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor also takes a similar approach with its interior design, adding color and Ford Performance badging in critical locations. It still has a massive infotainment system and even has auxiliary switches if you want to add more off-road modifications to the pickup truck. 

Winner: Tie

A battle of technology

As for technology, both pickup trucks have retained what their regular top-spec models offer. The 2023 MC Toyota GR-S Hilux maintains the same 8-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with dual-zone automatic climate control and Toyota Safety Sense, giving it automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure alert.

In the case of the Ford Ranger Raptor, it retains its digital gauge cluster and its 12-inch portrait-style infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a 360-degree camera system available that will help you out when you take the pickup truck off the beaten path. Like the WIldtrak model, the Ranger Raptor also gets key features such as adaptive cruise control, active park assist, pre-collision assist, and a blind spot monitoring system. 

Given the technology that both pickup trucks have, it is evident that Ford has given the Ranger Raptor more features, such as its 360-degree camera, which will be helpful off-road.

Winner: Ford Ranger Raptor 

Power: Turbodiesel motors

Under the hood, the engine displacements of the two remain unchanged. The 2023 MC Toyota Hilux GR-S is still equipped with its 2.8-liter turbo diesel engine. However, the Japanese automaker has increased the power output to 224PS and 550 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful pickup truck.

It shifts via a 6-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four corners of the pickup.

Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger Raptor is still powered by its 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine found in the Ranger Wildtrak that produces 210 PS and 500 Nm of torque. It shifts via a 10-speed automatic transmission that transfers power to all four wheels. 

With the boost in power figures, the 2023 MC Toyota Hilux GR-S is now the most powerful pickup truck in its segment, at least on paper, dethroning the Ford Ranger Raptor and winning the power category of this comparison.

Winner: Toyota Hilux GR-S

Verdict

The Ford Ranger Raptor is priced at ₱2,339,000, which is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum for a pickup truck. However, you do get a lot of advanced features for the vehicle along with Ford’s know-how for off-road technology. 

Meanwhile, the 2023 MC Toyota Hilux GR-S is priced below its Raptor counterpart at ₱2,166,00 for the standard color version of the pickup truck. If you want a two-tone or Emotional Red special color for the Hilux, you can expect to pay another ₱20,000. 

So, despite the Hilux’s increase in power and additional off-road goodies, it's still lagging in terms of other features that could make off-roading the pickup much easier.

If you are after technology, the Raptor still holds the crown, but you can’t go wrong with the Hilux if you want more raw power and girth.

Overall Winner: Ford Ranger Raptor