Toyota could follow in Ford and Hyundai’s lead and bring to market a car-based ute to sit below the HiLux, as well as larger international models like the Tacoma and Tundra.
Like the Maverick and Santa Cruz from Ford and Hyundai respectively, the mooted sub-HiLux pick-up could be built on a mid-size SUV platform – in the case the RAV4 – meaning more car-like handling and even a hybrid powertrain.
This is all according to Toyota Motor North America group vice-president of product planning and strategy Cooper Ericksen, who told US publication MotorTrend that the Japanese brand will follow market demands.
“If there’s a customer that needs a rugged, smaller body-on-frame vehicle, we can consider that, but if it’s more for urban use and less extreme off-road, then it would make more sense to use the TNGA unibody platform,” he said.
Toyota’s TNGA platform underpins many of its new-generation product thanks to its modularity, ranging from the Yaris, Corolla and Camry, to the C-HR, RAV4 and Kluger, all the way up to the LandCruiser 300 Series and Tundra pick-up.
But why a monocoque ute? Toyota Motor North America executive vice-president of sales Bob Carter also told MotorTrend that the brand is watching its competitors closely.
“One of the spaces we’re looking at—that won’t be short-term—is where the compact pick-up truck is going. You have Santa Cruz and Maverick on the market, and it will be interesting to see [Volkswagen’s] Scout,” he said.
“Today, we have the market really well covered with Tacoma, but that [a compact pick-up] could be a possibility and something we continue to look at.”
So, don’t expect to see the sub-HiLux ute from Toyota anytime soon at least, but the two executives did hint at more potential news next year, which means a market debut could happen in 2024 or 2025.
With the appetite for Toyota’s HiLux workhorse, Australia’s best-selling vehicle, and extended wait times for the RAV4 Hybrid, Australia’s best-selling SUV, a union of the two could be another sell-out success for the Japanese brand.
Whether it becomes a reality, or even makes its way to Australia, that’s another story entirely, however.
Keyword: Toyota sets sights on sub-HiLux ute with potential Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz competitor: Report