Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo RS Takes Off-Road Recreation to the Limit

Hard to imagine that it took me over 30 years to get behind the wheel of a Can-Am UTV. Considering my upbringing in the dusty, thorn infested brush of South Texas on a ranch raised on old pickup trucks and wood grain stock rifles. Yet, all those years living the ranch life and listening to the sound of the often two stoke powered battle cries of ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and such, I never partook in the experience – until now.

The good folks at BRP Can-Am loaned me a Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR side-by-side (SXS) to play with on the family ranch. Not only did I get properly acquainted with this go-anywhere-fast machine, but it also educated me on why they are so popular among weekend recreationists, thrill seekers, and professional off-road racers.

Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR

The model seen in this article is a Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR. This is a higher-performance variant than the entry-level Maverick X3 DS Turbo, which provides more horsepower and suspension travel.

The Maverick X3 RS Tubro RR is powered by a rear-mounted turbocharged 900cc three-cylinder engine producing an even 200 hp. The engine’s power is distributed to the wheels via an automatic CVT transmission operated by a standard pull-down gear selection lever, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel.

Designed to move over all terrains, the Can-Am Maverick uses a sophisticated suspension setup. Can-Am claims it was inspired by desert racing trophy trucks. The front wheels are held on using double A-arms with a sway bar, and the rear uses a 4-link torsional trailing arm with a sway bar, which translates to 22 inches of suspension travel and plenty of ground clearance.

What really surprised me about this UTV was its comfortable ride quality. The bucket seat offers little in terms of plush comfort, but your lower back won’t feel the abrupt and bunt force of rugged terrain thanks to the Maverick’s aggressive-looking Piggyback shock absorbers developed with the help of FOX Shocks. In addition, the 14-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Maxxis all-terrain tires allowed me to drive over sharp rocks and needlepoint mesquite bushes with confidence at speed.

Can-Am Maverick X3 Driving Impressions

Pull the tag on the inside of the suicide-style opening door and climb over the steel roll cage chassis into the driver seat. Once inside, get ready to be bombarded by a library of safety warning stickers placed throughout the open cockpit.

Then, you’ll notice a 4.5-inch digital display screen with a keypad that provides all the information you need to know. The Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR also provides a satisfyingly clickable array of buttons to engage its exclusive Smart-Lok front differential and select between drive modes offering two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with locking front differential and performance off-road modes labeled as 4WD TRAIL and 4WD TRAIL ACTIV.

After securing your helmet and seat belt, drop the lever into high gear and floor it! Brace yourself as the turbocharged engine charges forward, shoving you back into the seat in a chain reaction triggered by brutal acceleration.

The open-air cockpit lets you feel every second of the Maverick’s fast paced performance, giving you a rush of air sensation similar to riding a motorcycle or 4-wheeler. If you’re brave enough to keep your foot down on the gas the digital speedometer will reach a top speed of 80 mph, which leads to the Maverick X3’s main selling point – speed over all terrain.

Power steering keeps the wheel light and nimble in your hands. No ABS means its excellent disc brakes clamp down hard on the wheels, locking them up if you’re not careful. Slowing down quickly without plowing into the dirt on locked wheels requires a smooth touch. Nevertheless, the Maverick’s brakes did an excellent job under pressure and helped me keep the UTV’s wheels the right side up on more than one occasion.

20 minutes of driving the UTV can feel like a workout with your arms, legs, and core being tested against the resistance of gravitation force. Your mind is strained from concentration and noise from the screaming hi-power engine sitting behind your seat. Yet, underneath the dirt-polluted visor of a helmet is a sweat-soaked face with a smile beaming from ear to ear.

A Born Racer

The Can-Am Maverick X3 is more than a premium recreational UTV for civilians to traverse off-road trails and bunny hop over sand dunes on weekends. It has won the iconic Dakar Rally six consecutive times since 2018. The Dakar is a historic off-road rally consisting of 12 grueling stages over a 14-day event that pushes man and machine to the absolute limit—and then some.

The UTV’s impressive motorsport resume is due in part to the Can-Am Maverick, which is a popular vehicle among off-road race teams competing in the SXS category. It’s the Xenox of SXS UTVs.

International off-road rally racing driver Christine “GZ” Zonca has done her fair share of racing in a Can-Am SXS. Over the last six years, she has piloted a Can-Am UTV in the Mint 400, Baja 500, Baja 1000, Dakar Rally, and other off-road rallies around the world.

I asked her why these vehicles are so prevalent in off-road racing. Her response, followed by a chuckle and smile with reflection in her eyes, was, “Racing is never cheap, so these vehicles provide an affordable competitive edge for smaller race teams. Besides being durable, they are relatively easy to work on and, of course, very fast. I started racing rally cars, but I owe my biggest achievements in my racing career to the Can-Am SXS for providing me a platform to win.”

A Premium Experience

Because of its popularity among professional racers and active lifestyles, Can-Am has continuously expanded the Maverick SXS family tree offering a staggering 22 variants as of 2024. Not including utility transport variants like the Maverick Trail and Maverick Sport. The most recently introduced model is the 2025 Maverick X3 Max lineup, which adds two seats to allow four passengers to experience the turbocharged off-road thrill ride.   

The Can-Am Maverick X3 has a starting price of over $21,000, which is a lot for a non-street-legal vehicle that falls into the toy category. However, you can’t see this SXS with practicality in mind. It’s a premium product. In the same way, one doesn’t need to fly first class but would jump at the chance if the opportunity presented itself. Or choose to add bacon to their sandwich even though it costs extra.

Whether you need to race across a desert or kick up dirt on a family ranch, the Can-Am Maverick X3 SXS provides the power to send it priority express.

Special thanks to BMG Xtreme Sports for their excellent customer service with the Can-Am Maverick X3 test vehicle.