Daily Drive: Toyota HiLux GR Sport squares up to Ranger Raptor, fresh Aussie PHEVs arrive, Durango’s V6 returns, and F1’s ongoing soap opera

Some mornings the car world lands with a thud in your inbox. Today, it’s a full crate. The headliner? The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is being sharpened to take a real swing at Ford’s Ranger Raptor. Add a wave of plug-in family SUVs bound for Australia, a sensible Dodge Durango V6 comeback, Volvo tidying its roofline tech, and F1 politics doing F1 politics. Coffee in hand—let’s go.

Toyota HiLux GR Sport vs Ford Ranger Raptor: what Toyota must nail

I’ve hammered a Ranger Raptor across corrugations vicious enough to make my smartwatch think I’d started drumming. The Raptor’s party trick isn’t just the noise; it’s the chassis polish—those trick dampers, the control on rebound, the confidence at real pace. For the Toyota HiLux GR Sport to be a proper Raptor rival, Toyota needs to bring more than stickers and a bash plate. It needs meaningful suspension hardware, the right tires from the factory, and—please—an honest power bump you can feel pulling out of a sandy bend.

Toyota HiLux GR Sport quick comparison: Raptor benchmark and the rest

Meanwhile, the Chinese ute front is heating up. GAC is eyeing a 2027 Australian launch for a pickup to rival BYD’s Shark 6. If it follows GAC’s “middle premier” pitch—nicer than bargain-basement, cheaper than established blue-bloods—expect a spec sheet heavy on safety and cabin tech. Value’s getting clever.

The plug-in pile-on: MG, GAC, Omoda, and KGM go straight for the family sweet spot

Australia’s about to be awash with electrified mid- and large-size SUVs. In the space of a few hours we saw a leaked MG PHEV aimed at Sorento and Kluger, a proper local preview of GAC’s S7 PHEV, confirmation the Omoda 7 PHEV lands in 2026, and a sharp-value hybrid from Korea in the KGM Torres. I don’t need a press release to know what matters to parents: seven usable seats, a boot that still swallows a pram with the third row up, and an EV mode that actually covers the school run.

When I took a Sorento PHEV up to Falls Creek last winter, the real-world trick was how the cabin heating sipped energy in sub-zero temps—and whether the charge port was on the right side for nose-in curb charging. Tiny things, big difference.

Two quick notes from my notebook: GAC isn’t chasing a race to the bottom on price—it wants to feel a cut above without the premium-tax attitude. That can work if the cabin and dealer experience stack up. And MG’s big PHEV? If they tidy up the HS’s sleepy EV-mode throttle mapping, school runs will be a breeze.

Ute arms race, part two: how it shapes the Toyota HiLux GR Sport

This segment moves fast. Owners I’ve spoken to want factory-backed kit they can trust: dampers that don’t fade on corrugations, proper underbody protection, and calibration that doesn’t bounce you off washboard surfaces. If Toyota brings the HiLux GR Sport with measured aggression—think precision over posture—it’ll land right where weekend warriors and tradies who love a red-dirt shortcut actually live.

US quick hits: Durango’s V6 comeback, Ford’s clever work van, and Maserati’s special-edition treadmill

Dodge Durango: the V6 is back

• After a Hemi-only moment, the V6 returns—great for families and fleets who want space without premium-fuel bills.
• I’ve done long interstate slogs in a V6 Durango: hushed, torquey enough, easier on consumables. The Hemi’s theatre is ace; the V6’s balance is better.

Ford’s smarter work van (bring your wallet)

• More driver-assist, richer telematics, smarter upfit integrations. It’s the rolling office operators asked for.
• The price creep is real. Better uptime can pay it back, but monthly repayments still sting.
• Quirk: some functions are buried in touch menus. Fine bare-handed on a freeway; annoying in gloves at a muddy site.

Maserati lives on specials

• Grecale special editions keep the spotlight moving with fresh colors and curated trims.
• Owners I chatted with last month worry about residuals when every quarter brings a “limited” run. Can’t blame them.

Tech corner: Volvo smooths the roof, LiDAR partner fumes

Volvo is binning the roof-mounted LiDAR “periscope,” and Luminar—its sensor partner—isn’t thrilled. I’m torn. The roof bump always shouted science project, but the vantage was brilliant. Flush-mounting or relocating sensors cleans the look, trims wind noise, and probably cost. The honest question is coverage and software stitching. On early EX90 demos, night-time pedestrian detection was eerie-good. If Volvo keeps that without the snorkel, owners won’t miss a thing.

Paddock whispers: numbers, favorites, and philosophy in F1

• Max Verstappen mulling a race-number change if rules allow. Petty? Maybe. Drivers are superstitious; numbers are identity.
• Lando Norris as a 2025 title favorite in some corners. Momentum matters—but so does a mistake-free Sunday.
• Charles Leclerc says John Elkann’s “talk less” line was a positive nudge. Fewer proclamations, more points. Fair.
• Fernando Alonso sees a bit of himself in Verstappen—“not the good guy.” Translation: ruthlessness wins silverware.
• LEGO joins the F1 Academy and fields a team in 2026. Somewhere, a kid just picked a career.
• Oscar Piastri’s Brazil penalty drama fuels the eternal debate: consistency in stewarding. The white whale of F1.

What it all means for Toyota HiLux GR Sport shoppers

If you’re shortlisting a performance ute, 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster. The Toyota HiLux GR Sport looks set to give the Ranger Raptor the fight it deserves—so long as Toyota focuses on proper chassis tuning and the right rubber, not brochure fluff. On the family side, your PHEV test-drive calendar just got packed, which is great news for buyers. And across the pond, Dodge remembers we like fuel economy, while Volvo quietly makes high-tech less shouty. The rest—F1 gossip, endless special editions—keeps the circus moving.

Feature highlights to watch in coming launches

• Seven-seat PHEV packaging: check third-row hip points and floor height; look for flat load floors and underfloor battery packaging that doesn’t kill cargo.
• Real EV range: try a week of commuting on battery. If you can’t, it’s not really saving you fuel.
• Ute suspension upgrades: beyond lift kits—damper tuning, unsprung mass, and tire choice dictate control on corrugations.
• Van tech that helps: lane-keeping that doesn’t ping-pong, cameras that don’t lag, and physical buttons for HVAC and volume.

FAQ

When will the new MG large PHEV SUV arrive in Australia?

It’s leaked but not formally dated. Expect details soon, with positioning aimed squarely at the Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger crowd.

Is the new Toyota HiLux GR Sport really a Ranger Raptor rival?

That’s the brief. It needs true chassis upgrades and a meaningful power bump—plus proper all-terrain tires—to land the punch.

What does GAC mean by “middle premier brand” pricing?

Positioned above budget rivals but below traditional premium badges—nicer materials and tech without the full luxury tax.

Is the KGM Torres Hybrid a plug-in?

No. It’s a conventional hybrid targeting the Toyota RAV4’s sweet spot of efficiency and value.

Why is Volvo dropping the roof LiDAR bump?

Cleaner design, better aero, likely lower cost. The goal is to keep sensor coverage and performance without the visual clutter.