Toyota compact pickup truck set to hit U.S. roads soon

A Long Time Coming

Toyota compact pickup truck plans began well before Ford launched the Maverick. The goal? Build a smaller, more affordable truck to sit beneath the popular Tacoma. This move mirrors Toyota’s early history with truly compact trucks, like the 1984 Toyota Pickup.

A Real Toyota Truck

Toyota compact pickup truck plans are confirmed, says Toyota’s planning chief Cooper Ericksen. The company has made key decisions. It will be a unibody vehicle built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). That means it will share parts with other Toyota models and could use the brand’s proven hybrid system.

Toyota’s compact truck won’t just be a budget buy. It must feel like a real Toyota truck—tough, capable, and ready to work.

Affordability Is the Focus

With midsize and full-size trucks crossing $50,000 and $60,000, Toyota sees a major opportunity. Buyers want lighter, fuel-efficient, SUV-like trucks with just enough utility. This upcoming compact truck will hit that sweet spot.

Toyota estimates it could sell 100,000–150,000 units annually in the U.S. once launched.

What’s the Hold-Up?

So why the delay? Toyota is juggling a lot—24 new or updated vehicles are in the pipeline. With many models needing hybrid, plug-in, electric, and fuel cell variants, engineering resources are stretched thin.

Ericksen says there’s no set launch date yet. But the project is alive and moving forward.

Learning from Competitors

Toyota is using its position as a late entrant to study the market carefully. By watching rivals like the Maverick and Santa Cruz, Toyota hopes to avoid missteps. The final product will need to balance functionality, affordability, and efficiency—all wrapped in a tough Toyota build.

When Can You Buy One?

There’s no prototype or concept truck yet. Don’t expect to see it before 2026. Still, the signs are strong. The compact pickup is coming—and it might just reshape the segment.