The Toyota Corolla Truck Could Dethrone the Ford Maverick
It might be time for the Ford Maverick to watch its back because the Toyota Corolla truck is reportedly in the works. But what in the world is the Toyota Corolla Cross-based pickup truck, and what does it have on the Maverick?
What do we know about the Toyota Corolla Cross Pickup truck?
The Toyota Corolla Cross-based pickup truck is the latest teaser from Toyota. Reportedly, this vehicle would be a compact truck that slots under the Toyota Tacoma to meet the rampant demand for a smaller option.
Just like the Ford Maverick started all this fuss. Rumors about potential rivals like the Ram Dakota and Chevy Cyclone have emerged, so Toyota might be on to something as the Maverick fails to keep up with its long list of orders.
Also, the process of crafting this truck could be fairly easy. The Maverick is based on the Escape, and the Hyundai Santa Cruz is based on the Ford Maverick. We’re just a little surprised because the Toyota RAV4 seemed like a shoo-in for this.
Perhaps using the Corolla Cross truck would be cheaper to manufacture. It can also be built in Alabama with the Corolla Cross SUV.
How much power will the Corolla Cross-based truck have?
There are no official power estimates for the Toyota Corolla Cross truck yet. Also, the new generation is expected to debut soon. So the current engine options might be replaced by more powerful and efficient options.
Currently, the standard Corolla Cross engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder option with 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. That’s just not enough juice. Plus, what about hybrid power? All of the other Toyota trucks have a more powerful hybrid powertrain. But the Corolla Cross Hybrid boosts things to 196 hp.
The standard Ford Maverick engine is the gas-powered 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit with 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The Maverick Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and battery pack to generate 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque.
We dream about the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid powertrain. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to crank out 219 hp. Plus, it gets an EPA-estimated 40 mpg, which matches the Maverick Hybrid. But the Corolla Cross Hybrid provides an EPA-estimated 45 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway.
Also, the Toyota Corolla Cross truck would have an advantage by pairing a hybrid powertrain with AWD. Currently, the Maverick Hybrid isn’t available with AWD.
The new truck would need to tow at least 4,000 lbs to match the Maverick. However, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 lbs.
When will the Toyota Corolla truck come out?
Bad news, everyone, we could be waiting a while. The Toyota Corolla Cross truck isn’t expected to debut until 2027. That feels like it’s light years away. A brand new Ford Maverick model could come out by then.
According to rumors, the Toyota Corolla Cross-based pickup truck is still being discussed. The idea is being taken seriously but hasn’t been given the green light yet.
However, this is the second time Toyota has teased us about a new compact truck, so something could be in the works.
