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Ford did not just launch the Maverick. It cracked open a part of the pickup market that plenty of rivals had either ignored or misunderstood. Since arriving in 2021, the compact truck has become the rare affordable workhorse that people actually want in huge numbers, and the sales tell the story. In the United States alone, Ford moved 155,051 Mavericks last year, up 18.2 percent from 2024. More telling still, it outsold the Ranger by more than two to one.
That kind of success tends to make competitors nervous. Or inspired. Sometimes both.
Now Toyota appears to be seriously looking at a response, and it could come from a very familiar place. According to comments made by Toyota Motor North America CEO Tetsuo Ogawa to Automotive News, a pickup based on the RAV4 is very much on the company’s radar. His wording was careful, but the message was clear enough: the opportunity is there, dealers want it, and Toyota knows it.
What makes the idea especially interesting is not just the body style. It is the mechanical package Toyota could bring to the fight. If this future compact pickup really does borrow heavily from the latest RAV4, Ford’s Maverick may suddenly find itself facing a rival with more power, better efficiency, and a stronger hybrid story right out of the gate.
The smart money is on electrified muscle
The redesigned RAV4 already gives Toyota a strong foundation. In standard hybrid form, it uses a 2.5 litre four cylinder setup delivering 226 hp in front wheel drive trim. Choose all wheel drive and a rear mounted electric motor joins the mix, lifting total output to 236 hp.
That is already enough to raise eyebrows in this segment. The Maverick Hybrid tops out at 191 hp, which means a RAV4 based truck could offer a meaningful edge in day to day performance without abandoning fuel economy.
And efficiency matters here. A lot. The Maverick Hybrid is rated at up to 5.6 l/100 km in the city, 6.7 l/100 km on the highway, and 6.2 l/100 km combined. The RAV4 Hybrid, by comparison, posts stronger figures at roughly 5.0 l/100 km city, 5.9 l/100 km highway, and 5.5 l/100 km combined. If Toyota can preserve anything close to that in pickup form, it would have a compelling pitch for buyers who want utility without the usual fuel bill.
Then there is the more ambitious possibility. Toyota already sells a plug in hybrid RAV4 that brings significantly more firepower. That version combines a 2.5 litre engine, dual electric motor assistance, and a 22.7 kWh battery pack for a hefty 324 hp. It can also travel up to 84 km on electric power alone.
Imagine that formula in a compact pickup. Suddenly this would not just be a Maverick alternative. It could become the quick, efficient lifestyle truck many buyers did not realize they were waiting for.
Of course, wanting a product and approving one are two very different things. Ogawa made that much clear when he said it takes time. That is corporate language, but in this case it also reflects reality. Even when a platform already exists, turning a crossover into a pickup that feels durable, useful, and commercially viable is not a small job.
Still, Toyota has a habit of moving carefully and then arriving with something polished. And if the company does green light a compact truck based on the RAV4, it would walk into a market that has already been validated by Ford and only lightly contested elsewhere.
Hyundai tried to tap into the same idea with the Santa Cruz, but the results never came close to Maverick territory. The brand sold just 25,499 units last year, and reports have suggested production could end earlier than expected as Hyundai shifts focus toward a midsize pickup instead. That leaves a clear opening.
Toyota knows the value of timing, but it also knows the value of dealer confidence. If retailers are already pushing for a RAV4 pickup, that says plenty about what they believe customers would buy. A compact Toyota truck with hybrid power, crossover comfort, and real world efficiency sounds less like a gamble and more like unfinished business.
Ford may still own the spotlight in this niche. But if Toyota joins the game, it probably will not show up empty handed.
Source: carscoops
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