Is The Toyota Stout Truck A Threat To Ford? Exploring The Rivalry

Summary

• Ford has been the leader in the full-size pickup truck class for over 40 years, with the F-Series models being the best-selling pickup truck in the US.
• Toyota dominates the midsize pickup truck class with the Tacoma, which has been the best-selling midsize truck for almost 2 decades.
• The compact pickup truck class saw a significant increase in sales, with the all-new Ford Maverick leading the class and Toyota planning to introduce the Toyota Stout to compete in this segment.

Ford leads in the full-size pickup truck class. Out of roughly 2 million full-size pickup trucks sold in America last 2022, almost 33% were Ford F-Series models. For over 40 years now, the Ford F-Series, led by the half-ton Ford F-150, has been the best-selling pickup truck as well as the best-selling vehicle in the US.

Toyota, in turn, dominates the midsize pickup truck class. Out of the 608,000 midsize trucks sold in the US last 2022, almost 40% were Toyota Tacomas. For almost 2 decades now, the Toyota Tacoma has led the midsize truck class in terms of unit sales.

Recently, however, the US pickup truck segment went through a significant shift in buyer preferences. Last 2022, the full-size class sales dipped by roughly 9% compared to 2021. The midsize truck class also saw a 4.4% reduction year-on-year.

Interestingly, the compact pickup truck class increased by 376%, from a total of 23,300 units in 2021 to over 110,000 units in 2022. The Blue Oval group has dominated yet another pickup truck class as the all-new Ford Maverick enjoyed a 67% class share, double that of its similarly-new competitor, the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Apparently, Toyota doesn’t plan to be absent from the compact pickup truck party. The Japanese automotive giant seems to be preparing to revive one of its iconic nameplates – the Toyota Stout – to brawl against the Ford Maverick and other new and upcoming models for the compact pickup truck class leadership. So what is the Toyota Stout, and how can it help the “Taco” solidify Toyota’s position in the smaller pickup truck classes?

What Is The Toyota Stout?

The original Toyota Stout was the first Toyota pickup truck model in the US, and it will likely return soon as an all-new compact pickup truck model.

Toyota launched the Stout in the North American market back in 1964. However, with a 1.9-liter, 4-cylinder engine that delivered 86 hp, the “half-ton” 1960s Toyota Stout didn’t succeed against the straight-six and V8 American pickups like the Chevy C-10, Dodge D-100, and Ford F-Series. Despite its unsuccessful campaign, however, the Stout placed the cornerstones for some of Toyota’s most popular pickups in America today: the Tundra, Tacoma, and Hilux.

Recently, the auto industry has been abuzz about the Toyota Stout’s return to American shores – this time in a compact pickup truck format. Many Toyota fans are looking at the new Toyota Stout as the answer to the popular Ford Maverick.

Is The Toyota Stout Coming Back?

Toyota neither confirms nor denies the Stout pickup truck’s comeback. However, several clues have led many industry analysts and media groups to believe that the Toyota Stout will likely return to American shores.

What Do We Know About The Toyota Stout?

Toyota USA has yet to release any news or teasers about the new Toyota Stout. However, by analyzing Toyota’s breadcrumb trail along with the company’s current lineup and future goals, it’s possible to make several informed inferences.

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What Engine Will The Toyota Stout Have?

With the TNGA-K platform, the upcoming Toyota Stout will likely get either the 2023 RAV4’s 2.5-liter Dynamic Force engine (203 hp, 184 lb-ft) or the 2023 Highlander’s 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 powerplant (265 hp, 310 lb-ft). If the 2025 Toyota Stout gets the turbo mill, then it will have more power and a better fuel economy rating than the 2023 Ford Maverick EcoBoost (250 hp, 277 lb-ft, 24 MPG).

Toyota Stout VS Ford Maverick: Gas Engine

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Will The Toyota Stout Be Hybrid?

The Ford Maverick is selling like hotcakes, and one of its main selling points is its base hybrid trim. This is an opportunity for Toyota – the pioneer and industry leader in modern hybrid car engines. The 2025 Toyota Stout may get the RAV4’s 2.5-liter hybrid powerplant (219 hp, 38 mpg), or a more aggressively-tuned version of the same A25A-FXS hybrid engine that produces more power (243 hp) and very decent fuel economy (35 mpg) for the 2023 Highlander Hybrid.

Toyota Stout Hybrid VS Ford Maverick Hybrid

If the 2025 Toyota Stout adopts the TNGA-K platform and the Highlander’s powertrain options, then the new Toyota compact truck will likely surpass the payload and towing capacities of the 2023 Ford Maverick. As a basis, the 2023 Toyota Highlander, which has a 4,595-lb curb weight, can carry up to 1,715 lbs of payload and tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs. With a lower curb weight (roughly 3,700 – 3,800 lbs) and a more utility-based design, the 2025 Toyota Stout will likely have the same or higher payload and towing ratings than the Highlander.

Tow And Haul Ratings: Toyota Stout VS Ford Maverick

Is The Toyota Stout 4-Wheel Drive?

For better utility and off-road performance – and to match up well against the Maverick – the 2025 Toyota Stout will likely offer an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option similar to the AWD and electric AWD trims of the RAV4 and Highlander.

Will The Toyota Stout Be Available In 2024?

Toyota already registered the Stout name, has an award-winning design concept ready to be used, and an existing TNGA-K platform. With a sharp eye trained toward the compact truck segment, Toyota will likely try to launch the all-new Stout pickup as soon as possible. It won’t be unreasonable to forecast that the Japanese carmaker will launch the Toyota Stout sometime in 2024 as a 2025 model year.

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How Much Is The Toyota Stout?

The 2023 Ford Maverick – with a starting price of $23,400 – currently leads the compact truck class in unit sales. The Maverick’s current competitor, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, lags behind in sales figures due partly to its lack of a hybrid variant and its higher base price tag of $26,650. To take the crown from the Maverick, the 2025 Toyota Stout will likely come with a base price of roughly $23,000 to $24,000.

Toyota Stout Price

Will The Toyota Stout Be Better Than The Ford Maverick?

For the new Toyota Stout to dominate the compact pickup truck class, it must offer better overall value than the current leader, the Ford Maverick. Pickup truck buyers will likely compare models in terms of power, utility, fuel economy, reliability, and of course, pricing.

Based on its probable body design and performance specifications, the 2025 Toyota Stout will likely offer more power, better fuel economy, higher utility, and a more modern exterior than the current Ford Ranger – for roughly the same price. Moreover, the 2025 Toyota Stout will probably receive a higher resale value rating due to Toyota’s excellent reputation for quality and reliability.

Of course, loyal Ford fans will still choose the Maverick if the Stout’s overall advantages are minimal.