The news is officially out. Can-Am has released information on its next-generation vehicle platform, the all-new 2024 Maverick R. Over the last few Maverick X3 reiterations, horsepower advancements were clearly the focused achievements. With the Can-Am Maverick R, they went big with more power, and because of that, they needed a race-inspired ground-up platform.

The all-new 2024 Can-AM Maverick R is a bit unique out of the box, and it packs a bunch of first-in-class stats. For starters, a 240-horsepower Rotax three-cylinder 999 cc engine is backed by a high-performance seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The front track width sits at 77 inches wide and owns over 17 inches of ground clearance. The Maverick R gets 25 inches of travel up front, and 26 inches in the rear, and is equipped with Fox Live Valve Gen 3 technology coupled with Fox PODIUM shocks. In its stock configuration, the vehicle comes with either 30-inch or 32-inch tires but can fit up to a 35-inch tire.

This new Can-Am Side-by-Side Vehicle (SSV) is designed to be competitive with other manufacturers’ latest generation sport UTVs. Of course, they did not want to just be competitive, so they have brought to market a strong lineup of four different models; the Maverick R, the Maverick R X, the Maverick R X rs, and the Maverick R X rs with Smart-Shox. It appears to be a good, better, best, and most-bestest scenario, so perhaps Can-Am just might dominate this new category of super UTVs.

What Makes This Can-Am New, Different, Or Better?

As we mentioned, the Can-Am Maverick R is a completely ground-up platform but they have invested heavily with five years of development instilled. They have also achieved over 500,000 kilometers of testing with this new SSV. The focused goals of the vehicle were to package Can-Am design, unrivaled performance, riding dynamics, technology, and ergonomics. 

Equipped with an industry-leading 240 hp engine, high-performance seven-speed DCT, heavy-duty tall-knuckle suspension design, 10.25-inch touchscreen display, smart shox, and more, the Can-Am Maverick R is aiming to take sport UTVs to a new level.

 

 

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The first initial look at the vehicle profile shows the unorthodox suspension design. Can-Am has labeled this a Heavy Duty Tall Knuckle. The suspension geometry is not new or revolutionary, but it has never been implemented on a production UTV platform.

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Family Lineup

First and foremost, the Can-Am Maverick R is a go-fast off-road sport machine. It is designed specifically for wide-open desert recreation but can be used in a variety of trail applications. If you are in the market for a purpose-built trail machine and live in a state or area that regulates vehicle width, this is not the machine for you. Fortunately, Can-Am has many other options for that.

With the base model Maverick R, you get all the high-performance goodies and drivetrain sans the touchscreen infotainment display bigger shocks, and smart shox technology. Jump up one level to the Maverick R X and you will be styling with the 3.0 PODIUM Piggyback shocks, the 10.25-inch touchscreen display, a rear camera, the telescopic adjustable steering wheel, a full roof, and a four-point safety harness. The Maverick R and Maverick R X sit on 30-inch tires and 15-inch beadlock wheels.

The Maverick R X RS is pumped up on 32-inch tires and 16-inch beadlock wheels. You also get both a front and rear camera system. The shocks are also upgraded to FOX 3.0 PODIUM RC2 Piggyback shocks with bypass. Finally, on the Maverick R X RS, you get the penultimate FOX 3.0 PODIUM Piggyback shocks with bypass and Smart-Shox Technology featuring Live Valve.

2024 Maverick R (Good Base Model)

The Maverick R comes in Catalyst Grey and Neo Yellow only. This vehicle package starts at $35,499 and includes the following:

• 77-inch four-link trailing arm with aluminum HD tall knuckle
• Smart-Lok front differential
• FOX 2.5 PODIUM Piggyback shocks with QS3† compression adjustment and bottom-out control
• 30-inch by 10-inch ITP Tenacity XNR tires
• 15-inch flow-formed beadlock wheels
• Full skid plate
• Three-point retractable seat belt
• Premium high-performance LED headlights
• Center dashboard storage with cell phone holder
• 1,700 Watt magneto

2024 Maverick R X (Better Base Model With Better Shocks)

The Maverick R X comes in Legion Red or Triple Black. This vehicle package starts at $38,399 and includes everything from the base model and the following upgrade:

• FOX 3.0 PODIUM Piggyback shocks with QS3† compression adjustment and bottom-out control
• 10.25-inch touchscreen display
• Telescopic steering wheel with infotainment controls
• Full roof
• Rear Camera
• Four-point harness with shoulder pads
• Can-Am LED signature
• X package graphics/seats

