Australia's best-selling vehicle has quietly ditched its most argued-about part. Ford has confirmed the MY26.5 Ford Ranger deletes the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel and its wet timing belt, the component long-term owners kept fretting about, and replaces it with an enhanced single-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. All prices are plus on-road costs and were checked against Ford Australia on 16 September 2026.
What changes and what it costs
The new single-turbo 2.0 makes 125kW and 405Nm, runs a timing chain in place of the wet belt, and pairs with the 10-speed automatic. Ford quotes smoother performance and improved durability. The entry XL Cab-Chassis holds at $37,130, unchanged despite added standard kit, and the range still tops out at $90,690 for the Raptor. The bigger news for buyers is the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, now offered on more variants including the Ranger XL 4WD for the first time. New Tremor and Wolftrak special editions join the range, and advanced driver-assist features, including the Driver Assist Technology Bar, now reach all Cab-Chassis models.
Cartell Assessment
Losing the wet belt is the headline for anyone who keeps a ute past warranty, and it answers the reliability question buyers ask about the Toyota HiLux and BYD Shark 6. Holding the entry price while spreading the V6 further down the range is a real win, not just a brochure tweak.
AU Outlook
Order books are open now, with first deliveries due mid-2026. Expect Toyota to answer, and watch whether the cheaper road to the V6 pulls tradie buyers up the range.
