Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS adventure in the Flinders Ranges

A Can-Am Maverick X3 is a much better off-road vehicle than a Mazda CX-30. I learned this the hard way when I travelled to the Flinders Ranges for the SXS Club of Australia’s latest shindig.

The event at Warraweena Station was the second ride weekend for the newly formed club and brought together SXS (side-by-side) enthusiasts from around the country.

My journey from Adelaide to Parachilna in my Mazda hire car was stress free, but the dirt road into Warraweena station was a little more nerve-wrecking. The 20km journey took me close to an hour as I navigated rocky creek beds, washouts, and ruts in the little silver rocket. Every clang of the undercarriage made my credit card groan.

Somehow, I made it to the station homestead with no apparent damage to the Mazda, but the emotional rollercoaster had left me battered.

The SXS lads had been waiting patiently for me to arrive, and when club founder and Can-Am rep Mick Andreawartha greeted me, he gestured to the quickly blackening clouds overhead.

“We’re going for a quick ride and then we’re bailing before the rain comes,” he said. “So, grab your gear and let’s get moving.”

I glanced over at the Mazda and realised that I would be stuck at the station for a week if the rain wreaked havoc on the landscape.

Still, I was here to do a job.

I grabbed my helmet, gloves, and rain jacket, bid the Mazda farewell, and strapped myself into the aggressive looking Maverick X3 X RS – a 2023 model fitted with a turbo and the brilliant Smart Shox suspension system.

My previous experience with SXS vehicles had not extended past farm utility vehicles – capable machines, but nowhere near the same level of performance as the Maverick.

The cockpit is quite small but very ergonomic. For a bigger lad like me, it is like human Tetris trying to clamber in (especially with a full-face helmet on), but once you’re in, everything feels just right and comfortable.

I briefly wondered if the race car bucket seat and full harness was a bit of overkill. Once you’re strapped in, the setup doesn’t allow much movement outside your arms and legs. And you lay back like you’re in an F1 car. But once up and moving, it all makes sense. The Maverick X3 can be a bit of a wild ride, but once locked in the driver’s seat, you simply just feel like an extension of the vehicle (or vice versa).

There are multiple drive and suspension modes available in the X3 but time was of the essence, so Mick punched in a few settings focused on performance, and said I shouldn’t need to change them. The only thing he did suggest was to play around with the Smart-Shox suspension settings once I felt ready.

The first few moments were a bit tense as I gauged the response of the accelerator and steering, as well as recalibrating my spatial awareness (the Maverick is left-hand drive). But once we were the trail, I started to feel my confidence growing.  

As soon as we left the homestead boundaries and hit our first rocky track, I had a something of an epiphany. It is hard to explain how good the Maverick's suspension is. It is nothing short of mind-blowing.

Of course, I have not tested other performance SXS vehicles, so I don’t really have a baseline to compare it to other than motorcycles, 4WDs, and farm UTVs, but the level of compliance provided by the Smart-Shox set-up is like nothing else I’ve experienced.

Within a few kilometres, we were traversing significant rock gardens that I would struggle to conquer on a dirt bike. But the Maverick X3 just climbs through it all, never losing traction, and you feel like you’re floating.

There are no violent deflections, no jarring bottom-outs, no whacks of your head on the roof as you bounce off an erosion mound. The semi-active Smart-Shox system just soaks it all up as if it’s the Phillip Island Grand Prix track.

Later on, I switched from Comfort mode to the more performance-based Sport Plus mode. This stiffened up the ride a little, allowing for harder driving and more traction, but comprising a little comfort. This proved to me that the Maverick X3 is not a hovercraft like I was beginning to suspect, but it also showed the excellent versatility of the suspension setup and its various adjustments.  

The X3 steers with ease too, with the vehicle feeling relatively light and agile, even in tight and technical terrain. But one downside is that the turning circle is not great, meaning slow and tight U-turns are difficult.

