AUSTRALIA GETS COOL FORD AND TOYOTA CARS WE’LL APPARENTLY NEVER SEE

While American car buyers are being herded into ever-softer SUVs and turbo-four crossovers, Australia is still living the dream. It’s rich with a fleet of rugged, diesel-powered, off-road-ready machines from Ford and Toyota that we’ll likely never see on U.S. soil. Some are too niche, some fall victim to taxes or regulations, and others simply don’t fit the U.S. automakers’ strategy. 

Either way, enthusiasts are left watching YouTube walkarounds and muttering, “Why not us?”

Let’s start with Ford

Australia gets the full spread of the Ranger lineup, including trims Americans don’t see. The Ranger Platinum is the big one: a luxury ute (that’s Aussie for pickup) with quilted leather, active noise cancellation, and a burly 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 making 443 lb-ft of torque. It’s posh, it’s powerful, and it’s not even trying to pretend it’s just a work truck. 

Then there’s the Ranger Wildtrak X, a factory-built off-road special with Bilstein dampers, full-time 4WD, and rally-bred looks. Both are a far cry from the U.S. Ranger lineup, which skips over diesels and most high-spec variants.

Then there’s the Ford Everest

It’s an SUV that Americans would probably line up for. It’s built on the same platform as the Ranger but offers three rows, a premium interior, and serious off-road cred. Think rear locking diff, low-range gearing, and diesel options like the same 3.0-liter V6 found in the Platinum Ranger.

It’s everything Americans keep asking the Explorer to be, but with way more swagger and trail capability.

Now flip to Toyota, which seems to treat Australia like its personal enthusiast playground

First up: the Land Cruiser 70 Series. This thing is a living fossil…in a good way. Body-on-frame, solid axles, a proper low-range transfer case, and a design that hasn’t changed much since the Cold War. 

In 2024 it got an update with Toyota’s 2.8-liter turbo-diesel and a six-speed auto, adding a bit of modern reliability to its indestructible charm. U.S. buyers are still waiting… but don’t hold your breath.

Then there’s the Land Cruiser 300 Series

Which replaced the outgoing 200 Series globally…but never came to the States. Instead, we got a new Land Cruiser based on the Lexus GX platform. Which we love, of course…GX forever (I’m not kidding, I’d definitely take one any day). The 300 Series, meanwhile, gets twin-turbo V6 power, full-time four-wheel drive, and luxury trim levels like Sahara ZX and GR Sport. In Australia, it’s the flagship. In America, it’s a bit of a missed connection.

Don’t forget the Toyota Fortuner

Built on the same chassis as the HiLux, this mid-size SUV is a rugged, affordable alternative to the Prado or 4Runner. Off-road capable, diesel-powered, and tuned for markets where roads are optional. It’s essentially the SUV Americans keep asking Toyota to build, but Toyota seems content to keep it in right-hand-drive regions.

Speaking of the HiLux, Australia continues to get a full spread of models, including the HiLux GR Sport

This isn’t just a badge-and-decals trim. It gets a wider track, upgraded suspension, and a torque-rich 2.8-liter diesel. It’s Toyota’s answer to the Ranger Raptor. And no, it’s not coming here, thanks to the Chicken Tax and the Tacoma already crowding Toyota’s truck lineup in the U.S. And anyway, we’re expecting some sort of tiny compact pickup from Toyota here soon.

Even vans get more love. The Toyota HiAce is still alive and thriving in Australia, now in a more modern front-engine configuration with seating for up to 12 or full cargo layouts. Over here? Toyota killed it off more than a decade ago, leaving van duty to the likes of Ford Transit or Sprinter.

So while the U.S. gets hybrid Siennas and continuously variable Highlanders, Australia is rolling deep with diesel V6s, real off-road chops, and SUVs that still know what a locking diff is. If you’ve ever wondered where a lot of the cool Toyota and Ford 4x4s went, they didn’t disappear. They just moved to Australia.

2025-06-20T13:32:35Z