Does Ford Need to Worry About the Toyota Stout?
With Ford announcing that there are no plans for a plug-in hybrid Maverick, it seems like there could be an opening for a rival. Sure, the Ford Maverick is an efficient small truck. That’s why the Blue Oval is pushing back on a PHEV version. But something like a PHEV truck from Toyota could mean legit competition. And that is what the Toyota Stout could do.
Is the Ford Maverick the best small truck?
In terms of sales, the Maverick truck is doing the best as a small pickup. The Blue Oval’s choice to go with a traditional truck design in a small package seems to have paid off. In fact, ordering a Ford Maverick feels nearly impossible. And this compact pickup is in its second model year.
Plenty has already been written about the Ford Maverick; it has a standard hybrid engine, optional all-wheel drive, and some off-road chops. One thing might be missing from this small truck, though, and that is a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Because of the efficiency offered by the Ford Maverick hybrid, the Blue Oval does not see a need for a PHEV model. In the past, it’s been rumored that a plug-in hybrid Maverick was in the works. Ford spokesperson Mike Levine put those rumors to rest in a recent interview.
Another brand might have a small electrified truck in the works, and that manufacturer could be Toyota. As a truck maker, a compact pickup is notably absent from its lineup here in the States.
Does Toyota make a small pickup truck?
The smallest truck Toyota makes for the United States is the Tacoma. And having been in a 2023 Toyota Tacoma recently, I can say that it is not all that small. A different small pickup truck might be in the works, and it comes from Toyota’s past.
The Toyota Stout is a truck that had a short life in the States but was sold internationally for some time. So far, a modern Stout lives only in digital renderings, but from what folks have imagined, it does look like a winner.
Picture a Prius-looking vehicle with a pickup truck bed. It might seem like a weird concept, but in a world with the Hyundai Santa Cruz, a small pickup doesn’t have to look like a traditional truck. Additionally, if a Toyota small truck was based on the Prius, it could benefit from a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
According to Car and Driver, the Toyota Prius Prime makes 220 hp. If Toyota used the same setup in the potential Stout truck, it is possible that the powertrain could be tuned to offer more power.
Will there be a Toyota Stout?
As it stands, a small Toyota truck has not been confirmed. But in June 2022, Toyota North America did confirm there is space for a pickup that sits below the Tacoma.
Toyota is currently gearing up for the reveal of the 2024 Tacoma; maybe in the near future, we could hear about a compact pickup from the brand. Only time will tell, and who knows if a small Toyota truck could compete price-wise with the budget-friendly Maverick.
