First Ford came for the LandCruiser with the Ranger Super Duty. Now Toyota answers. Not with a new truck. But with a heavier version of the HiLux we already know.
The Upgrade
From August 2026 you can order the factory-engineered Gross Vehicle Mass upgrade. It costs four thousand dollars. You get the standard warranty. That’s it.
What do you get? More payload. Between 372kg and 435kg extra depending on which model you bought. Top payload hits 1525kg on paper. The rear shocks change. Monotubes this time. Longer ones. Ride height goes up by 10mm. Front axle takes another 100kg. Rear takes 280kg more.
Eligible Models
You can’t just put it on any ute. Toyota drew a line. Here are the ones that make the cut:
- WorkMate double-cab
- WorkMate double-cab chassis
- SR extra-cab
- SR double-cab chassis
- SR double-cab
- SR5 double-cab
They all run that 2.8-litre turbodiesel. Some have the 48v mild-hybrid setup. The SR and SR5 dual-cabs do. You need the six-speed auto. The manuals aren’t getting a lift here. Output stays at 150kw and 500nm of torque.
John Pappas at Toyota says it lets customers “maximise the vehicle’s already-excellent load-carry capabilities”. He mentions fleets and private buyers alike. The key selling point is warranty.
Being Toyota’s very own factory-fitted, option ensures the HiLux retains Toyota five year warranty.
Aftermarket kits don’t offer that safety. Pedders and Ironman have been doing this for years. Ironman’s kit gets you to 3500kg GVM. It costs around four grand too if you install it before registration. Toyota is just competing with itself on brand trust rather than pure capacity.
The Reality Check
Does 1525kg payload beat Ford?
No.
The Ranger Super Duty carries between 1825kg and 1982kg. There is no contest there. But then look at the price. The Super Duty starts near eighty three thousand dollars. Can top out near a hundred. The HiLux upgrade is an accessory on a tool.
So it’s not a fair fight. Toyota isn’t trying to build a luxury hauler. It’s trying to make its workhorse slightly less likely to snap under the weight of a canopy or a crew of three.
Which is probably all most people actually need anyway. Or do they? Maybe they want the Super Duty because it feels more like a truck than a car with a tray on the back.
Toyota thinks five years warranty is worth more than an extra 300kgs. You decide if it is. The doors open in August.