With a claimed 200hp, the Maverick X3 is fast. It takes a bit to get the 770kg beast going, but once you’re on the move, the 900cc turbocharged engine really comes in to its own. Can-Am claims it is the most powerful SXS engine on the market, and it benefits from electronic fuel injection, a drive-by-wire pedal, and a CVT transmission.

The drivetrain has four modes – two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive trail, four-wheel drive active, and four-wheel drive with a front diff lock. I didn’t get the chance to play around with these modes, but I was rarely looking for traction – even up steep climbs.

Our convoy of SXS vehicles wound its way along a rocky creek bed, with tight and technical rock gardens interspersed with fast straights and switchback turns. We stopped briefly to check out an old hut before emerging into open countryside.

We soon began ascending up a steep, rocky, and winding ridgeline trail. The trail seemed to go on forever and really tested the upper limits of the Can-Am’s capability. But the X3 never faltered, and just kept climbing.

In the distance, I could see our destination – the summit of Mt Gill. As we traversed the ridgeline, the weather started to roll in, with dark clouds, rain drops, and wind making for a wild but thrilling ride. The views were incredible, but the steep drop-offs on either side of the ridge forced you to stay focused on the trail ahead.

As we came to a stop at the peak of Mt Gill, there was a sense of satisfaction, but the X3 had done it so easily that it didn’t really feel like an achievement. The same trail in a 4WD or on a motorcycle would be challenging, but it was a walk in the park for the X3.  

With incredible 360-degree views in all directions, the crew took the chance to get some happy snaps to take home. But I could see Mick watching the dark clouds getting closer. “We need to get moving guys,” he said. “The weather is coming in fast.”

The drive back down was just as spectacular, but there was no stopping to take in the views. We were in a race against the incoming storm.

While I was a SXS newcomer, I certainly got a taste for how potent these machines are as we set a fairly quick pace back to the station.

It was bittersweet pulling back into the homestead. The Maverick X3 is a lot of fun and I wish I had more time in it. The guys asked me for my thoughts: “I think I want to buy one,” was my reply.

Of course, the Maverick X3 X RS starts at $44,329, which is well outside my budget. And for an expensive toy like that, I wondered how often you’d actually get to use it considering it isn't road legal.

But, as Mick explained, the whole reason for the existence of the SXS Club of Australia is to give SXS owners a chance to use their vehicles recreationally and legally in spectacular locations with like-minded people. Membership is free, and all brands of SXS are welcome.

Currently there are four events on the calendar – three in SA and one in NSW – but there are plans to expand with events in Queensland and Victoria.

As I was quietly doing the sums in my head on how to save $44k, I noticed the other guys were frantically packing. They were also eager to hit the road, given they had to tow their SXSs back up the station track. One bloke was in a Winnebago.  

The weather was looking more ominous by the minute, and I knew I had to get the Mazda back to the highway before the rain hit. I bid farewell to the crew and pointed the Silver Rocket west. I noticed that I was driving a lot faster on the way back – I had to remind myself I was no longer in the Can-Am.

After about 45 minutes I made it back the safety of the tarmac. The Mazda was in one piece, and I had a smile on my face wider than the Flinders Ranges themselves.

That night, I sat in the front bar of the Prairie Hotel cradling one of the pub’s own IPAs. I was attempting to explain to the bar staff how my day went. “I was out driving a Can-Am SXS at Warraweena. You know, like a UTV?” They looked at me blankly.

I gave up trying to explain and kept it as my own little secret. The truth is, unless you’ve driven one, it is quite hard to grasp how much fun they are. So, my advice? Find a mate who has one and give it a test drive. You’ll be blown away. But just be warned – you’ll want to buy one.

Twenty-four hours later, I returned the Mazda to Adelaide Airport without a scratch (well, not many...). The trusty warhorse had served me well.

In the following days, news about floods and closed roads filtered down from the Flinders Ranges. Looks like I dodge a bullet. Hopefully the people living out on those stations have a Can-Am Maverick X3. They're gonna need it.