Toyota’s long-rumoured small bakkie, said to be based on the Corolla Cross, remains on track for arrival in 2027 despite little still being known about the model.

Getting there

The Citizen reports that first mentioned in 2022 by senior Toyota executives in the United States as an entry-level offering positioned below the Tacoma (the Hilux’s North American sibling), the still unnamed model has also been rumoured to possibly use the RAV4’s underpinnings, with power coming solely from hybrid drivetrains.

“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, which uses the current Hilux and Fortuner’s IMV 0 platform, the ‘Corolla Cross bakkie’ will either use the TNGA-C platform or, should it be based on the RAV4, the larger TNGA-K that also underpins the Camry and various Lexus models.

South America first?

Set to become a unibody product similar to the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz in the United States — as well as the Ram Rampage, Chevrolet Montana and Fiat Toro in Brazil — a trademark submission for the Stout name has been filed 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 claims Brazil’s Sorocaba Plant in São Paulo has received the go-ahead for production.

According to new findings by Automotive News, the bakkie remains part of Toyota’s plans, with 2027 still being targeted for its reveal.

The opposition

Despite comparisons with the Corolla Cross, whose largest powertrain displaces 2.0 litres with or without hybrid assistance, the rumoured RAV4 link-up could yield a 2.5-litre unit and a plug-in hybrid option.

Unveiled in May, the new sixth-generation RAV4 exclusively uses hybrid propulsion, producing 166kW or 174 kW in standard form and 235kW in plug-in hybrid guise.

By comparison, the popular Maverick is available with either a conventional 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol or a self-charging 2.5-litre hybrid. The Santa Cruz offers a 2.5-litre petrol engine with or without turbocharging, and the Ridgeline stands apart with a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 as its sole powertrain.

More soon

With rumours and speculative reports continuing to emerge over the last three years, more details are expected to surface closer to 2026.