Will it surprise many if I tell you that the spirit behind Can-Am is always to finish first? From its very beginnings in 1972, the company wanted to be on the podium, and that mentality still holds true today. But let’s face it, if you want to compete and finish on the podium, you need opponents, and BRP’s number-one adversary has undoubtedly been Polaris for several years now.
The two manufacturers have been waging an incredible battle for several seasons, and in several segments. If you look at the world of snowmobiling, it’s easy to see that these two companies innovate and try to outdo each other every season on every level. Whether it’s suspension, engine power or occupant-interactive technology, we’ve been witnessing a never-ending war for several seasons now. And this same phenomenon is reproduced in the off-road world!
In 2023, Polaris launched the RZR Pros R. Equipped with a 2-liter, atmospheric, four-stroke engine developing 225 horsepower and a 74-inch wheel track, this vehicle was destined for the American market. Everyone expected a replica, but the real question was when? And with what? As usual, Can-Am doesn’t disappoint, 2024 the arrival of several new technologies with the introduction of the Maverick R.
Although its looks remain similar to the Maverick X3, engineers are introducing a new suspension and an all-new powertrain that will certainly be found in other segments in the near future. As you probably already know, the RZR Pro R is currently banned from federated trails in Quebec.
The first reason is that its displacement exceeds the maximum of 1000 cm³, and the second is that its width is too great. For its part, Can-Am produces a new engine that respects the maximum displacement for an off-road vehicle on federated trails, i.e. 1000 cm3.
However, the vehicle is illegal not only because it is 77 inches wide, but also because its weight, at 1020 kg, exceeds the maximum weight allowed by 70 kg. By way of comparison, the 64-inch Maverick X3 XRS has a dry weight of around 760 kg, or 1,675 lbs.
New 999 cm3 engine and DCT transmission duo
This brand-new three-cylinder 999 cm3 engine was not presented to us as part of the ACE range. This new turbocharged mill develops a maximum output of 240 hp. Like all turbocharged engines, it features an intercooler to cool the compressed air before it enters the combustion chamber. A high-performance air filter keeps dust, sand and other contaminants out of the engine.
An all-new seven-speed DCT transmission transfers power to the wheels. This new transmission can be used fully automatically or semi-automatically with steering wheel controls. It’s important to understand that with all this power, it was becoming increasingly difficult to ensure good belt durability and longevity with a variable transmission like on the X3.
Although these transmissions are extremely powerful, the fact remains that when it comes to longevity, a well-informed choice had to be made. On the drive side, we continue with Smart Lock technology, the four-mode traction system used on the X3 for several seasons now.
A unique suspension
It has to be said that the Maverick R’s new suspension gives it an incredible look. The front design, with the pivot arm rising above the wheel to connect to the upper suspension arm, adds to the “Bad Ass” design sought by the design department. Whether front or rear, the suspension arms are extremely robust, offering outstanding durability in all types of terrain.
The Maverick R’s ground clearance is 17 inches, with a front travel of 25 inches and a rear travel of 26 inches. Damping is handled by Fox podium 2.5 at the front and 3.0 at the rear, all electronically controlled with Smart-Shox technology.
The package is finished off with 16-inch aluminum wheels with retaining rings and 32-inch ITP Tenacity XNR tires.
Let’s take a look at the equipment on offer
On the equipment side, your Maverick R comes with half-doors that allow you to close the lower section completely. A full roof is also included.
The interior has been redesigned for greater ergonomics. The large 10.25-inch touchscreen for connection to your smartphone is back. And to make sure you get a very close view of the front or rear, two cameras give you a close-up view of either the front or rear of the vehicle. You won’t be surprised to see the use of squared-off LED headlights, found in many BRP product divisions, and the addition of light bars accentuating the unique front V, really a great look at night.
The safety aspect has not been neglected, with four-point seat belts and shoulder pads for comfort. These are optional on X3 versions.
Closed track testing
As we said earlier in this text, the Maverick R’s 77-inch width doesn’t allow us to ride on trails. So we had to find a safe place to test the limits of side-by-side riding. What better place than the Sainte-Béatrix Off-Road Festival grounds, graciously lent to us by owner Edith Loyer for our test ride.
Some of the terrain was relatively flat, so we were able to do a few performance tests, while other areas were very rocky, so we were able to see for ourselves the suspension’s capabilities. In terms of performance, I’m sure many of you are wondering whether this new engine is much more powerful than the 900 ACE turbo RR that powers the X3 versions.
In the limited space available, we can’t say that the Maverick R outperforms the X3 RR. It’s worth mentioning that the power-to-weight ratio gives the X3 RR a slight advantage. On the other hand, I’d put a small two-dollar premium on the newcomer for high speed.
The new transmission certainly delivers power to the wheels, but the feeling inside the cockpit is so smooth and comfortable that it’s like taking a stroll in the woods, even at full throttle. It was my colleagues on site who pointed out the incredible trail of dust released by the vehicle during acceleration.
We tested both transmission modes, the fully automatic mode and then the semi-automatic mode, where gear changes are made using pedals on the steering wheel. It’s hard to see any advantage in using the steering-wheel-mounted controls; the performance delivered in fully automatic mode is very efficient, and we couldn’t beat it in semi-automatic mode.
It was in the rock crawling section of the course that we were able to see the incredible capabilities of this new suspension. The very high ground clearance of 17 inches enabled us to test certain passages that we would never have attempted with other vehicles (the very wide travel means that ground contact is maintained even with large obstacles, making passage easier).
A unique and exceptional vehicle
There’s no doubt that this car has extraordinary capabilities, and opens up a very interesting future with its new technologies, even in the near future in Quebec. It would be great to see a Maverick R with a 64-inch legal width for our trails. As already mentioned, longevity and reliability are the two main advantages of this new transmission. It’s disconcerting to see how smoothly the shifts are made, keeping a good level of power between gears.
We were the only Quebec magazine to test the Maverick R, and we really have to thank BRP’s new staff for their excellent journalistic support, including Mélanie Montplaisir, BRP’s Global Public Relations Manager, and Stéphanie Giroux, Global Public Relations Advisor, who are a pleasure to work with.
A huge thank you to both of you for allowing us to offer readers essays like this one. We can’t end this article without mentioning the excellent collaboration we have with Edith Loyer and the Festival Hors-Route de Sainte-Béatrix. A big thank you for your collaboration!
Photo credits: Steve Maillet – Raven-media
