Toyota’s new RAV4-based compact truck to tackle the Maverick

Toyota is ready to launch a small pickup within the US within the subsequent yr or so, to compete with the favored Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Crux. To grasp why Toyota is doing this, let’s think about the complexities and realities of the truck market within the US.

The US is big-truck nation, with full-size pickups just like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado dominating. These are monumental automobiles, costly to purchase, and to drive. Toyota has the Tundra on this section, however the mid-size Tacoma is the higher vendor.

Small vans by no means was in style within the US, however that is altering. A small truck just like the Ford Maverick has 5 seats and the identical drive high quality as a compact SUV, however with the added options of the loadbed. That is in style for each work and way of life use — to not point out that these vans are additionally cheaper to purchase and to run than the larger ones.

What to anticipate

Extra RAV4 than child Tacoma

The brand new small Toyota truck may have a unibody building, like a automobile the place the physique and chassis are collectively in a single, built-in construction. The Tacoma and different greater vans use body-on-frame building, which is extra rugged, however the Toyota, just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Fe, may have a larger bias to city driving.

A unibody car weighs much less, which provides higher gasoline economic system. It’s also extra inflexible and has a decrease heart of gravity, which provides higher dealing with. It is quieter and provides a smoother experience, whereas the built-in building makes it safer in an accident.

Sharing a platform with the RAV4

Toyota, like most carmakers, has plenty of normal platforms it may use to construct a brand new car on. The one used for the Corolla might be too small, however the model used for the RAV4, Camry, and Highlander would appear a good guess. It will have a four-door, five-seat cabin, and a squarish loadbed about 54 by 54 inches.

Energy and drivetrain

Que the ’26 RAV4

If the brand new small Toyota truck is predicated on the RAV4 (which I count on), we are able to anticipate the identical 2.5L hybrid engine, with a less expensive FWD and 226 hp choice, and AWD with two motors and 236 hp. Toyota has been aggressively shifting its gas-only vehicles to hybrid format, and it will proceed right here. A tantalizing choice shall be including a PHEV model as with the ’26 RAV4, in a position to go 50 miles on battery alone, and making a mixed 320 hp. Why not?

Pricing

You may get a primary fuel Tacoma for $32K, which is identical because the RAV4 hybrid. The Tacoma will get about 22 mpg, whereas the RAV4 will get about 39 mpg. So I count on the baseline truck to begin simply above $30K, a bit greater than the Ford Maverick. I do not suppose Toyota goes to attempt to outcheap Ford or Hyundai, however as a substitute provide a compelling truck at an inexpensive worth.

Appears to be like and identify

Anticipate an offroad vibe

Credit score: Toyota

Regardless that the brand new Toyota shall be aimed extra at city than off-road driving, I count on the design to replicate the extra aggressive, chunky look discovered on the Tundra and Tacoma. So large wheel arches with outstanding flares, the identical trapezoid grille, and customarily angular traces. I do not suppose it’ll appear to be a RAV4 with a loadbed.

The inside, nonetheless, shall be extra refined and car-like, in all probability similar to the RAV4. You do not have to surrender the finer options that work so effectively in metropolis driving.

What is going to the truck be known as?

The identify Stout is commonly talked about, as a result of Toyota used to have a lightweight truck within the ’60s with that moniker. I could show to be improper, however I doubt they might use that identify. It was used too way back, and the unique Stout was solely made for about 5 years earlier than being discontinued. There is not sufficient heritage related to it. The identify Hilux has been floated, however that is what the Tacoma known as in the remainder of the world.

My guess is that it might be some type of geographic characteristic beginning with the letter T, just like the Tundra (a semi-frozen panorama) or the Tacoma (the Native American identify for Mount Rainier). My guess is that it might be some type of geographic characteristic beginning with the letter T, just like the Tundra (a semi-frozen panorama) or the Tacoma (the Native American identify for Mount Rainier). A fast search discovered a Tuff, or a type of volcanic rock, which I believe would actually land effectively: the Toyota Tuff.

The Stout identify is also reintroduced and revamped — which is one other time period for both robust, courageous, or obese.