2024 Maverick R X RS (Premium Model With Even Better Shocks And Bigger Tires and Wheels)

The Maverick R X RS comes in Carbon Black and Neo Yellow or Triple Black. This vehicle package starts at $42,599 and includes everything from the prior model and the following upgrade:

• FOX 3.0 PODIUM RC2 Piggyback shocks with bypass, dual-speed compression, and rebound adjustments
• 32-inch by 10-inch ITP Tenacity XNR tires
• 16-inch flow-formed beadlock wheels
• Front and rear camera

2024 Maverick R X RS With Smart-Shox (Premium Model With Best Shocks And Same Tires and Wheels)

The Maverick R X RS w/ smart-shox comes in Carbon Black and Neo Yellow or Triple Black. This vehicle package starts at $44,299 and includes everything from the prior model and the following upgrade:

• FOX 3.0 PODIUM Piggyback shocks with bypass and Smart-Shox Technology featuring Live Valve gen 3 (dual-valve compression and rebound)

Can-Am Maverick R Performance

So the big ticket costly item on the 2024 Maverick R X RS are these mega Fox PODIUM Shocks with internal bypass. Not only are they the longest UTV shocks that Fox has ever built, but they contain both the Live Valve and Smart-Shox Technology. Off Road Xtreme has talked a lot about Fox Live Valve, which is impressive in its own right, so we will leave that for you to check out on your own.

Can-Am Maverick R Suspension Design

Since we are talking about the shocks, we should move on to the big elephant in the room and address the suspension design. It certainly looks odd. It also looks otherworldly and I predict may make an appearance in some blockbuster summer film with a futuristic setting. But the question remains, what was Can-Am thinking?

Well, Off Road Xtreme did participate in the virtual press conference so we got the inside scoop. The short answer is the design was implemented for precise vehicle control, stability, strength, and predictability. Can-Am says that it makes for a better riding experience and the good news is that it can also accommodate up to a 35-inch-tall tire.

We did not get details on those maximum-size tires or wheel specifications. Additionally, sand paddle tires were never brought up but it looks like an appropriate-size paddle tire should not have issues in the rear. Perhaps something like the Tensor Tire SS “Sand Series” might be the way to go.

For reference, the rear suspension presents a similar Heavy Duty Tall knuckle, although not as much over the center of the tire. The rear also uses a large stamped steel trailing arm not much different than the Maverick X3 model.

Suspension Continued

The new Maverick R design also focuses on improving the vehicle’s force based roll center. Overall, Can-Am was able to reduce the vehicle’s tendency to roll by an impressive 50 percent. This keeps the tires in contact with the ground more often, and the Maverick R will feel better planted.

All of this contributes to improved handling in rough and twisty terrain and more predictable riding dynamics.

The Can-Am Maverick R is all about riding dynamics. The new vehicle platform and suspension design offers enhanced anti-squat geometry, better load distribution, improved roll center, and pitch control. Additionally, the Heavy Duty Tall Knuckle improves overall torsional rigidity, but perhaps the most significant upgrade is the steering geometry.

Can-Am Maverick R Steering Geometry

The steering design provides predictable steering dynamics. The car points and drives where you steer and direct the wheels to go. This is due, in large part to the Tall Knuckle’s upper ball joint and lower ball joint sitting nearly in line with the wheel center. This offers a minimal scrub radius and an improved kingpin angle all of which contributes to precision steering.

Additionally, this design allows the use of larger tires without compromising and over-extending steering arms, joints, and other suspension components.

Can-Am Maverick R Chassis

Another component of keeping the vehicle planted in the rough is tying in a rigid chassis. The Maverick R uses a high-strength steel tubular frame with dual-phase construction. This design provides added rigidity and reduces stress on various components. Bolt and frame loads see a significant reduction as well.

The signature Can-Am Maverick v-shape lower frame is implemented and this reduces the frame footprint for improved obstacle clearance.

Another major design improvement is that all suspension mounting points are now double sheer construction. So hopefully, there will be no need for aftermarket bracing kits. Can-Am also upgraded to rubber double-bounded bushings for a better maintenance-free operation with no more squeaking and reduced road harshness.

