As I pulled in and parked, I felt as if I was showing up at a black-tie event, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. I was at Lime Rock Park’s FCP Euro Proving Grounds for an afternoon Porsche autocross event, and I arrived in a…pickup truck. Fortunately, I had some fresh kicks.
In fairness this was not just any pickup, but Ford’s all new Maverick Lobo. Ford’s sporty variant of their excellent and hot selling Maverick compact pickup features a slightly lowered suspension tuned for on-road handling. Powered by a 250 HP 2.0L EcoBoost engine, the Lobo sends power to four snazzy Turbofan wheels through a 7-speed quick shift transmission. In track-only Lobo mode, you’ll find more rear bias so you can hang the tail out to rotate the truck through tight corners.
The compact Lobo weighs 3,814 lbs, which may be light by truck standards, but was hundreds of pounds heavier and had less power than the German sports cars I was competing against. On track, the Lobo’s excellent steering and overall composure through the tight turns was a delight with minimal body roll. I was even able to hang with a Porsche GT4 Cayman through the undulating course. The Ford was so much fun to drive, and looked so good, that most of the Porsche guys wanted to try it out. The numbers don’t lie. On our two timed laps, I was quicker than three Porsches and a VW Golf R. And unlike a Porsche 911 or Cayman, the Lobo seats five and can be had with a tow package. It’s a true superhero. Ford Maverick Lobo prices start at $38,320.
Another dual personality vehicle I drove recently is the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. In Performance Blue Matte paint, the 5 N is not exactly subtle. Yet as a daily driver, it can do everything you want in a family EV. The roomy interior is comfortable for five, and the rear hatch can swallow nearly as much as most mid-size SUVs. Hyundai’s interior design is class leading, with proper buttons and easy to navigate controls. Like its Ioniq 5 sibling, the 5 N has fast charging architecture, going from 10-80% in as little as 18 minutes on a level 3 charger.
What sets the 5 N apart from every other EV under $100k, is the performance.
601 hp (641 in Boost mode), 0-60 in three seconds, huge brakes, and phenomenal handling. There are some fun extras like simulated shifting and artificial engine sounds, but those are just icing on a delicious cake. The 5 N is not just a fantastic EV, it’s one of the best performance vehicles I’ve driven, period. It also does something I’ve never experienced in any vehicle. With traction and stability control off in Sport Mode (in a closed off parking lot), I cut the wheel hard and floored the pedal. All four tires received instant torque and the car rotated on its axis. Essentially spinning in place…on asphalt. With three passengers onboard to enjoy the shenanigans. Family fun indeed. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N starts at $67,800. •
