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 12 months or so, to compete with the favored Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Crux. To know 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 vehicles by no means was once standard 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 standard for each work and way of life use — to not point out that these vehicles 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 development, like a automobile the place the physique and chassis are collectively in a single, built-in construction. The Tacoma and different larger vehicles use body-on-frame development, 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 automobile weighs much less, which provides higher gas economic system. It’s also extra inflexible and has a decrease middle of gravity, which provides higher dealing with. It is quieter and provides a smoother journey, whereas the built-in development makes it safer in an accident.

Sharing a platform with the RAV4

Toyota, like most carmakers, has plenty of customary platforms it will possibly use to construct a brand new automobile 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 wager. 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 relies on the RAV4 (which I anticipate), we are able to anticipate the identical 2.5L hybrid engine, with a less expensive FWD and 226 hp possibility, 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 possibility might be including a PHEV model as with the ’26 RAV4, capable of go 50 miles on battery alone, and making a mixed 320 hp. Why not?

Pricing

You will get a fundamental gasoline 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 anticipate the baseline truck to begin simply above $30K, a bit greater than the Ford Maverick. I do not suppose Toyota goes to try to outcheap Ford or Hyundai, however as a substitute supply a compelling truck at an affordable value.

Appears and title

Count on an offroad vibe

Credit score: Toyota

Despite the fact that the brand new Toyota might be aimed extra at city than off-road driving, I anticipate the design to mirror the extra aggressive, chunky look discovered on the Tundra and Tacoma. So massive wheel arches with distinguished flares, the identical trapezoid grille, and usually angular strains. I do not suppose it can appear like a RAV4 with a loadbed.

The inside, nevertheless, might 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’s going to the truck be referred to as?

The title Stout is usually talked about, as a result of Toyota used to have a light-weight truck within the ’60s with that moniker. I could show to be flawed, however I doubt they’d use that title. 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 title Hilux has been floated, however that is what the Tacoma is named in the remainder of the world.

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

The Stout title may be reintroduced and revamped — which is one other time period for both sturdy, courageous, or chubby.