 

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Can-Am Maverick R Power

Can-Am has developed the Maverick R to lead its class with an unrivaled 240-horsepower. The new Rotax inline three-cylinder 999 cc turbocharged engine is designed to be powerful yet highly durable. There are two injectors situated for each cylinder for on the pipe responsiveness. The new 54mm turbo is directly mounted to the engine block. The cylinder block is stacked with features to increase strength such as a closed deck and tension rods.

Rotax 999T Engine

When that kind of power is on tap, cooling becomes paramount. In the case of the Maverick R, we find a dry sump oil tank, two dedicated radiators with fans, and also an intercooler.

Helping the rider harness that power is a system of three engine modes. The driver can choose normal, sport, sport+ ART (Advanced Response Technology). They can also program custom presets according to driver preference.

Sport + ART engine mode spools up the turbo to create extra boost, increases throttle for more airflow, increases boost pressure, and applies maximum engine torque.

The Result Of Sport+ ART:

• Instantaneous throttle response
• Lighting fast shifting
• High RPM shifting points
• Deep and strong engine sound

Rotax Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)

Typically, when you are chucking that kind of power to the ground, the gearbox may become stressed. Can-Am worked with Rotax for more than eight years to engineer the world’s first high-performance off-road DCT. Their goal was to design something that could withstand the horsepower and heat, and not burn up belts. The answer was not to use belts and make it all-around bigger and better.

What they came up with sounds impressive and capable. The Maverick R sports a high-performance gear-on-gear (no belt) transmission that provides instantaneous and seamless shifting. They claim it is so seamless, that they implemented a gear indicator to help inform the driver of that important information.

Additionally, the transmission features a High and Low function that doubles the gear range from 7 to 14 ratios. The reverse gear is comparable to the low gear. Another unique function is that the transmission is designed to handle on-the-fly High to Low shifting. This is electronically actuated along with Park and Neutral.

The last part to highlight is that there are two shifting modes, Auto mode with optional paddle shift or full Manual mode.

Maverick R Interior Refinements

Typically, when you buy a UTV, you are thinking bare bones rough and raw presentation with unfinished materials. Can-Am took the Maverick R in a different direction. With this new platform, they had an open slate and implemented a lot of what UTV owners have been asking for.

Vehicle styling and interior ergonomics that mimic our modern road-going vehicles were a big part of that. Full-containment doors, a driver-centric cockpit, seamless access to controls, and efficient storage integration are the highlights.

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Besides the base model, all Maverick R SSVs receive the 10.25 touchscreen display and an adjustable telescopic steering wheel with infotainment controls. They also come with the full roof and four-point safety harnesses with integrated shoulder pads.

Perhaps the biggest feature added to the new Can-Am Maverick R is the intuitive touchscreen display with BRP Connect that integrates navigation and other vehicle functions. This includes the control of the Drive Modes and a suite of apps and features for a more personalized and enhanced riding experience.

 

Maverick R Accessories Abound

One area where Can-Am excels is its integration of factory-available accessories. The Maverick R is no exception and they offer 72 listed options you can add to the vehicle at the time of order. In fact, the website is already up and running to build your Maverick R completely to your liking. You can start with a bundle of essentials, all the way up to nothing but the best, or just start from scratch for total customization.

Maverick R accessories include:

• Roofs
• Windshields
• Mirrors
• Bumpers
• Audio Systems
• Roof Racks
• Cargo Storage
• And more

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Accessories include eight different bumper styles, three levels of audio systems, and multiple cargo options.

To make the new Maverick R even more sophisticated, Can-Am has gone to the extent of designing industry-first SMART Accessories. This includes performance features that react to the vehicle dynamics in real-time such as lights shining brighter and further as speed increases, or lights shining in the direction the steering and wheels are pointing.

First Impressions On The All-New Can-Am Maverick R

Well, there it is! The all-new Maverick R has a lot to unpack. We find it uplifting to see a manufacturer step outside of the box and push the boundaries for its new flagship off-road sport UTV. Including a lot of best-in-class specifications and industry-first features is one way to do that. It is a bold strategy that Off Road Xtreme can get behind. That is with one big caveat. It has to work and work well!

Luckily for us, and you, we will be heading out to the high desert of Nevada for some lengthy drive time to experience what the Maverick R has to offer. From the deep dive we presented here, we hope that will include power, performance, and premiere riding dynamics. Stay tuned for a full report of our Maverick R test drive impressions.

Can-Am Goes Big In 2024 With All-New Maverick R SSV Lineup