The new Ford Ranger Super Duty is here, and by “here,” I mean the other side of the world, and by the other side of the world, I’m specifically referring to Australia. And even though the nearest dealership that will be carrying the 2026 Ranger Super Duty is 9,000 miles away from most of our readers, we can still get excited about this awesome midsize truck that boasts some incredible stats and looks purpose-built for overlanding right off the lot.
Starting next year, the Ranger Super Duty will be available in Single, Super, Double Cab, and Double Cab tray bed configurations in Australia and other select markets. Those lucky enough to shop can also choose between base and XLT trim. Many of the features of this new mid-sized powerhouse are geared towards fleet and trade use, but it’s easy to see why a Ranger Super Duty would be tempting for those more interested in heading to the backcountry than the work site. Ford has ensured this Ranger variant is worthy of the Super Duty moniker by testing it with over 1,000 pounds of mud packed into the bottom of the truck to mimic intense mining operations, but that sounds like a particularly interesting trail to us. The designers also enlisted the help of autonomous driving robots to put the trucks through their paces on Ford Australia’s infamous You Yangs Proving Grounds. That’s right, they needed the fortitude and focus of robots to truly test this awesome pickup.
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The Ranger Super Duty boasts impressive stats from top to bottom. The max towing capacity tops out at 9,921 pounds — that’s 2,421 pounds more than the U.S. Ranger, and while the payload capacity isn’t currently available, we can only assume it’s equally impressive. It’s powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 and it comes standard with a host of tough features and design points, including 33-inch General Grabber AT tires, a snorkel, a frame-mounted steel front bumper, a long-range fuel tank, multiple skid plates, 8-lug wheel hubs, larger brakes, and a thicker steel frame that includes multiple reinforcements. It also includes the Trail Turn Assist that’s available on Broncos here in the States. Again, this truck would be the perfect overland rig.
To put that all in perspective of Ford’s US offerings, the Ranger Super Duty’s towing capacity lands between the U.S.-spec F150 powertrain options. That being said, we don’t expect this amped-up Ranger to be competing with America’s beloved F150s anytime soon. For starters, it seems rare that an automaker introduces a “new” diesel powertrain to the States these days, and there’s an unwritten rule that we can’t get anything with a cool tray bed straight from the dealership. Please see the Kia Tasman for further proof. Regardless of availability on this side of the Pacific, we can dream and set a reminder to import one in 25 years if we’re really motivated.
