2025 Ford Maverick Lobo Quick Spin Review
The Maverick Lobo is the spiritual successor to the sport trucks of the 1980s and 90s, which Gen Xers will wistfully recall. Their kids, many of whom are now old enough to drive, will have no idea what Dad is talking about, but will also find the Maverick Lobo pretty neat. I spent a week in the head-turning Velocity Blue Maverick Lobo this fall, giving ‘truck month’ a sportier vibe.
Let’s dig in.
What Is The 2025 Ford Maverick Lobo AWD?
The Lobo is the sport truck trim of the Maverick lineup. It slots in the middle of the Maverick’s portfolio, above the more basic XL and XLT trims, but below the more expensive Lariat and off-road-themed Tremor models.
In keeping with the performance ethos of a street truck, there’s no hybrid offering on the Lobo, the only Maverick that doesn’t offer the hybrid.
Instead, the Lobo draws power from the 250-horsepower EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder teamed with a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The truck rides a half inch lower in front and more than an inch lower in back. There’s torque vectoring via a twin-clutch setup, which is activated in “Lobo Mode,” should you find yourself on a track, where you’ll be supported by a larger radiator fan and transmission cooler.
The Lobo trim adds some blue and lime accents for the seats, with Lobo spelled out across the seatbacks. It also has painted bumpers, a black roof—the roof is actually 0.8 inches lower than other Mavericks—and the unique Lobo fascia and grille.
My tester had the optional 19-inch wheels painted black, which goes a long way toward furthering the vibe.
How Does It Drive?
It’s a sprightly little truck. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivers smooth, quick-off-the-line acceleration from traffic lights and gives the Maverick Lobo some spunk. Based on a platform shared with the Bronco Sport and Escape, the Maverick handles well on the road. With good visibility and an interesting cabin, the Maverick is accessible to drivers of all stripes. It eschews the rough-and-tough truck feel, though the Maverick still has some capability and a lot of character, especially in Lobo trim.
The interior is useful and creative. The door pulls evoke a carpenter-bench feel. There are digital displays in front of the driver for basic information like speed and fuel economy. To the right is a 13.2-inch Sync-powered touchscreen, which is relatively easy to use. The dashboard is long and rectangular, giving off the aesthetic of a Ford truck, albeit a small one. I enjoyed driving around with the family, and our conversation was easy, even with the back window vented—a traditional truck feature—as the fall air breezed through.
The Maverick Lobo is a truck with good reflexes. It has a well-sprung chassis and responsive brakes and steering thanks to specific Lobo tuning. It feels like it should be lower to the ground than it really is, but it does reinforce the feel of a sport truck.
It’s also highly maneuverable. I went through a CVS drive-through in a Ram, and I almost certainly thought I was going to lose a mirror. With the Maverick, you easily avoid these situations, and it’s easy to park almost anywhere. I could see an F-150 owner looking at the Maverick as a commuter vehicle or secondary ride for family use, while at the same time seeing the Lobo trim as something a little more desirable.
Should I Buy The Ford Maverick Lobo?
Sure. If you’re of a certain age and/or want something unique, this is the truck/commuter vehicle for you. It’s the rare performance-oriented model that delivers just enough capability through chassis and mechanical enhancements, without being over-the-top. It’s also a great daily driver, but can be a lot of fun should you feel the need to push it, as I sometimes did.
The truck and SUV segments are brimming with off-road themed trim levels, with varying degrees of actual capability. Props to Ford for going in a different direction and creating something enthusiast-oriented yet still practical.
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Greg Migliore is AutoGuide's Editorial Director. He has covered the auto industry for two decades, most recently as editor-in-chief of Autoblog. He's also been an editor at Automobile and Autoweek. He's a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and the Yale Publishing course. Greg is a member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards jury.
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