2026 Toyota Corolla Pickup – dubbed the “King Off Road” by enthusiasts – is turning heads. Toyota’s taking its reliable Corolla sedan and morphing it into a rugged bed-hauler with serious trail cred. It’s not your grandpa’s farm truck; this one’s got city smarts and dirt-road grit. Let’s dive in.
First Look: A Compact Beast Ready for Adventure
Picture this: the Corolla’s familiar sleek lines, but chopped and channeled into a short-bed pickup. At the LA Auto Show last fall, Toyota unveiled the prototype, and it stole the spotlight. Up front, a bold grille with integrated LED fog lights screams toughness, while the sides boast chunky all-terrain tires on 17-inch black alloys. The bed’s got tie-downs and a spray-in liner for hauling gear, and the whole thing measures about 190 inches long – perfect for tight parking lots or twisty trails.
The design nods to the Tacoma but keeps that Corolla efficiency. Available in fiery reds and earthy greens, it’s got a retractable tonneau cover option for security. From every angle, it looks like Toyota’s saying, “Daily driver? Check. Weekend warrior? Double check.” Early renders show a power-sliding rear window too, because why not?
Powerful Engine: Punchy Performance Under the Hood
No more wimpy four-cylinders here. The heart of the King Off Road is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, pumping out 240 horses and 260 lb-ft of torque. It’s the same mill from the GR Corolla hot hatch, but tuned for low-end grunt. Paired with an eight-speed automatic or a slick six-speed manual, it zips to 60 mph in under seven seconds – quick for a truck this size.
Off-roaders will love the torque-vectoring AWD system, which splits power side-to-side for better grip on mud or rocks. Fuel comes from a 13-gallon tank, and it’s E85 compatible for eco-warriors. Toyota claims it’ll tow up to 3,500 pounds, enough for ATVs or a small camper. It’s powerful without being thirsty – a sweet spot for young truck fans.
New Technology: Smart Features for the Modern Trailblazer
Toyota’s loading this pickup with tech that feels fresh, not gimmicky. The 12.3-inch touchscreen runs the latest infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Voice commands handle everything from navigation to playlist swaps, and there’s over-the-air updates to keep things current.
Safety shines with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0: adaptive cruise control that reads curves, lane-tracing assist for highways, and a new off-road camera suite showing 360 degrees around the truck. Inside, heated seats and a panoramic moonroof make long hauls comfy, while the digital gauge cluster switches modes for trail or street. Oh, and a built-in toolbox app tracks maintenance – handy for DIY types. It’s tech that works, not distracts.
Mileage: Efficient Enough to Keep You Exploring
In a world of gas-guzzlers, the Corolla Pickup stands out. EPA estimates peg it at 28 mpg city/34 highway with the standard setup – that’s hybrid-lite efficiency from Toyota’s eCVT option, bumping to 32/40. The AWD version dips to 26/32, but still beats most rivals.
Real-world tests from early drives show it sips fuel on interstates, thanks to lightweight aluminum panels and aero tweaks. For off-road, the auto-stop/start and regen braking help stretch every gallon. If you’re commuting weekdays and camping weekends, this truck won’t empty your wallet at the pump. It’s proof you don’t need diesel for decent range – over 400 miles per fill-up easy.
Price: Affordable Thrills Without the Sticker Shock
Starting at around $28,000 for the base SR trim, the King Off Road undercuts the Ford Maverick by a grand or two. Step up to the TRD Off-Road package for $32,500, adding skid plates and lifted suspension. Fully loaded with leather and nav? Figure $36,000. That’s entry-level Tacoma money for Corolla reliability.