How The Compact Pickup Truck Segment Is Growing (And What To Expect)

The compact truck segment is one whose history has long sat in the enormous shadow of mid-size and full-size pickups, with the Ford F-150 serving as the backdrop of American culture for the past two decades. But with off-road culture on the rise, many automakers are beginning to take a closer look at the segment, as the market for capable, and smaller, trucks and SUVs seems to be a largely untapped niche.

With plenty of speculation about manufacturers and compact pickup models, among those are Toyota and Dodge, it’s hard to say at this time who will dominate the market. Yet, it is safe to say that the need for urban-friendly and rugged compact models capable of off-road exploration, respectable towing rates, and modern features is on the rise, and there’s no doubt the top brands want in on the action.

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The Current State Of Compact Pickups

The current market for pickups, off-road and on-road, is currently dominated by full-size models, with mid-size following close behind, but as observed with the Ford Maverick– a compact off-road-oriented truck, the public interest in the smaller model is stronger than it has been in the past few decades. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is also seeing a rise in sales, reminiscent of the mini-truck boom in the 1980s that saw compact trucks boasting smaller, more efficient engines, and respectable towing capacity.

The Ford Maverick has proven to be one of the segment’s go-to models when discussing compact trucks and for good reason. Boasting a 2.5-liter hybrid inline-four that makes 162 horsepower, the Maverick’s max tow rate is 4,000-pounds, a prime example of a small truck with a mighty heart. The classic compact pickups, like the Toyota Stout introduced in the 1960s, housed smaller engines with low horsepower, yet the rugged features and workhorse nature made them essential for many facets of life, including work and hobbies.

The 2023 Ford Maverick features many modern creature comforts that today’s buyer has come to expect, including an 8.0-inch infotainment interface with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as single-zone climate control.

The Maverick Tremor is the off-road variation of the compact truck, which adds a suspension lift, locking rear differentials, and trail control, among other upgrades. The addition of an off-road trim is nothing new to the pickup segment, across all classes, with off-roading and trucks often going hand-in-hand, as observed in the popular Toyota Tacoma and TRD Off-Road models.

Another name that gets brought up in the compact truck conversation is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, with the newest generation offering five trim levels, each with varying features including off-road and street-oriented functions alongside a turbocharged engine option.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz features a 2.5-liter inline-four that makes 191 horsepower in the base model SE and SEL, however, in the Night trim and up, the Santa Cruz swaps out the mill for a turbocharged 2.5-liter GDI-MPI inline-four that makes 281-horsepower.

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Power Specs

The towing capacity for the 2024 Santa Cruz with the turbocharged option is 5,000 pounds, a full 1,000 pounds more than the Maverick. The Santa Cruz boasts comfortable ride quality and agile handling, with the XRT and Limited trim options featuring HTRAC all-wheel drive function, allowing deeper exploration and off-road capabilities.

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The Future Of Compact Trucks Could Include The Dodge Rampage, Toyota Stout

The future of the compact pickup segment is unclear at this time, as we’re merely in the early stages of their rejuvenated popularity. That being said, many experts and insiders have weighed in with calculated speculation, artist renderings, and quantitative evidence regarding the future production and release of compact trucks.

Among the speculated models is the Toyota Stout, a modern revival of the first compact pickup to leave a lasting mark on the industry. Featuring the rugged and capable functions necessary to conquer tough terrain and carry more than its weight in tow, the Toyota Stout was introduced in 1954 to mixed reviews. Here are some exclusive artist renders of what a modern Toyota Stout could look like.

Though the initial response to the small truck wasn’t rave, the need for such a vehicle became apparent soon after the Stout went into full production, by the 1960s the redesigned Toyota Stout was a popular workhorse, and played an integral role in blending off-road and truck culture when the off-roading trend took off in the coming decades.

Toyota’s modern pickups, including the Tacoma and Tundra, are among the most popular on the road today. Boasting modern tech and aftermarket mechanics, the Tacoma and Tundra dominate the road and the trail thanks to Toyota’s state-of-the-art features and segment-first breakthroughs.

Another compact truck often speculated upon is the Dodge Rampage, a coupe utility vehicle that has modern iterations not yet available in the U.S. The original Rampage introduced in 1983 featured a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that made 84 horsepower and had a max tow rate of 1,145 pounds.

That may not seem like a lot, but at the time that rate of tow was reserved for the beefier, gas guzzlers of the 80s. The original Dodge Rampage weighed about as much as a Miata, proving once and for all that big things come in small packages.

The exclusive Rampage renders courtesy of YASID DESIGN depict a modern take on the classic compact truck, incorporating many familiar Dodge features including the bar-style taillights and flared fender contours.

The renders also pay homage to the original Rampage from the 80s with similar angles and design cues that bring the small pickup into the modern age with style, including the downward-angled bonnet and “underbite” front fascia and bumper.

Dodge currently offers a Ram 1200 in Brazil, which packs many of the modern features available in Dodge’s current line-up into a compact pickup. Although not yet available in the States, many speculate the Ram 1200 will serve as the canvas for the modern Rampage, when it finally makes its way to America.

Dodge currently offers a small SUV called the Hornet, that sits under its mid-size Durango. Speculation regarding the U.S. introduction of the compact Rampage pickup includes the use of the Hornet’s platform, a small wide platform by Stellantis.

The Hornet’s platform allows a 288-horsepower PHEV powertrain, along with all-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission. Considering Dodge’s familiarity with powerful engines and performance, the Rampage could shake up the compact truck segment.

Whatever direction the compact truck evolves in, we’re sure to see some significant improvements and innovations. As automakers keep up with modern advancements and aftermarket inclusions, the possibility of a fully loaded compact truck that can outperform models twice their size becomes more realistic.