The side-by-side market has blown up since they hit the market and it is the most popular segment in off-road. With all the options out, we were able to get our hands on a 2020 Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR to see how this machine stacked up with the rest of the field.
The Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR is packed with features that have made the Maverick X3 the machine it is, plus plenty of updates. But what makes this vehicle different than what is on the market? That is the question we looked to answer.
PACKAGE SPECIFIC FEATURES
The Maverick X3 RS features a 72-inch width coupled with a 102-inch wheelbase, 16 inches of ground clearance, high torque Dynamic Power Steering (DPS), and up to 24 inches of suspension travel, and a rear tow hook. All this sounds great, but the X RS package includes even more.
Specific to the X RS package the Can-Am features a 195 horsepower turbocharged and
intercooled Rotax ACE Turbo RR engine, Smart-Lok front differential, Fox 3.0 Podium RC2 shocks with bypass, and 14-inch aluminum beadlock wheels wrapped in 30-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires. The package also includes four-point harnesses with shoulder pads, HMWPE heavy-duty full skid plate, X-package graphics and seats, a 7.6-inch digital display with keypad, and special painted color options.
The Maverick X3 is built with trademark Can-Am DNA along with next-generation design. Everything has been looked at including a low seating position, Ergo-Lok cockpit with four-way adjustable seats, advanced airflow dynamics, QRS-X transmission, TTX suspension with industry leading travel, ultra-efficient, and lightweight chassis, and the sharpest handling features.
Everything sounds great, but we felt the need to dive deeper into the specific options to see what allows the Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR to stand out.
ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
The Turbo RR is a speed demon and it has a powerplant that allows it to achieve 195 horsepower. It is a Rotax ACE (Advanced Combustion Efficiency) 900 cc turbocharged triple-cylinder engine, liquid-cooled with integrated intercooler and high-performance air filter.
Fuel delivery system features Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) with electronic fuel injection (EFI) which is backed by a Quick Response System X (QRS-X) CVT with high airflow with low, high, neutral, reverse, and park. Being able to turn while using all the power is done with a high torque Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) system.
The Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR has a lockable front differential with Smart-Lok technology which was developed in conjunction with TEAM Industries, a market leader in the drive train industry. Smart-Lok is a fully lockable on-the-fly front differential with electronically-controlled, automatic modes that return maximum traction regardless of the condition.
The vehicle has a four-mode traction system that features 2WD, 4WD with front differential lock, 4WD TRAIL ACTIV, and 4WD TRAIL. TRAIL ACTIV mode was designed for aggressive riding in delivering the increased performance in cornering precision. On undulating terrain, quick corners, and loose surfaces, TRAIL ACTIV mode maximizes the 4WD system’s speed, efficiency, and predictability.
SUSPENSION
With all the power of the Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR the vehicle needed to be able to soak up all the terrains that owners would be adventuring on. From the suspension design and shocks on the SXS, it was made to do all of that.
The suspension on the Turbo RR features a Trophy Truck inspired, double A-arm front suspension with a sway bar, and 22 inches of travel. The front shocks are Fox 2.5 Podium RC2 piggyback with bypass, dual speed compression, and rebound adjustments.
The rear suspension performs just as well as the front with a four-link Torsional Trailing-arm X (TTX) with a sway bar and 24-inches travel. The rear shocks are larger than the front, Fox 3.0 Podium RC2 remote reservoir with bypass, dual-speed compression, and rebound adjustments keep things cozy in the rear.
A nice feature that Fox has done for SXS’s with their shocks is providing race shock tune settings. The set up is easy and simple to do with basic hand tools. The shock tune provides increased performance and comfort that is done by the people who know their product best.
Tied in with the suspension are 14-inch cast-aluminum beadlock wheels wrapped in Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires. Up front, there is a 30x9R14 and in the rear has a 30x11R14. When all said and done the Turbo RR sits with a total length of 132 inches, a width of 72.7 inches, and a height of 68.5 inches.
EVEN MORE
But wait there’s more! Being able to stop is important no matter what type of vehicle you are driving, but off-road and with a lot of power, stopping is on top of our safety list. The Maverick X3 X comes with dual front 262 mm ventilated disc brakes with hydraulic twin-piston calipers while the rear has dual 248 mm ventilated disc brakes with hydraulic twin-piston calipers.
The powertrain isn’t the only place that the Turbo RR shines. The interior was also looked over to feature a 7.6-inch wide digital display with keypad displaying speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip and hour meters, fuel, gear position, sport and eco modes, seat belt, diagnostics, and a clock.
Keeping on the safety train there is an Integrated front bumper, quarter-doors, full roof,
four-point harnesses with shoulder pads, HMWPE heavy-duty full skid plate, and a rear tow hook. These features do not take over the look of the SXS but add function and style.
Phone running dead? The Can-Am features a lighter type DC outlet in central console to allow for charging of all sorts of devices on the trail. Making sure the trail is visible at night comes by the way of LED headlights and tail lights with a unique Can-Am LED signature.
If you are worried about someone hopping in while you are sleeping the Turbo RR features an anti-theft system. This features an RF digitally encoded security system (DESS) with a start and stop button. The Turbo RR comes with a green and grey DESS ignition keys. The grey key limits power, while the green key unlocks the full potential.
The color of a SXS allows owners to stand out from the crowd. Turbo RR owners can stand out from the crowd with three colors available only available on this model: hyper silver, intense blue, and manta green, or gold, Can-Am red, and hyper silver, or what we went with on our Turbo RR, triple black.
THRILLS BEHIND THE WHEEL
Everything sounds great on paper, but what happens when you get behind the wheel in the dirt is completely different. We have taken out our 2020 Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR multiple times to different areas to see all that it could do.
From rocks, steep hills, and open desert the Turbo RR excels in all of them. We applied the Fox race shock tune to the vehicle after a couple of trips to see the difference and in our opinion, it made a difference in soaking up the rough stuff.
The dual key setup is great when the keys are tossed to a less experienced driver. Not having to worry about them pushing the vehicle more than they are capable of is very reassuring. A tip, when giving the grey key to a less experienced driver put it in Eco mode as well for additional reductions.
Having a vehicle that the whole family can enjoy makes trips out to the dirt that much better. The Turbo RR can enjoy a nice stroll on the trail with the wife or kids, but still packs the punch to be able to go all out with the guys.
From soaking up G-outs to high speed turns the Turbo RR handled everything we threw at it while still wanting more. We felt very comfortable and well-planted driving no matter the type of terrain.
We did not have complaints about the Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR except for one. The passenger does not have anything to grab onto besides the center handle on the console. It would be nice to have a full handle in front of the seat to allow a more sturdy ride, but for most, the handle on the console will suffice.
How does the Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR stand up to the competition? Below is a chart that compares the 2020 Can-Am model to its competitor the 2020 Polaris RZR XP Turbo S. From looking at features for both, side by side, it is easy to see why we liked the Turbo RR especially with our experience with the Turbo S.
For more information on Can-Am and to find the right vehicle for you, be sure to check out their website.
