When Ford explained to a group of journalists last week that they’d get to drive various enhanced Ford products, including an 800 horsepower Mustang and bunch of supercharged F-150s and Broncos, there was a palpable but guarded excitement in the room. While I’m never going to turn down the opportunity to wheel any of the above, I have to admit I was a little more stoked for the autocross course with a bunch of Ford Mavericks outfitted with the recently unveiled SV300T kit.
I was right to be excited. The Maverick is already one of my favorite vehicles currently for sale, offering real truck-like capabilities and a package that can be efficient (hybrid), sporty (Lobo), or mildly off-roady (Tremor) depending on you preference. It’s also relatively compact when compared to other trucks, and certainly more affordable.
By a stroke of dumb luck or excellent planning on the part of the event organizers, my group got to drive the autocross last, meaning we could take laps without the time pressure of having to swap to another activity. I used it to drive the various Maverick versions, as well as slide around (maybe swap in some Focus ST seats) as a passenger. If you’re not going with the hybrid Maverick, I do think the upgrade is well worth the extra scratch.
The last time a small truck was this sort of fun, people still could write a headline calling something “sick, dude” and get away with it. We need more hella sick trucks.
A Silly Name With A Serious History
Ford doesn’t seem to have a consistent naming convention when it comes to its OEM customs. Some vehicles get alphanumerics (FP700, FP800s), while others (Ford Bronco Desert Rising) get names. This flexibility means that Ford can call this package the SV300T and no one blinks an eye.
What does it stand for? Technically, it’s Sport Variant 300 HP Turbocharged, which is a nonsense name that sounds like something you’d see printed on the fender of a ’90s Japanese sports car (although, I guess it would say 276 HP). It is quite clearly an indirect way for Ford to shout out the Special Vehicle Team that once made a mix of hotted up Ford that included the Lightning, Mustang, Contour, and Ford Focus.
Of all of those vehicles, this one is way more like the Ford Focus SVT than it is the Lightning. This is about power, sure, but it’s also about offering a somewhat affordable performance compact car (a Sport Compact Car if you’ll allow it).
This gets some of the technology from the Mustang and the last generation Focus RS, and the fact that it’s a truck is almost a fun bonus.
What Does The SV300T Bring?
This gets a little complicated depending on which trim you get, because the SV300T package is available on the XLT, Lariat, or Lobo trim levels (not the Tremor, I asked), and it includes some Lobo pieces, so what you get depends on the truck you start with.
The XLT or Lariat are available in either the Bronze or Black Packages, meaning that there’s a set of 20-inch black or bronze wheels and other graphics. From a performance perspective, the Maverick is lowered, given a Borla exhaust, lower front spoiler, Lobo shocks, upgraded stabilizer bar/bushings, upgraded front brakes (2-piston calipers instead of the usual single units), a better intercooler, and bigger turbo from the Mustang.
What results is a power boost from 250 to 300 horsepower, and a big jump in torque from 280 lb.-ft. to 350 lb.-ft. This is about all you need in a vehicle this size. While the trucks tested here had everyone’s favorite Pilot Sport 4S summers, tire choice will likely be up to you and your wallet when it comes time to order the package later this year.
As with other Ford Custom Garage vehicles, you can buy this directly from Ford via a dealer, have your dealer do the upfit, or bring an already-purchased truck (if properly equipped) to have the package added. As with other Ford accessories, it comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty if installed by a certified mechanic.
The Lobo version obviously doesn’t quite get all of this, since it already has the shocks and brakes.
The Lobo Feels Like A True Sports Truck If That’s What You Want, The XLT Something You Can Tow With
I just realized this will be the fourth time one of us is driving and reviewing a Maverick Lobo. There’s been a somewhat common thread in these reviews, with everyone liking the truck yet also pointing out that the payload rating is low and that you can’t tow as much with it. Sure, but if I’m buying a sport truck I want the most sport truck.
The XLT SV300T is the best vehicle for people who feel that way. It was also the first Maverick I drove on the little autocross track Ford set up in a large parking lot. This might be the sweet spot, because not only do you get the same 300 hp/350 lb-ft of torque, but you don’t lose any of the ability to carry and tow stuff. In fact, Ford engineers on hand recommended adding the tow package to XLT and Lariat models for the extra cooling. A perfect truck to tow your lightweight track car/kart.
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Right off the jump, the Borla exhaust is a perfect accompaniment to the now-turbocharged motor, adding both noise and depth to an engine that otherwise sounds fairly docile. It also implies there’s something special about the truck without being overpowering. To bring up a totally random other Ford product, this did remind me a little bit of my old Merkur XR4Ti in that the turbo isn’t instantly there like in most modern cars, instead taking a few seconds to add a healthy punch.
Take any Maverick and put it on grippy Pilot Sport and it’ll feel more grounded to the ground in an autocross. That’s how tires work. The difference with the SV300T is that there’s enough shove from the motor to make the extra grip worth the compromise of having a summer tire. Given that this will also comfortably tow up to 4,000 pounds, it is a unique proposition that’s not really matched by any other vehicle I can think of currently for sale.
I agree with MotorTrend‘s Eric Tingwall, though, that the Lobo “is the best starting point” if you’re looking for pure performance. It wasn’t quite night-and-day between the XLT and Lobo on the track, as they’re still quite similar vehicles (other than the magically seven-speed Lobo transmission). Maybe it’s dusk-and-day.
This is because the Lobo’s best feature is the twin-clutch rear-drive unit, which allows power to be sent almost entirely port or starboard, makes a huge difference. The system, which is also on the Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch, helped the truck slide a bit through the tighter turns. Did this make the truck faster? Probably. Did it make it more fun? Hell yeah, brother.
I Have Convinced You! What’s This Going To Cost?
Ford didn’t entirely have all the details of this package pricing worked out as of last week, but there were enough details provided to get fairly close. The total SV300T treatment costs $5,000 for everything except tires if you’re getting it done to an XLT or a Lariat. If your dealer installs it, the cost will also need to include the roughly 17-18 hours of labor. Coming from Ford’s upfitter it might be a little cheaper, though sometimes a dealer will figure out how to do these efficiently and be able to undercut even the Ford installer.
For an orange XLT with AWD and the tow package, that’s about $35,220 fully delivered. Add in the cost of the install and the package, and it’s probably low $40k range? Something in the neighborhood of $43,000 is probably a safe bet. If you want AWD, a Golf R is $49,455… this has more torque, more utility, and is cheaper!
The Lobo is an interesting choice because a lot of the features are already built-in, meaning you’re mostly just getting the turbo and calibration. Ford says this means the similarly-equipped Lobo will be both cheaper as a package and also take less time to install. I’m not sure if it’ll be less than an XLT, but it’s probably in the same ballpark.
I’d say the biggest downside of doing the Lobo is that it means you’re getting an extra set of wheels you have to pay for that aren’t as good as the stock turbofans. Honestly, though, you could just sell the extra wheels or use them for winter tires or whatever.
The Quick Verdict
It’s so sick. Trust me.
Top photo Ford, all other photo author unless noted
I don’t want more power in my Maverick. I want more electric range.
Oh, and a nicer interior.
I want a third pedal