From HiLux to Super Duty: Was the Switch Worth It?

Changing vehicles is one thing. Walking away from a HiLux that’s taken you halfway across the continent and brought you home again takes a bit more convincing. Familiarity counts, especially when you’ve spent years getting a touring setup just right.

That was the question behind a post in the Ford Ranger Super Duty Australia Facebook group: had anyone moved from a HiLux to a Super Duty, and did they regret it?

The replies supplied were overwhelmingly positive, but the useful parts went beyond the usual Ford-versus-Toyota cheering. Owners described what they were towing, which vehicles they still had in the driveway and where they reckoned the HiLux remained the better choice. It’s an enthusiast group rather than a representative survey, but there’s enough detail to make the comparisons interesting.

Jumping ship with a caravan behind

For Jardon Vagne, moving from a 2021 HiLux Rugged X to an XLT Super Duty came with a decent dose of second-guessing.

“Couldn’t sleep for a week worrying about jumping ship. I’ve had the SD for over a month now and couldn’t be happier,” he wrote. His reasons were fairly practical. “Tows awesome, creature comforts and most of all I can carry more than a fridge in the back when pulling the van. No regrets.”

That last comment gets to the heart of a familiar touring headache. The caravan is only part of the load; there’s still everything you want to carry in the ute. Jardon’s fridge reference is his description of the difference, rather than a measured comparison, but it explains what made the change worthwhile for him.

Theresa Hutcheon offered another perspective from a household that still has both vehicles. “We have both a Rugged X and a SD, I love driving the SD, tows our boat like a dream and carries our slide on like a trooper, and just to top it off super comfortable.”

There are no weights or fuel figures attached to either account. What they do provide is a clear picture of the jobs these owners value their Super Duty for: towing, carrying a touring setup and being comfortable along the way.

The HiLux still gets a vote on tracks

Jeremy Curtis’s comparison is particularly useful because his praise comes with a qualification. He loves the Super Duty, but hasn’t decided that makes the HiLux second-best everywhere. “The Hilux is nimble and punchy, the super duty’s heavy and big. I would prefer my Hilux on a 4×4 track but super duty every where else. So Damn comfortable.”

That’s a more revealing assessment than declaring either vehicle the winner. Jeremy describes two different driving experiences, with the HiLux’s manoeuvrability still earning his vote on tracks.

For his other driving, the Super Duty gets the nod. Comfort features repeatedly in the comments, but his willingness to name a situation where he’d choose the Toyota gives that praise more substance.

The next 250,000km will tell another story

Gavin Marshall’s account makes it clear he wasn’t escaping a disappointing HiLux. “My loved and trusted 2016 Hilux took me over mountains and across deserts with out fault.” He described himself as very happy with the Super Duty, although still getting accustomed to its technology. His benchmark for the Ford was the vehicle it replaced.

“If it’s as good as the Hilux over the next 250000km I will be a happy Chappy. So far I think its capabilities are even better”

That leaves the discussion in a sensible place. These owners are finding plenty to like about the switch, particularly for towing, carrying gear and comfort. There are also reservations about size on tracks, dealer service and how the vehicles will age.

For Gavin, the Super Duty has made a strong first impression. Matching the trusted HiLux over another quarter of a million kilometres is the part still to come.