The Toyota Stout Could Beat the Ram Rampage to Market
The tiny truck race got a little depressing once we learned that the Ram Rampage or new smaller Ram truck won’t get here until 2027. But while we wait, we can get excited about the Toyota Stout. The Toyota Stout could have a huge advantage by getting here first.
What to expect with the Toyota Stout
The Toyota Stout could be an answer to the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz as Toyota returns to the small trucks segment.
The Ram Rampage or Dakota has been confirmed for 2027 in America. However, other countries already have the new Rampage available. It just doesn’t offer enough power for Americans or meet our higher emission standards.
Toyota hasn’t had a true tiny truck to offer in the United States since 2004. In 2005, the Tacoma grew from compact to mid-size.
We know that Toyota dealers have been wanting a compact truck for a while. Plus, Toyota shared that a compact option would work best on the TNGA unibody platform. The Toyota RAV4 and Corolla both use this platform.
Toyota mentioned that something based on a smaller SUV with a truck bed would best meet the requirements for a smaller, urban truck.
Plus, Toyota is planning to offer a hybrid variant of each vehicle in its lineup by 2025. So, the 2025 Toyota Stout could be a hybrid or EV truck.
The Toyota EPU concept truck recently debuted with features that could be available with the Toyota Stout, like a split tailgate, bed extender, four doors, and a massive touchscreen.
Rumors suggest that the Stout Hybrid will borrow from the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. It pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for 196 hp.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 45 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway. These figures could differ with the Stout. Also, you can’t count out the possibility of the Stout being a PHEV or EV.
But it’s unclear how long it would take to pair a hybrid or EV setup with the TNGA platform and a truck bed. Also, how much retooling is needed for the RAV4 or Corolla Cross factory to pump out trucks?
No matter how much waiting is involved, the Toyota Stout has a chance to arrive before the Ram Rampage or Dakota. Being pushed back until 2027 feels like forever.
But Ram is pumping 1.5 million dollars into the production plant in Belvidere, Illinois to build the new truck. About 1,000 jobs are being created too. Arriving late is better than never, and the Toyota Stout could come first.
