From Alex on Autos.
A 5.8-second 0-60. A torque-vectoring rear axle with no traditional differential. A specially programmed 8-speed that skips second gear entirely to cut shift time and sharpen acceleration. And an as-tested price of $42,445. The 2026 Ford Maverick Lobo is the sleeper performance truck nobody is talking about — running the same 2.0-liter 250-horsepower turbo four as the rest of the non-hybrid Maverick lineup, but with retuned suspension, lowered ride height, 255/55/19 tires, and a rear drive unit that can lock both rear wheels like a limited-slip or send all torque to a single outside wheel for a genuine rear-drive feel through corners. We measured a handling grade of A, a 128-foot stop from 60, 26 mpg in mixed real-world driving, and 28 mpg on our economy loop — making it arguably the most fun-per-dollar pickup truck sold in America today, despite a price that has climbed nearly 40% since the Maverick launched in 2022.
In this full review we cover the Maverick’s pricing history (from the mythical $20K truck to a $43,900 Lobo), the Lobo-exclusive vertical grille and projector LED headlights, what "deleting second gear" actually means and why it makes this faster than the standard turbo Maverick, a deep dive on the torque-vectoring rear power takeoff unit and why the Lobo’s tow rating drops to 2,000 lbs as a result, front seat comfort (7/10 — no 4-way lumbar), the tight back seat and the honest child seat fitment reality, the tablet-style infotainment with Pro Trailer Backup Assist and 360-degree camera, instrumented 0-60 and braking results, ride quality trade-offs from the lowered suspension, cabin noise at 64.3 dB, real-world fuel economy, and a full comparison against the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier — so you know exactly whether the Lobo or the hybrid is the right Maverick for you.
Here’s why we don’t talk about reliability much: https://youtu.be/WicesuUvTXo
And resale value? Same thing: https://youtu.be/635cX7A3E_Y
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0:00 Intro: Maverick’s Rise & What Makes the Lobo Different
0:32 Pricing History: From $21K to $43K in Four Years
2:20 Exterior Design & Lobo-Specific Styling
4:34 Size Reality Check: Nearly 201 Inches Is Not Compact
6:34 2.0L Turbo, the Second-Gear Delete & How It Gets Faster
8:24 Torque-Vectoring Rear Axle Deep Dive
9:49 Interior, Front Seats & Back Seat / Child Seat Fitment
15:50 Infotainment, Controls & Dashboard
18:16 0-60, Braking, Handling & Ride Quality
24:53 Fuel Economy, Pricing & Full Competitor Comparison
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