Toyota Is Finally Entertaining the Tiny, Affordable Truck Everyone Wants

The prospect of a RAV4-based pickup wasn’t on our bingo cards for 2026.

Front grille and hood of a dark gray Toyota vehicle with LED lights on a dirt road.

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Published May 14, 2026

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Updated May 15, 2026

Toyota has a pretty robust history of making pickups. Nevertheless, we weren’t expecting to hear that the big Japanese auto giant is potentially considering a tiny, affordable truck based on the RAV4.

Yep, you read that correctly. According to Automotive News, which sat down with Toyota North America CEO Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa, the Big T might be tripling down on its pickup plans.

Those could involve taking the RAV4, chopping its arse off and making a car-based crossover SUV model to pick up where the Hyundai Santa Cruz left off.

Toyota may answer the call for a small, affordable pickup before anyone else

Gray Toyota SUV driving on a dusty dirt road with headlights on under a cloudy sky. — A Toyota RAV4-based pickup has the chance of becoming a reality.

Toyota has maintained a firm hold on the pickup market for decades, thanks to the global Hilux and North America’s Tacoma and Tundra. Because even though the Tundra is up against some stiff competition from Detroit, its Tacoma is the ultimate go-to in the midsize market.

But now, the company wants to apparently amp up its pickup superiority in a space where everyone’s clamoring for one.

As pickups have grown in size and popularity, they’ve also gotten exponentially more expensive. With automakers prioritizing midsize and full-size models, those looking for smaller, more affordable options have been left out.

Blue-gray SUV towing a black metal smoker trailer on a suburban street with blurred trees and houses. — Could you imagine a RAV4 with its rear end lopped off?

Some carmakers know this and are working to address the major hole in the market and meet the demand for smaller trucks. Now, Toyota could be rushing to the frontline with one.

“There is, of course, some opportunity for us in the commercial area, but it is new to us,” Ogawa said when asked about more commercial vehicles and a small pickup. “We need to study more. But for the compact truck? Definitely, we have such demand.”

Could Toyota succeed where Hyundai didn’t?

Silver SUV with open rear hatch parked on a forest path near a log cabin with people and a dog. — A RAV4-based small pickup could be the answer to everyone’s call for an affordable alternative.

Pickup truck lovers have been clamoring for a small, affordable model for years. A few companies tried answering the demand.

Most recently was Hyundai, which gave us the quirky Santa Cruz pickup. However, although seemingly perfect in concept, it didn’t quite take off.

Some point to the fact that it was based off a crossover SUV, rather than a more conventional body-on-frame platform. Others say it was too expensive for what it was.

Red four-door pickup truck driving on a dirt road in a desert landscape with mountains in the background. — Do you think a RAV4-based pickup would succeed where Hyundai’s Santa Cruz didn’t?

But despite the Santa Cruz’s flop, interestingly, Toyota could be attempting the same sort of recipe with this RAV4 pickup prospect. There are also other examples in the past where car-based pickups did well enough to leave an impression. Such examples include the Subaru Baja and the Volkswagen Rabbit-based Pickup from the ’70s and ’80s.

“A RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting,” Ogawa continued. “Maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time.”

Silver Toyota T100 single-cab pickup truck parked on a dirt road with rocky hills in the background. — The T100 from the early 1990s was the last time Toyota made a pickup of small proportions, despite the T100’s status as the Tundra’s predecessor.

Toyota Chief Operating Officer, Mark Templin, also hinted at the prospect of a more affordable pickup in recent years. But he emphasized the need for patience as he felt the segment still needs time to grow.

Currently, Ford is the leader in the push for small pickups with its Maverick compact pickup. It remains the best-seller with over 155,000 sold just last year.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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