Japanese manufacturers virtually owned that segment of the market at one point -- Toyota's small pickups were ubiquitous on both college campuses (they were cheap and dependable) and as delivery vehicles for small businesses. Nissan made them; Mazda had the B2000; Isuzu fielded one of their own. Even the domestics got into the act -- remember the Chevy LUV?
In recent years, however, this field has narrowed, as many of the import manufacturers have shifted their pickup trucks both upmarket and upscale (as in, scaling up to a bigger size). Toyota and Nissan have targeted full-size truck buyers who have historically been loyal to Detroit iron with their own full-sized Tundra and Titan, respectively. They've kept their mid-sized pickups, but have ceded the compact pickup to others.
Toyota is set to revisit the glory days of its compact pickups, insiders say, by seriously considering giving its Scion brand a compact pickup of its own. Dubbed the xP, this small two-door unibody pickup would d?but in 2010 to join its Scion stablemates, the xB, xD, and tC.
Since Scion was conceived as an entry-level brand for Toyota, in the hopes that those who purchase a Scion will eventually graduate to Toyota and then Lexus vehicles, it's likely that if the xP comes to pass, the expectation is that xP buyers will eventually trade up to Toyota Tacoma or Tundra pickups in years to come.
Underneath the hood lurks a 161-hp. 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. At the other end of the truck, a nifty infrared sensor in the tailgate allows you to sweep your foot next to it, which then drops down the tailgate, turning it into a bench. Now that you have the seating arrangement for a tailgate party, you can stash the drinks for it in a detachable beverage cooler in the rear console. Auditory entertainment can be helped along by a pair of foldout speakers, as well.
It's expected that the base price of an xP will be somewhere around $12,000, which places it almost $1,500 below the price of a similarly equipped Ford Ranger.