2026 Ford Maverick Lobo Named North American Truck of the Year

The 2026 Maverick Lobo, a street-performance version of Ford’s award-winning compact pickup, has been named the 2026 North American Truck of the Year. Maverick Lobo topped a pair of Ram co-finalists to continue Ford’s six-year run as North American Truck of the Year winner.

“Ford winning the North American Truck of the Year for six years in a row is truly a testament to Ford’s commitment to truck excellence,” said Pam Wiley, vehicle programs director. “We’re thrilled to be here today to accept this award. It really is all about our customers, who inspire us every day to push the boundaries in delivering Ford tough trucks.

“From a performance perspective, Maverick Lobo gives a true street vibe of what we had back in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Wiley said. “When we launched Maverick, we really followed what our customers were doing with the products. There were so many amazing stories of people customizing their vehicles in their own garages.” 

Customizable when desired, Maverick Lobo resonated with NACTOY judges because of the unique combination of design and performance that comes direct from the factory. With a lowered ride-height, on-road tuned suspension, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine tested to Built Ford Tough standards, Maverick comes direct from the factory ready to roar.

“This is the Holy Grail, winning this award, and it’s great recognition for all the hard work we’ve done over the past five years,” said Eddie Kahn, vehicle engineering manager. “It was not only the looks of the vehicle that intrigued the judges, but how it drives. They love the way the truck handles. They didn’t think a truck could handle like a sportscar on a slalom course.”

The 2026 North American Truck of the Year award follows last year’s win for Ford Ranger and extends the streak of wins for the Ford truck family to six. Super Duty (2024), F-150 Lightning (2023), Maverick (2022), and F-150 (2021) are previous winners. In that time, Ford also won Utility of the Year honors with Bronco (2022) and Mustang Mach-E (2021).

The announcement was made by the North American Car, Utility, and Truck awards committee during a ceremony that kicked off the 2026 Detroit Auto Show. Each year, the North American Truck of the Year is selected by a panel of independent automotive journalists. 

What the judges said

“The Ford Maverick Lobo opens the door to a new class of fun-to-drive compact pickups. 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.” 
                            - Mark Phelan, auto critic and columnist at the Detroit Free Press

“Maverick continues to be the little truck that could, filling a niche that 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.” 
                            -Tom Voelk, reporter & photographer at Driven