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Toyota officials have downplayed the possibility of a compact pickup, following reports the company was considering a Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz competitor.
Speaking with Automotive News, Toyota Motor North America Group Vice President and General Manager Dave Christ said the company watched the Maverick closely, but “We don’t have anything planned.” However, he conceded a smaller truck is “something we’ve looked at” and could potentially help them with increasingly strict fuel economy standards.
Christ went on to acknowledge the Tundra and Tacoma are far larger than their predecessors. In particular, the T100 measured 209.1 inches (5,311 mm) long and had a 121.8 inch (3,094 mm) wheelbase. To put those numbers into perspective, the shortest Tundra is 233.6 inches (5,933 mm) long and has a 145.7 inch (3,701 mm) wheelbase. Even the outgoing Tacoma is larger than the T100, which was a full-size truck at the time.
More: Toyota Reportedly Considering Corolla-Based Pickup Truck To Take On Ford Maverick
While Toyota doesn’t appear to have plans for a compact pickup, dealers are clamoring for one. Automotive News talked to Steve Gates, who is the chairman of the Toyota National Dealer Council, and he told the publication both himself and other members of the council’s product committee have formally requested a smaller truck.
Gates went on to tell the publication that his Ford dealership can’t keep up with Maverick demand and the model “hasn’t affected Ranger or F-150 [sales] one bit.” The Maverick, of course, has been a runaway success as the compact pickup racked up 74,370 sales in the United States last year.
While it remains to be seen if Toyota will comply with dealer requests for a compact pickup, previous reports have suggested the company was considering a truck based on the Corolla. However, it reportedly wouldn’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest, assuming it gets greenlighted in the first place.
