As outlandish as this idea may seem, it still makes a lot of sense since platform sharing is a common practice in the automotive industry. In fact, it could be one of the best moves for the brand if the rumor turns out to be true.
According to what we know, Toyota may be announcing the arrival of a new compact pickup truck in its lineup in 2027. The goal of this truck would be to compete with the popular Ford Maverick. The success of the model is attributed to several factors, starting with its attractive price made possible through platform sharing. If you didn\'t know, the Ford Maverick is actually based on the Bronco Sport and the Escape. Hyundai with the Tucson and the Santa Cruz is another example of platform sharing.
So, Toyota might follow suit, and the platform of the Corolla would serve as the foundation for this new pickup truck. Cost reduction in production is a significant advantage with this method, for sure. However, what would be most beneficial for such a pickup truck is the use of the Corolla name itself. The Corolla was the best-selling car in the country last year, surpassing the Civic, which had been the reigning champion for years. The compact car from the Japanese automaker is even more popular elsewhere in the world. In fact, the Corolla is the best-selling car in the world of all time, with over 50,000,000 units sold.
A Growing Segment
Whether we like it or not, SUVs and pickup trucks are currently in high demand, especially affordable models. Thus, Toyota simply cannot afford to miss the mark with a compact pickup truck based on the Corolla. Not to mention, there are very few competitors in this category, especially in North America.
In terms of mechanics, we could expect a similar offering to what is found in the Toyota Corolla Cross lineup. The latter offers a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque in its gasoline version. As for the hybrid version, it also uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors for a total power output of 194 horsepower.
Nothing official has been announced by Toyota yet, but all rumors seem to agree that this pickup truck could hit the market in 2027. This could coincide with the arrival of the next-generation Corolla and Corolla Cross. Stay tuned...
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
