Toyota's 2027 small bakkie could be Corolla Cross or RAV4 based
Toyota's much rumoured small bakkie, said to be based on the Corolla Cross, remains on track for arrival in 2027 despite little still being known.
First mentioned in 2022 by senior Toyota executives in United States as becoming its entry-level bakkie below the Stateside sibling of the Hilux, the Tacoma, the still unnamed model has also been rumoured as possibly being based on the underpinnings of the RAV4 with power coming solely from hybrid powertrains.
'If there's a customer that needs a rugged, smaller body-on-frame vehicle, we can consider that, but if it's more for urban use and less extreme off-road, then it would make more sense to use the TNGA unibody platform,' Toyota Group North America Vice-President of Product Planning and Strategy, Cooper Ericksen, told MotorTrend at the time.
A departure from the Hilux Champ/Hilux Rangga that uses the current Hilux and Fortuner's IMV 0 platform, the 'Corolla Cross bakkie' as it has been unofficially dubbed, will either use the TNGA-C platform, or, should it be based on the RAV4, the larger TNGA-K that also underpins the Camry as well as certain current Lexus models.
Therefore, becoming a unibody product similar to the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz in the States, as well as the Ram Rampage, Chevrolet Montana and Fiat Toro in Brazil, a trademark submission for the Stout name is known to have been in Argentina where production could take place for Latin American markets.
Supposedly previewed by the electric EPU Concept shown at the Tokyo Mobility Show two years ago, the most recent report alleged that Brazil has been given the go ahead at the Sorocaba Plant in the state of São Paulo for the commencing of production.
According to the newest findings by Automotive News, a small bakkie still remains part of Toyota's plans, with 2027 still being mentioned as the year of the reveal.
Despite the comparison with the Corolla Cross, whose biggest powertrain displaces 2.0-litres with and without hybrid assistance depending, the supposed link-up with the RAV4 could yield a maximum of 2.5-litres, as well as a plug-in hybrid option.
Showcased back in May, the new sixth generation RAV4 makes exclusive use of hybrid propulsion, with respective outputs of 166 kW and 174 kW, and 235 kW for the plug-in hybrid.
By comparison, the smash-hit Maverick can be had with either a conventional 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol or a self-charging 2.5-litre hybrid, while the Santa Cruz omits electrification completely by offering its own 2.5-litre unit with or without turbocharging.
Completely the opposite is the Ridgeline, which uses a normally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 as its only option.
Given the gradual emergence of rumours and speculative reports over the last three years, expect more to become apparent heading into 2026.
NOW READ: Toyota Corolla Cross now rumoured to underpin new small bakkie
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