Can The All-New Street Truck Beat The Best?

This comparison is not like the others. The new Ford Maverick Lobo and the Honda Civic Type R may look like they have little in common at first. One is a pickup truck that takes its name from a lesser-known muscle car, the other a hot hatch. However, these two unlikely companions may share more character than you might think: the Maverick Lobo has been described as “the Focus ST of pickup trucks”, embodying some of the hot hatch’s character in the body of a truck.

In today’s car market, where the line between cars and trucks is increasingly thin thanks to consumers’ growing preference for pickups as a daily driver, it’s not too long of a stretch to imagine a truck occupying the role of fun, attainable performance vehicle. The Lobo is also priced within spitting distance of the Civic Type R, so at least they’re comparable in one area. Let’s compare the Lobo and the Type R to answer the question: Is the street truck the new king of driver enjoyment, and can it truly be compared to a hot hatch?

This is an on-paper comparison rather than a comparison of driven vehicles as both vehicles are brand new.

Design

Maverick Lobo: Rugged But Agile

The Maverick Lobo’s design stays true to its name: the objective is to stand out. It combines elements of truck and car, maintaining the ruggedness of a pickup while also keeping an eye on style and good looks. Its lowered ride height (0.5 inches lower in the front, 1.12 inches lower in the rear, with a roof lowered by 0.8 inches) contributes to its street-truck swagger, giving off the impression of a modified vehicle despite being fresh out the factory. The Maverick also comes with 19-inch black wheels, a painted rear bumper, and a unique grille design that sets it apart from other models.

Civic Type R: Sporty And Stylish

The Civic Type R may be more subtle and understated than past versions, but that doesn’t mean the sportiness is completely gone from its design. It combines all the elements of the regular Civic’s design -sleek, minimalist, clean- and adds a little extra, just to make sure everyone knows this is no ordinary Civic. On the front, the Type R logo is prominent alongside the Honda badge; a large air intake and upturned LED headlights with an angular design give it a more aggressive look. In the rear, the most prominent difference is, of course, the large wing, as well as the diffuser and exhaust system. The 19-inch matte black wheels complete the look.

Powertrain

Maverick Lobo: Paddle-Shifting Fun

The Maverick Lobo may be a truck, but its driving behavior is more akin to that of a performance car, thanks to the clever way it’s built and tuned. Its 2.0-liter engine (retained from previous model years) is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, controlled via paddle shifters for maximum driver involvement. The gear ratios are adjusted to provide optimal acceleration when using the paddle shifters. The steering is adjusted to make it feel like more of a car than a truck, further enhancing the fun factor. The Maverick also has loads of performance-oriented aftermarket support, so building this version was a no-brainer for Ford.

Civic Type R: V-TEC Just Kicked In, Yo

With its 2.0-liter V-TEC turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 315 hp, the Civic Type R is the most powerful production vehicle made by Honda. A six-speed manual transmission, essential for the hot hatch driving experience, sends power to the front wheels; a limited-slip differential completes the picture. The result is a car that provides endless driving enjoyment, carrying forward the spirit of the hot hatch in an automotive landscape where the category seems increasingly in peril. It’s worth noting that the 2023 model also managed to bag a record at the Nürburgring, as the fastest front-wheel-drive car to go around the legendary racetrack.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy data for the Maverick Lobo is not available yet. The closest thing we have are the figures for the AWD version of the standard Maverick from last year: 22 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway, and 25 combined. However, we can’t imagine that many prospective buyers will be considering a Lobo for its efficiency. In a similar way to the Maverick Lobo, the Civic Type R isn’t exactly focused on fuel economy as a selling point; that being said, it still manages to do relatively alright for itself, achieving 22/28/24 mpg (city/highway/combined).

Special Equipment: Two Very Different Beasts

The Lobo comes with a number of car-like features aimed at maximizing driving enjoyment and performance. These include torque vectoring with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, and enhanced brakes. The Lobo sports the dual-piston front brake calipers already seen on the Focus ST in the European market, a trait which earned the Lobo the nickname “the Focus ST of pickup trucks” here at CarBuzz. However, the performance-oriented features of the Lobo aren’t just mechanical. It also comes with a dedicated driving mode, aptly named the “Lobo”, which improves the truck’s stability and cornering, minimizing understeer. The Lobo mode is recommended for use exclusively on the track, as it reduces stability control.

Meanwhile, in the Honda camp, the Civic Type R’s equipment is entirely geared towards maximum engagement and spirited driving: the seating position is low, and the sports seats provide additional bolstering to safely thrash the car around a track. The onboard tech has been upgraded to allow the owner to make the most of track days: there are a couple of performance-oriented features integrated in the gauge cluster, for drivers interested in collecting data. The Performance Datalogger records track data with no need for a smartphone connection, while the tachometer and +R drive mode meter display engine RPM and current gear.

Interior and Tech: Equipped For Modern Life

The Maverick Lobo’s interior is, much like the truck’s general character, fun and colorful. On the seats, you will find stitching in Grabber Blue and Electric Lime, along with a graffiti-style overprint and embossed Lobo name. Blue accents are dotted throughout the interior, on the air vents and door handles. In terms of space, the Lobo offers enough room for passengers to travel in comfort, being a crew cab like every other Maverick trim level. The infotainment system is controlled by the same 13.2-inch touchscreen found on all other versions of the Maverick, equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot to keep everyone connected while on the move.

The Civic Type R, meanwhile, offers buyers a single choice of interior: to paraphrase Henry Ford, you can have it in any color as long as it’s red. That being said, the scarlet suede-effect upholstery is only present in the front seats, with matching red carpeting covering the floor. The rear seats (which offer decently comfortable seating room, far from a given for a hot hatch) are wrapped in a more subtle black fabric, with some red stitching and seatbelts to keep things visually interesting. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather, while the sports pedals and shift knob are both made of aluminum: the result is a loud, shiny, in-your-face interior that leaves no doubt about its character.

On the infotainment front, the Civic Type R is well-equipped with oodles of tech features that make it a perfectly viable choice for those who want a slightly spicy daily driver. Red ambient lighting complements the interior’s color scheme, while dual-zone climate control keeps everyone comfortable. A nine-inch touchscreen runs the show, equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and connected to a 12-speaker Bose Centrepoint sound system; Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging are also present.

Price and Winner: Is The Street Truck The New Hot Hatch?

(Excluding destination charge)

Well, not quite. There is obviously not much overlap between the customer base interested in the Maverick Lobo and the Civic Type R. For all its quirkiness and sense of fun, a pickup truck is never going to handle in the same way as a hot hatch or take its place in car enthusiasts’ hearts. However, the Lobo’s debut may be a sign that the performance pickup truck may be making a comeback. In a market where increasing numbers of drivers are choosing to forgo cars in favor of pickup trucks, a new breed of entry-level street trucks may sway even more buyers in that direction.

Sources:
Ford, Honda,
EPA
,
Technavio