Is Toyota Bringing Back The Stout Pickup Truck? Here's What We Know

A new, compact pickup may be on the way from Toyota to compete with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, and it may involve bringing back an obscure, yet classic name: the Toyota Stout. In 2022, the automaker registered the Stout name for use in Argentina, as first spotted by Autoweb, potentially paving the way to resurrect one of the mini trucks we'd be glad to drive around in. The original Stout pickup was born in 1954 and first appeared on the United States marketplace 10 years later, only selling four units in 1964. The Hilux, one of Toyota's most reliable trucks ever, soon came along, pushingthe Stout aside, and the automaker discontinued the now-classic model in 1989. 

Toyota executives have hinted many times over the past few years that a compact pickup could be on the way to compete with the insanely popular Maverick truck and help improve Toyota's Corporate Average Fuel Economy numbers. The Stout nameplate appears to be returning, but what do we know about the new incarnation of the Toyota Stout pickup?

In late March 2024, Toyota told CNBC that it was considering launching PHEV and fully electric versions of the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra models in the U.S. as part of a wider push to expand its pickup offerings stateside. It also suggested an entirely new offering may be tossed into the mix. The product, should it reach the market, would be influenced in part by what consumers are demanding and the emissions regulations Toyota would have to follow. 

Toyota Motor North America executive VP Jack Hollis noted multiple times during the interview that Toyota's expansion may not exclusively revolve around its Tacoma or other known models, but rather "something else in addition to the lineup," also noting that this unnamed truck may have a compact size.

This isn't the first time we've heard Toyota talk about bringing a new compact pickup truck to the market to take on Ford's and Hyundai's popular offerings. In June 2022, MotorTrend asked Toyota's Cooper Ericksen and Bob Carter about the topic. In response, Ericksen explained that while the Tacoma currently fits nicely into the current compact pickup market, it's still a category the company could "continue to look at." He went on to explain that if customers end up wanting something new that's "more for urban use," it would be reasonable for Toyota to use its TNGA unibody platform for that new model.

Toyota, therefore, hasn't given those hopeful for a Stout comeback much reason to be excited. While rumors have been swirling, Toyota's involvement in them begins and ends with the company only discussing the possibility of releasing a new compact pickup. Though Toyota hasn't said anything official about the Stout pickup truck, it did present the EPU, an electric compact pickup concept, at the 2022 Japan Mobility Show. The automaker didn't state whether it plans to bring the concept to market, but it wouldn't be unusual for a concept car to enter production with a new name — say, the Stout. At minimum, the concept gives the public a glimpse of what Toyota is exploring, at least as far as compact EV pickups are concerned.

The EPU is about 199 inches long — more than a foot shorter than the Tacoma — and approximately the same size as the Maverick. Assuming the rumored Stout mirrors this design, it would be a good option for city and suburban buyers who park their trucks on the street or in garages. The concept likewise has four doors and a split tailgate, allowing it to be used as a bed extender. The cockpit features a steering yoke similar to the one found in the Lexus RZ 450e we reviewed in 2023. 

There is also the expected touchscreen display panel and a wider screen that runs nearly the entire dashboard length. Beyond that, the EPU has some clever features in the bed and cabin that could allow drivers to maximize its storage capabilities, including rails and other attachment points on the bed and a storage well beneath the center console. With the tailgate lowered and extended, carrying items as long as 8 feet would be possible.