Can-Am’s Maverick X3 Is The Ultimate Off-Road Toy

If track cars aren’t your thing and you prefer to inhale sand rather than burning rubber, then the just-launched Can-Am Maverick X3 is the perfect tool for the job.

A UTV capable of tackling almost any terrain, the X3 is based around a 1.85 inch tubular steel frame and powered by a 900 cc turbocharged inline-three cylinder engine delivering 154 hp at 7,500 rpm and 113 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm. Drive is sent to all four wheels via a quick-shifting transmission, allowing the all-terrain buggy to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.9 seconds.

The real headline for a vehicle like this however is its suspension and Can-Am has pulled out all the stops with the Maverick. In range-topping ‘X RS’ configuration, it sports a rather insane 22-inches of front suspension travel and 24 inch of travel at the rear, courtesy of fully adjustable shocks from FOX. Lesser models are still impressive with their 20-inches of suspension travel, more than enough to leave Range Rovers for dust.

Given that the Maverick X3 cannot be legally driven on the street, it can’t really be considered as a rival to the road-legal Ariel Nomad even though it does share some similarities.

With greater ground clearance and an expected price tag well below the Nomad’s $75,000 MSRP, the X3 should be the most capable of the duo across difficult terrain, providing off-road inclined enthusiasts with the ultimate toy.