Ford Maverick Lobo Drives Off With 2026 North American Truck of the Year Honors

Ford surprised the market when it introduced the small Maverick to its lineup, but the truck’s popularity proved that there is great demand for a smaller, more affordable vehicle. In 2025, Ford introduced the Ford Maverick Lobo and now it is officially named the 2026 North American Truck of the Year. Ford beat out the 2026 Ram HEMI and the Ram 2500 for the top honor. The Maverick has won all sorts of awards for best value and design, including being named one of Car and Driver’s 10Best. The 2026 Maverick was also named MotorTrend’s 2026 Truck of the Year. The NACTOY awards were announced to start the Detroit Auto Show. 

This is the sixth consecutive year a Ford truck has won the industry’s most prestigious honor. The streak is unprecedented. It began with the F-150 and the original Maverick and continued through the F-150 Lightning, Super Duty, and last year’s Ranger. The Ford F-Series of trucks was recently honored for its 49th consecutive year of top vehicle sales. The Maverick’s sales aren’t included in those numbers. 

What the Judges Say About the 2026 Ford Maverick Lobo

“Ford’s Maverick Lobo opens the door to a new class of fun-to-drive compact pickups, said Mark Phelan at the Detroit Freep Press, in a statement. It’s the first to make an affordable compact pickup the basis of a sporty pickup with street smarts and meaningful performance upgrades. It won’t be the last.”

Tom Voelk, a reporter & photographer at Driven, gave the Lobo high praise. “Maverick continues to be the little truck that could, filling a niche buyers didn’t know they wanted or needed. The sporty Lobo completes the range that includes basic workhorse, off-road adventurer and hybrid efficiency. If only we were all as flexible and resourceful as Maverick.”

“Ford earning this recognition for the sixth year in a row is a testament to the spirit of the truck team,” said, Pam Wylie, Ford vehicle line program director. “The Maverick Lobo isn’t just a new offering; it’s a response to a movement. We saw our customers personalizing their trucks for on-road performance and style, and we decided to give them a factory-tuned option that carries the Built Ford Tough seal of approval. This award is a tribute to our customers who continue to inspire us every day.”

How the Maverick Lobo Evolved

Ford’s engineers noticed that many of the Maverick buyers personalized their trucks. Owners were lowering their ride heights, swapping in performance wheels, and tuning their engines to create modern "street trucks" reminiscent of the high-performance pickup culture of the 1990s. Maverick Lobo is a performance-tuned street truck that brings factory-engineered agility to urban buyers. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine with advanced AWD and 7-speed quick-shift transmission, it utilizes a twin-clutch rear drive unit for advanced torque vectoring.

Customers gained performance steering, and enhanced brakes — all backed by Built Ford Tough standards. This setup bridges the gap between daily utility and track-ready excitement. Ford created a new "Lobo" drive mode. “Inspired by autocross, this closed-course setting optimizes cornering, grip, and stability, allowing enthusiasts to confidently explore the truck’s full performance potential.” 

The best part is that the Lobo upgrades are all backed by Ford’s factory warranty. Too often when buyers do aftermarket upgrades, the work invalidates factory warranties. Buying a Ford Lobo means you can add the improvements into the cost of your loan and rest easier knowing that you still have a factory warranty. 

The North American Truck of the Year Award

The NACTOY jury consists of an independent group of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Jurors evaluate vehicles for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, assessing criteria such as innovation, design, performance and value. This jury ensures that the awards are given based on unbiased evaluations rather than the influence of a single publication or media outlet. 

Ford Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories