2025 Ford Maverick Lobo Initial Driving Experience Review: An Enjoyable Urban Pickup That Craves More

      Sign up for The Drive Daily

      There hasn't been a performance-oriented Ford compact since the automaker phased out the previous generation of the Focus and Fiesta STs over five years ago. This gap means that we haven't seen an affordable performance model showcasing the Blue Oval brand in this decade. Introducing the 2025 Ford Maverick Lobo, which, while not a hot hatch, is still what enthusiasts have been craving: a factory street truck designed for cornering.

      Although a pickup might not be the most expected successor to the Focus and Fiesta, we live in a world where off-road Porsche 911s exist. It’s a relief that this playful option comes at a price point accessible to many.

      Byron Hurd

      Looking at the options list, the Maverick Lobo keeps its affordability by not overloading features. This aligns well with a truck that closely connects its identity to its price, but does it have what it takes to resonate with car enthusiasts who prefer navigating cones in a parking lot rather than dodging raccoons on rugged trails? A day spent driving in sunny San Diego provided me with all the insights I needed.

      The Basics

      As Ford tells it, the Lobo wasn't initially their concept. The sport truck idea arose simply as recognition of what was already happening in the driveways and garages of their expanding owner base. In those spaces, owners were modifying their turbocharged Mavericks for autocross and track applications, leveraging the compact chassis and tunable four-cylinder engine of the truck.

      The exterior design is drawn from Ford’s collaboration with Tucci Hot Rods for SEMA, and a variant of those wheels made it into production. The rest of the truck's visual enhancements are much subtler; the shiny “Lobo” badge on the fender is barely noticeable against the textured black plastic.

      Byron Hurd

      Recognizing the enthusiasm from owners, the Maverick team aimed to create something appealing to high-performance fans while still allowing for those who like to enhance their vehicles at home. From that moment, the Lobo's specifications of 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque were set in stone. They upgraded the cooling system and added non-performance adjustments to the engine, but the true distinction of the Lobo stems from its lowered suspension and all-wheel-drive system.

      They also repurposed the same advanced rear differential found in the Tremor. It may not immediately sound like a high-performance component, but that twin-clutch setup is a direct evolution of the rear differential used in the Ford Focus RS, making the Lobo truly stand out.

      Ford

      Activating “Lobo” mode changes the differential’s performance profile from a routine all-wheel-drive mechanism into a smart, torque-vectoring system that adjusts according to your inputs. Planning to autocross? It will detect your maneuvers and facilitate power delivery while exiting corners. Drifting? It will let you maintain some rear-end slip while applying torque vectoring as needed based on steering adjustments, which is a step up from the “Drift Mode” offered in the Focus RS.

      To summarize, the Lobo combines the engine and brakes from a Focus ST, the rear diff from a Focus RS, and the body of a small pickup truck. Welcome to 2025, where we’re defining performance cars as we go.

      Byron Hurd

      The Maverick may be small by pickup standards, but even Ford hesitates to label it “compact.” At 200.9 inches, it’s a foot longer than a BMW M3 and nearly 30 inches longer than the old Focus RS. Thanks to the rear differential and its upgraded brakes, the Lobo weighs almost as much as the new AWD Maverick Hybrid, tipping the scales at 3,814 pounds. If you’re curious why I compared its size to the M3, it’s because the Lobo has a similar weight to an xDrive but offers about half the horsepower.

      Driving Experience

      This context helped me set realistic expectations. Yes, this is a sporty truck, but Ford never advertised it as being fast. Indeed, it performs much like the standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost models. Ford also removed the shortest gear ratio from the Lobo’s transmission, leaving it with seven gears—and omitted the one most likely to frustrate drivers who decide to tune the engine. A wise choice.

      Byron Hurd

      Even with its additional stamped-steel rear, the Maverick feels unexpectedly manageable on the road. The hood is high enough to remind you that you’re in a truck, but it doesn’t obstruct your view. In reality, very little about the Lobo can be described as harsh. From the inside, it resembles a standard Lariat and sounds like one too.

      We confirmed with the Lobo engineers that there’s room for customers looking to modify their vehicles. Though no official announcements were made regarding a potential Ford Performance exhaust, any employee queried about it seemed excited before providing a rehearsed non-answer.

      So