Newer smaller Toyota truck model?

With the sales success of the Ford Maverick, I wonder if we'll see Toyota respond with a future smaller Toyota truck model in the US. Reading comments from Toyota management, these seemed adamant in the recent past that they would not create such a truck, but I have to think they'll be revisiting this position.

Personally, I think there would be substantial demand for such a Toyota truck. I'm biased, but I've never been a fan of the trend of ever increasing truck sizes with each year. I find them wasteful and often ugly, which is partly why I gravitate to the Gen 1 Tacos.

An electric version of such a smaller truck might be cool as well (and super fast).

 

If my vote counts for anything, I think it's small enough as it is now !

 

Sorry I should have made myself clear. I mean smaller than the current Gen 3 Taco. I wouldn't imagine they would replace the current Taco, just add a different newer smaller truck model.

 

It seems like the prevailing thought is that trucks got big because Americans prefer bigger vehicles, but I think the CAFE standards had just as much of an impact. When they changed to the "footprint" model, the target MPG of a vehicle was based on area inside the wheelbase. It's easier to make a vehicle bigger than it is to improve fuel efficiency, so trucks got bigger. In theory having smaller turbo I4s and hybrids should allow manufacturers to produce smaller trucks again, like the Maverick. But with everyone wanting double cabs with 5 ft beds it's not clear how well a truly small truck would sell these days. Will be interesting to see the sales numbers on the Maverick.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_average_fuel_economy#New_"Footprint"_model

 

I don't even really consider the Maverick or the Ridgeline "trucks".

 

The Maverick outsold the Tundra in a recent month (January I think). No way that Toyota hasn't noticed that.

 

I'd buy one!

 

Except it fills the truck mission for 90% of American truck buyers

 

I’d love a new small pickup. 3g ACLB Tacoma is too big compared to my 1G

 

I do think there is a market for the small trucks. We'll see how it plays out.

 

That's only because Toyota had no Tundra's available to sell !

 

This is also true for the Maverick.

 

Or just make a single cab again. I love mine and it does whatever I need.

 

They sold so many that they had to shut the order book off until they swap to the 2023 model year. I'd say they found a gap in the market that got left behind with the phase out of the ranger and the 1G taco.

 

right, aren't the Mavericks unibody with IRS? If Toyota went back to the 1st gen Taco roots I would be all over that

well...maybe. Because even if they went back to a pickup the size of the 1st gen it would still probably be full of electronic safety features and other nannies I don't want

 

The maverick has a 4000lb tow rating and 1500lb payload


Sounds startlingly close to a first gen Tacoma “truck”

 

It definitely has a lot going for it, being the cheapest truck on this list:
https://www.motortrend.com/features/cheapest-new-pickup-trucks/

And having these kind of fuel economy numbers will sell some trucks
https://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/maverick/2022

 

I would LOVE for the Tacoma to revert back to what it was. Now, they're bigger than the older Tundras were, and it's dumb.

This is exactly why I prefer the 1st gens over newer models.

 

We all claim to want a small pickup then mock them when they get released