WHAT price the brawniest Ranger yet?

Good question that. One Ford New Zealand seems still unable to answer.

The ongoing saga of the lack of a sticker for the Super Duty edition of the national favourite Ranger utility has reached point where Ford New Zealand simply won’t reply to inquiry about when it will be resolved.

But it’s now a month since it indicated acceptance of the model, and though first examples are not due until next year, questions about why pricing in Australia has been long resolved, yet New Zealand’s isn’t, are surely becoming increasingly relevant.

The story so far. When Ford made a dual market announcement on June 17 in respect to the initial variants incoming to both country, only Australia also laid out its prices.

Ford New Zealand at that time said t its own sticker schedule for the cab chassis editions would be under wraps for another fortnight, but expected resolution by the first couple of days of July.

Two weeks on from that, still nothing … 

Ford NZ has explained a pricing plan sign off involves the Ford International Markets Group, which is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Unfortunately, NZ won’t be able to release our spec, line up and pricing for another two weeks approximately,” Ford NZ corporate communications manager Tom Clancy said on June 17.

“I can tell you though, like the Australian pricing, ours will be very competitive and we look forward to sharing it with you, our dealers and customers as soon as possible.”

Going by the announcement for Australia, the concept of 'competitive pricing’ perhaps requires a different context that simply comparing with other Rangers.

Over there, the very cheapest Super Duty, a single cab chassis - will kick in for the equivalent of $88,000. 

The most expensive, a double cab chassis, comes up to around $108k, before on-roads. In between those is a super cab type.

At the moment, the most expensive Ranger here is the petrol V6 Raptor, a  $96,490 ask.

The Australian prices preclude adding a steel tray, which prices across the Tasman between $6400 and just on $10k depending on the body style and colour.

The big unknown is if the double cab pick-up and XLT versions coming late in 2026 will be even more costly. At present, pricing for these is not available.

The Super Duty is a radically re-engineered Ranger that is designed to emulate the physically larger Ford F-150 Super Duty that is used for heavy load hauling in North America.

In terms of mechanicals, Ranger Super Duty gets a LOT of upgrades – a stronger chassis, locking front and rear differentials, and a fortified transfer case with a low range. 

It has a 4500kg braked tow rating - so, 1000kg up on the regular Ranger diesel - 8000kg gross combination mass and nearly two tonnes of payload.

While Ford is keen to see comparison with trad big American rigs like the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado - which are pricier but also physically larger - one primary competitor here would logically be the Toyota Landcruiser 70-series, which has just lost its V8 turbodiesel option and now comes with a 2.8-litre turbocharged four.

Ford revealed that its sole Super Duty engine will be the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel it uses in the Wildtrak and other high-end choices, but in detuned state.

While top torque maintains at 600Nm, the power output of 154kW is a 30kW decrease on that from the Wildtrak V6, in part because it has been recalibrated for heavy-duty use but also because it has been set up to meet Euro 6 emissions rules. 

Because of that it requires AdBlue exhaust additive, becoming the second Ranger here in that camp, the other being a model with a Euro 6-tuned version of the 2.0-litre four cylinder biturbo.

Toyota’s 2.8 makes 150kW and 500Nm; so just 1kW less than the V8 but 70Nm more.

A heavy-duty frame-mounted steel bumper, a snorkel, taller side mirrors, standard driving light attachment points, a front bash plate, a unique front hood with “Super Duty” lettering, and an open-weave mesh grille are obvious visual alterations to the Ford.

The Ranger Super Duty is also wider and offers more ground clearance than regular variants, and rolls on a set of eight-lug wheels and 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires.

The cabin features the same standard 12-inch infotainment screen achieved in other Rangers, but there are auxiliary switches in the overhead console. Customers can also opt for what The Blue Oval calls the Integrated Device Mounting system, which enables them to mount devices weighing up to nearly 4kg on the passenger side.