Toyota Once Again Says It’s Considering a Small Pickup
The remarkable success of the Ford Maverick does not escape the attention of Toyota executives, and two of them have just rekindled the hopes of enthusiasts waiting for a smaller and more affordable pickup than the Tacoma in North America.
“We’re looking at it,” Toyota’s chief operating officer in the U.S., Mark Templin, told Bloomberg in recent days, though he failed to provide more details or a possible timetable.
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Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice president in charge of planning and strategy in the U.S., also chimed in, saying “We could really do well in that segment, so we’re trying to do it. It’s a matter of timing.”
The rumour mill began spinning three years ago when Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America, revealed that “[a compact pickup] could be a possibility and something we continue to look at.” Then, in August 2023, a reliable source told Automotive News that Toyota was considering one as an expansion of the Corolla and Corolla Cross lineup in the second half of the decade.
In the U.S., Toyota's most affordable pickup right now is the Tacoma XtraCab at $31,590. It's a Tacoma model we don't have here in Canada because it comes with two seats only.
However, just like the Maverick, an entry-level compact pickup would target a different type of customers—people more interested in recreation and DIY stuff than serious work, towing and off-road driving. They could save not only on the purchase price, but also at the pump.
Could the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 serve as a foundation? That would make sense, in the same way that the Maverick derives from the Escape and the Hyundai Santa Cruz from the Tucson. And it would have the hybrid powertrain that many Toyota customers are looking for. Digital artist @Theottle had fun creating one:
Remember, Toyota has a plant down in Kentucky that assembles the RAV4 to serve the American market, although the site would probably require an expansion since it also builds the Camry and Lexus ES, not to mention future electric SUVs.
Speaking of electric vehicles, Toyota is preparing a battery-powered pickup that will go on sale in Europe by the end of 2026. Not to be denied, some Canadians are converting Corollas into electric pickups, as we reported in a September 2022 story. Keep in touch to stay up to date on all the latest Toyota news.