FIRST TEST: Can-Am Maverick X3 line-up

Can-Am Maverick X3 X DS
The Can-Am Maverick X3 X DS is one of the exciting new UTV’s from the X3 2017 lineup. We had the ultimate trip to test this machine in some of the most picturesque, but notoriously dangerous and roughest terrain in the world; known as Baja in Mexico. The Maverick X3 X DS does everything, and it does them all extremely well due to its “buggy” type design. There were several times when we were thinking “I better slow down for this section”. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that we didn’t need to, the Fox 2.5 shocks, which offer 20 inches of travel front and rear, soaked up some very gnarly sections and really made us confident in this UTV. The power was another pleasant surprise.

The 154hp turbo charged 900cc Rotax engine hauls the mail! Whenever you want power, no matter if it’s low, mid, or top end, it gives you whatever you need and it’s all tuned to be very drivable power. We did a few beach runs near the ocean in the wet sand and got it to 81MPH! You read that correctly and Can-Am says top speed is 85mph in stock trim. This UTV also has responsive electric power steering that is adjustable from minimum, medium, and maximum by a push of a switch.

The handling is one of its strongest points. There was maybe 1-2 times that we felt it oversteered in over 200 miles. Braking was amazing and helped the car setup for corners by tapping the brake and getting the rear end a bit loose. With hydraulic twin-pistons resting on the 262mm front discs and 248mm rear discs, it could stop on a dime. The 29-inch Maxxis BigHorn 2.0 tires help propel the X3 with a 6-ply carcass to resist getting flats. We could certainly see an upgrade in tire improve performance even though the Maverick doesn’t need much upgrading!

Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS
The Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS had to be our favorite out of the 2017 X3 lineup, and that’s based on the desert terrain we were driving on. Just by looking at this model you can see that it’s built like a buggy, with a wide stance and immense suspension travel, it’s ready for the rigors of Baja. The Fox 2.5 internal bypass front shocks offer 22 inches of travel and Fox 3.0 internal bypass rear shocks offer 24 inches of travel. The suspension can take a beating from the harsh Baja course all the while keeping us completely submersed in the seat and enjoying every minute of the ride. It’s also 72 inches wide compared to the 64-inch X DS version which made it more stable.

The most fun we had was when we were on a long straightway with large dirt rollers lining the trail. At speeds of 70mph or more, you could feel every bit of the suspension travel on this UTV and it was soaking them up in trophy truck like form. The trophy truck inspired double a-arm front end is built tough with a boxed styled design and includes a sway bar. The rear end is also inspired by a trophy truck with 4-link torsional trailing-arm design with a sway bar. The large trailing arm is built very well and works beautifully with the Fox 3.0 shocks.

Another added benefit of this model compared to the X DS is the X RS gets a set of 30 inch 2.0 Maxxis Big Horn tires which are also wrapped in Can-Am’s bead-locks wheels. Having the bigger tires was great in rougher sections as they added an inch of ground clearance (15 inches total) over the X DS. The X RS model created even more driving confidence for us than the X DS, it’s so stable that I don’t think the Hulk could flip this thing over. This X RS model has all of the same great benefits of the X DS, but with more suspension travel. we didn’t think something could be better than the X DS in the desert until we drove the X RS. Man-o-man, it is better!

Stay tuned in the pages of Dirt Wheels to get the full test of the Can-Am Maverick X3! Click the link below to check out more options from Can-Am.

http://can-am.brp.com/off-road/