The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series has owned a very particular corner of Australia.
Mines, farms, worksites, towing jobs, remote tracks and buyers who want something tougher than a normal ute have all helped keep it alive long after most vehicles would have disappeared.
Ford clearly wants a piece of that territory.
The Ranger Super Duty already looked like more than another Ranger variant. Now Ford is turning it into a much bigger lineup, with the Australian range set to grow from three versions to eight within the next 12 months.
That puts things in a different light.
The Super Duty is no longer just a niche fleet tool. It is becoming a proper heavy-duty family with single-cab, Super-cab, dual-cab, cab-chassis and pickup body styles, plus new XLT grades aimed at buyers who want comfort with their capability.
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The Numbers Are The Point
Every Ranger Super Duty uses a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 producing 154kW and 600Nm, paired with a 10-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive.
The serious stuff sits underneath. Ford is offering 4500kg braked towing, 4500kg gross vehicle mass and an 8000kg gross combined mass. It also gets heavy-duty hardware, underbody protection, serious ground clearance and an 850mm wading depth.
Put simply, this is a Ranger built for people who tow, load, tour and work properly.
The XLT versions push the idea further. They add leather-accented trim, heated and ventilated front seats, carpet floors, all-weather mats and unique 18-inch Super Duty wheels.
The LandCruiser 70 has always sold because of its toughness, not its comfort. Ford is trying to offer both.
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A Workhorse With A Wider Net
The price spread also shows where Ford is aiming.
The 2027 Ranger Super Duty range starts at $82,990 before on-road costs for the single-cab chassis and climbs to $99,990 for the XLT dual-cab pickup.
Those are not cheap utes, but they sit in the same conversation as serious work-and-touring machinery. The arrival of pickup body styles makes the Super Duty easier to understand for private buyers, not just fleet managers choosing trays and chassis options.
Toyota still has history on its side. The LandCruiser 70 is not just a vehicle in Australia. It is a habit, especially in the bush. People trust it because their families, bosses and neighbours have trusted it for decades.
Ford cannot buy that kind of loyalty overnight. But it can attack the weak spots.
More body styles. More comfort. A modern cabin. Factory-backed heavy-duty capability. A ute platform Australians already know well.
The Ranger has spent years becoming Australia’s favourite mainstream ute.
Now Ford wants the Super Duty to become something tougher. A Ranger for people who used to think only a LandCruiser would do.
