Toyota Rangga Compact Truck: What We Know So Far

Toyota unveiled the Rangga concept pickup truck in Indonesia, a vehicle that looks like it shares its underpinning with the 2024 Land Cruiser.

Toyota went back to the roots of the pickup trucks when it designed the Rangga concept car. The Japanese automaker showed the vehicle at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, and, at first sight, you might say that the automaker is trying to recreate a pickup version of the Land Cruiser 250, and that won't be a bad idea at all.

A previous concept vehicle shown by Toyota, the imev0, previewed the Rangga concept, so there are some chances that the automaker's marketing department might seriously consider making this pickup. Still, if it won't be built in the U.S., we won't get it due to the chicken tax.

The Rangga keeps the same angular lines and wedged shapes as the Land Cruiser 250. Thus, it shows a connection not only with the fifth generation of this nameplate but also with the legendary 1984 J70 series, a vehicle that even after 36 years is still going strong. Still, the flat front fascia doesn't sport round headlights nor circular LEDs for daytime running lights. Instead, it shows a luminescent band surrounding the headlamps and running above the grille. From its profile, the Rangga looks simple, with slightly enlarged wheel arches. The base model shown here features a simple, almost industrial-grade look. The doors are tall, and there's a cut on the lower side of the window area to enhance the driver's view of the door mirror. Behind the cabin, the automaker left the chassis exposed at the bottom and placed a metallic box on top. Moreover, it's almost impossible to spot the taillights of this car, but these may be added to the bed's frame.

Related: Why We're Excited About The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota didn't reveal the car's interior, but considering that this is just a concept and there may be many variations based on it, it's mostly irrelevant. But the Japanese automaker did something unusual for "just a concept vehicle." It organized a contest before the event, inviting digital artists to create a unique vehicle based on the Rangga pickup truck. The results included several variations including a fire truck, a camper, an icecream truck, and even a race truck.

Toyota covers most types of engines that can be installed on a car: ICE, EV, hybrids, hydrogen-powered, and fuel-cell types. But one thing is clear for the concept: it featured an internal combustion powerplant underneath its squared-looking hood. Will it get a gasoline or a hybrid version? That might be possible. But the carmaker didn't provide any information about it.

But from what we've seen on the vehicle, it features an independent front suspension and a solid axle with leaf springs in the back. That return to basic technical solutions for a utility vehicle is very understandable, especially for Southeast Asia, where the roads are not exactly in the best possible shape.

Toyota has several pickup trucks in its lineup, from the ones that we know, such as the Tacoma and Tundra, to the Hilux in many other parts of the world. Sure, some rumors exist about a possible compact utility vehicle like the Stout, and you should start saving up for this compact pickup truck. Moreover, the automaker had already registered this nameplate in 2022 in South America, so we might see it there first. Still, Toyota's officials didn't confirm or deny any rumors about it. On the other hand, if the Japanese brand produces the Stout in the States, that model will compete with vehicles such as the Maverick and leave an open door for a more rugged vehicle, such as the Rangga.

Related: Toyota Stout: Price, Release Date, Specs, And Everything We Know

If Toyota produces the Rangga in Southeast Asia, it won't import it in the U.S. due to the chicken tax. In Australia, Toyota sells another famous pickup, the Hilux, with a starting price of around $34,000. If it wants to use the same chassis, drivetrain, and interior, a production version of the Rangga shouldn't be more expensive than that. Considering that the Maverick from Ford is priced lower in the U.S., it's safe to believe that a possible two-door version of the Rangga might be below $30,000, and that would make it an excellent choice for those trying to build their own overland vehicle. But for that, Toyota will have to build this compact body-on-frame Rangga in the U.S.

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Tudor started his career in automotive journalism over 25 years ago as a contributor in a small editorial team of a printed magazine. Later, he evolved and led several car magazines as editor-in-chief, produced his TV broadcast, and traveled worldwide to car events from Italy to Pikes Peak, and from Laguna Seca to the Sahara Desert. Tudor continued learning and completed rally-driving and off-road schools. He also reviewed more than a thousand cars in his career before joining the HotCars team.