- Toyota’s chief engineer calls a RAV4-based pickup quite appealing.
- Executives say US dealers are already asking for a compact truck.
- A unibody Toyota pickup would target the popular Ford Maverick.
Toyota has spent decades building one of the most popular mid-size pickups anywhere on the map, the Hilux. Buoyed by that track record, it already has a smaller truck on Corolla Cross underpinnings headed for South America, and now the company has floated a RAV4-based pickup aimed directly at the Ford Maverick.
Also: Toyota’s New Corolla Cross Pickup Just Broke Cover
The new RAV4 was recently launched in Australia, and the SUV’s chief engineer, Yoshinori Futonagane, acknowledged the idea of a “monocoque” pickup like the Maverick, or even the Hyundai Santa Cruz, holds genuine appeal. However, he stopped short of confirming if Toyota is actively developing such a model.
Illustrations Theottle
“I admit, you’re quite right,” he told Australia’s Drive. “The market for a monocoque pickup truck is quite appealing. There are no official plans or anything to do with developing a monocoque pickup. But deep in our heart of hearts, we all think, wouldn’t that be fun?”
Read: Maverick Beware, Toyota Could Launch A RAV4-Based Pickup
This isn’t the first time Toyota has revealed interest in a RAV4-based pickup. Last month, Toyota North America chief executive Tetsuo Ogawa said the demand is already sitting there, waiting to be served.
“For the compact truck? Definitely, we have such demand,” he said. “A RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting. Maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time.”
Can Toyota Make It Work?
Of course, there’s no guarantee that a new baby Toyota pickup would be a success. The Hyundai Tucson-based Santa Cruz has never been a particularly hot seller for the brand in the US, and according to recent reports, it could be axed sooner than initially planned.
Admittedly, Toyota has a stronger reputation in America than Hyundai, especially when it comes to reliability. In addition, the Tacoma and Tundra have proven themselves to be brilliant pickups, so the appetite for a smaller, monocoque truck from Toyota would likely be higher than one from Hyundai.
