Newer smaller Toyota truck model?

The tundra isn’t getting 23/29 mpg of the turbo 2.0, nor the 36 combined of the hybrid version

 

I'm not a 5-lug guy by any means, but the 6-foot bed is definitely better than a 4.5-foot bed. And, yes, I understand that the Maverick's tailgate does fancy shit to make carrying lumber or whatever easier, but the fact of the matter is that the 6-foot bed has greater volume.

 

I was basing a lot of what I've been talking about on the info posted back on page 1 in this thread (Fuelly.com showing ~24-26mpgs, few people getting more than that). No mention of a hybrid.

Out of all this back and forth, this is the first I knew about a hybrid version, and doing a quick search yeah, it's nice to see those numbers.

I appreciate the additional info.

 

Sure, but that 6 foot bed didnt come with usable seats for you kids/dogs, so let’s call it a wash

 

Consider the target market though. Probably lots of folks who live in cities with tight parking and maybe they just need a small bed to run to the neighborhood Home Depot once ever few weeks. My grandad always had a truck. If he was still around, he would probably get this. My father in law is eyeing one. He just needs a fuel efficient little run around that can haul some feed and handle dirt and gravel roads. It's perfect for him.

 

The local gardener needs room for lawnmowers, mulch, and irrigation pipes in the cheap truck he's replacing his 450,000+ mile 199X Tacoranger with.

 

I never meant to sound like there wasn't a target audience, just that, at least with the initial info I had (that's since been at least partially corrected), didn't seem like that great of a truck just from the initial MPG numbers early in the thread. Though I do stand by my previous statement that a car + small utility trailer is effectively the same thing as just Maverick (obviously no trailer) but with better mpgs. So for me, that's where I'd focus my money. Better overall mpgs but with the ability to hook up a small trailer for those home depot/feed runs.

Obviously there's an audience for it since it seems to be selling well. I'd just rather have seen something that swung the pendulum more towards heavier capacities without all the leather and fluff you get with the 1794 Tundras or whatever. It doesn't need to be a stripped down shitbox with milk crates for seats, but for the RV crowd for example, a truck that could tow 6-7k pounds and get 20mpg while towing it would be a game changer. I bet people would line up to buy one even if it cost $60k.

The one thing that is nice about the Maverick is that it looks like they're offering the hybrid in all trim levels. Toyota is being stupid and only offering the hybrid in their higher end models.

 

That guy isn’t buying a new truck, and never has. The used market will always be that guy’s bread and butter, so why would car makers cater to him?

 

True re the stripped down, I've always been a minimalist with add-ons even now that I'm buying new or newer than the stuff I had as a teen/20 something. Back then I did my best to avoid power goodies as they were around the age that they'd start breaking.

 

Benchseat Billy just wants his kid, dog, and wife to have a front row view when he's off the job, friend.

 

I miss the days of driving around with your arm around your best girl on a bench seat....

 

My wife asked if I could swap a bench into my 99, so now I’m looking into the idea. She loves chillin in the middle

 

My single cab has a bench seat..

 

Apples and oranges. Now, if Maverick sales consistently outpace Ranger sales, then I think Toyota might take notice.

 

This is exactly why I like my DCLB. It’s as big as a full-size used to be, but I didn’t have to pay $65,000 for it.

 

They already have a smaller truck...

 

I'm not sure why people are hung up on this comparison of *sales* the Tundra and Maverick. I made the original comparison of the *sales* of these two vehicles illustrate the point that the Maverick is selling really well. It's more than obvious they are not competing models.

But since you mentioned the Ranger, yeah the Maverick is outselling that too. There is no way Toyota is not seeing this and thinking about its strategy.

 

They have thought about a compact truck already, way back in ‘07. Just never brought it to market.Had some cool features. Not the best looking thing, of course Toyota’s styling has been off the rails for quite some time now, A-Bat seems tame in comparison what Toyota is currently doing.

https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/28/toyotaabat_01.jpg

 

I'd like to see a return of a basic, light weight, body on frame 4wd. The Suzuki Jimny is a modern day example of exactly that.

 

Cost is totally relevant. The $40K in savings of buying the $20K Maverick over a $60K Tundra buys an awful lot of fuel…

Two completely different target markets though.

I could make the Maverick work, just needs to fit a couple dirt bikes and gear bags, but like at least a 6’ bed, and don’t think it would hold up to years and years of running down wash board roads like my Toyota trucks have.

Though if I was going that route a Bronco Sport and a lightweight trailer makes more sense, could at least sleep in the Sport while camping.