Although it won’t be available until 2027, Toyota is considering extending its model lineup with a Corolla-based unibody truck. In the American market, the model will compete with the Ford Maverick and the more specialised Hyundai Santa Cruz in the compact truck market.
No company has yet dared venture into the compact truck segment in Malaysia, but with models becoming more popular elsewhere, and with pick-up trucks getting more expensive in Malaysia, there is just a glimmer of possibility.
The Corolla based model remains a possibility, but the design is still under development. The little pickup truck would probably be manufactured in Toyota’s Mississippi facility adjacent to the Corolla if it were to be given the all-clear for production.
Instead of a bigger body-on-frame truck chassis, the Maverick and Santa Cruz are both built on each company’s small flexible front-wheel drive unibody platform. Taking on the same approach, Toyota may therefore share the Corolla and Corolla Cross‘s basis.
We don’t know what “Corolla-based” implies, thus it’s too early to offer specifics. The current Corolla made its debut as a hatchback for the 2019 model year and as a sedan for the 2020 model year, thus a redesign is most certainly in the works for the next several years.
Closer to home, we just witnessed the launch of the Corolla Cross 1.8 GR Sport back in February which is priced at RM142,000 on the road without insurance.
