Let's face it, most modern pickup trucks are designed for people whose heaviest cargo is their ego and a bag of organic quinoa from the grocery store. But the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT is something else. It's a vehicle that looked at the standard Ranger, lit a cigarette, and said, "Nice, but now get out of the way." This is a car for those who eat concrete for breakfast.
Ford has been playing in the sandbox of medium-sized semi-trucks since 1983, but Ford Ranger The 2026 Super Duty XLT brings something completely new to the table. When it was first introduced earlier this year, it was a workhorse, a chassis-cab configuration aimed at commercial buyers who need to haul heavier loads than the average Twitter user. But now, my dears, Ford Australia is expanding its lineup with a classic “Pick-Up"bodywork (i.e. with a platform) and a new equipment package XLT, which finally bridges the gap between a brutal workhorse and a vehicle you actually want to sit in for more than five minutes.
This isn't just a cosmetic fix. This is engineering excellence packaged in a tin can.
Serious performance meets true comfort
The XLT (informally “Extra Luxurious Truck”) is a revival of a name that has been with us since the 1970s. Back then, air conditioning and carpeting were rarer in pickup trucks than honesty in politics. Today’s XLT maintains that middle-of-the-road philosophy—a step up from the base model, but without the price tag that would make you sell your kidney.
For the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT, that means leather accents on the seats, which are – mind you – heated and ventilated (because no one likes a sweaty back in the middle of the Australian outback), cloth floor coverings, all-weather floor mats and 18-inch (45.7 cm) alloy wheels. Sounds civilized, right? But don’t let that fool you. There’s a monster under that mask.
Built like a true “Super Duty”
The key word here is capacity. Ranger Super Duty XLT boasts a towing capacity of almost 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs). Yes, you read that right. That puts it in legitimate “Heavy-Duty” territory, even though it’s built on Ford’s global T6 platform, which it shares with the regular Ranger.
But the numbers get even more absurd. The Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is also 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs), and the Gross Combined Mass (GCM) is a whopping 8,000 kg (17,637 lbs). These are numbers that will make physics scratch its head.
Under the hood, a 3.0-liter V6 Power Stroke turbodiesel roars. It produces 154 kW (207 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. You might be saying, “Jan, 207 horses isn’t exactly a lot for a 3-liter engine.” And you’d be right if you were racing this car at traffic lights. But this isn’t a racing engine, this is an engine for moving tectonic plates. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive with front and rear differential locks.
To handle these loads, Ford has widened the track to 171 cm (67.3 in), strengthened the chassis and upgraded the suspension. Ground clearance is increased, and standard snorkels allow fording water up to 85 cm (33.5 in). The whole package sits on beefy off-road tires. It’s designed for the brutal conditions of the Australian Outback, meaning it would feel like a miner in ballet school on our well-groomed European dirt roads.
The “Pick-Up” supplement and why it matters
The new “Pick-Up” body style adds a factory-installed bed to the equation. It sounds obvious, but when the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty first launched, you only got the chassis and had to build the rear end yourself (or attach a wooden pallet to it and hope for the best). Now there’s a proper bed from the factory, making it more accessible to retail buyers who don’t need a flatbed but still want the “Heavy-Duty” spec.
Ford is also introducing a new Traction Green color, along with practical additions such as a 22.6-centimeter (8.9-inch) digital rearview mirror and Aeroklas storage systems.
Reality: Forbidden Fruit
For enthusiasts in the US and Europe, this is a moment of sadness. The 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT is an Australia-exclusive, with no confirmed export plans. Ford sells the standard Ranger globally, so the bones are there, but the Super Duty sits in that interesting in-between space – more capable than a traditional midsize pickup truck, but less massive than a full-fledged American HD truck (like the F-250).
Conclusion: A dream on four wheels (with the wrong steering wheel)
Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT The 2026 is proof that automotive engineers still listen to that little voice in their heads that says, “What if we made this more powerful?” With a starting price in Australia of AUD$99,990 (about €62,000 or $65,600), it’s not a cheap toy. But when you look at what you’re getting—a vehicle that can tow a house while keeping your back cool—the price tag almost seems reasonable.
This is a car that fills a gap we didn't know existed until we saw it. Is it too big to park in front of a Ljubljana apartment building? Absolutely. Would I have one? In a second. The only sad thing is that we'll have to travel to the other side of the world to get it, where the water in the drain spins in the opposite direction and the spiders are as big as dogs. But for a machine like this? Maybe it's worth the risk.
Ford created a category for itself with this model. Now we wait to see if they have the courage to bring it to our country, where it would probably be registered as a tractor but driven with the pride of a supercar.
