Toyota Is Considering a Pickup Truck Based on the Corolla Cross

Toyota launched the Corolla Cross sub-compact crossover in June 2020, as a response to the ever-growing demand for high rides. And apparently, they nailed it. The Japanese sold 56,666 examples last year, which means 49,463 units more than in 2021, the model's first full year on the market.

Built on the GA-C architecture, the model is powered by a 2.0-liter engine that delivers 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a Direct-Shift CVT transmission. The all-wheel drive version comes for extra money. And that is the exact powertrain that an entry-level pickup truck would receive if Toyota actually builds it before electrification takes over.

But as per Automotive News, the project is still in its inception phase and is still waiting for the green light. If that happens, the pickup would not go on sale before 2027. That means that there is still enough time for Toyota to roll out the next-generation Corolla Cross. And that would be the one the pickup truck would be based on.

The model would slot below the Tacoma and would be an opponent for the Ford Maverick. As Automotive News estimates, the pickup truck would be assembled in Mississippi, where the regular Corolla rolls off the assembly line. The Corolla Cross sees the light of day in Huntsville, Alabama, at the new production facility co-owned with Mazda, with the latter building the CX-50 crossover there.

The Corolla Cross starts at $27,970 in the United States. We should expect the entry-level pickup truck to be more expensive that the compact car, without going above $28,000, if it wants to be the most affordable such model in the Japanese carmaker's lineup.

Toyota is currently selling the two pickup trucks in the United States. The Tacoma kicks off at $28,600. The Tundra is around $10,000 more expensive, while the range-topping i-Force version of the Tundra comes with an MRSP of $56,415.

The latter is powered by a twin-turbo V6 assisted by an electric motor for a total of 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The engine transfers resources to all four corners via a ten-speed automatic. These are figures than a possible Toyota Corolla Cross-based pickup truck would not even dare to dream of.

But before the Corolla Cross-based pickup truck shows up, Toyota gets busy. This week, they have revealed the 2024 Land Cruiser, the company's longest nameplate. Next year, they will also reveal the Crown-based crossover.