The 2014 Can-Am Maverick MAX 1000R X rs DPS brought four-seat capacity to Can-Am’s original high-performance Maverick platform. We spent time with a demo unit on family outings, desert trails, Idaho dunes, Moab terrain and the annual UTV Industry Ride to learn how the extended-wheelbase Maverick performed away from a controlled press introduction.
Powered by Can-Am’s naturally aspirated 976cc Rotax V-twin, the Maverick MAX produced a claimed 101 horsepower. Its 113.8-inch wheelbase was 29.5 inches longer than the two-seat Maverick, creating a full-size rear passenger compartment without giving up the performance focus of the original machine.
For the complete model introduction, specifications and historical context, see our 2014 Can-Am Maverick MAX 1000R overview.
Living With the Four-Seat Maverick MAX
The original Maverick MAX was designed to carry four adults while retaining the power, suspension and aggressive character of the two-seat Maverick. Stadium-style rear seating raised the back-seat passengers for better forward visibility, while Can-Am’s Dynamic Passenger Comfort arrangement allowed the rear grab bars to be adjusted independently.
The longer chassis naturally required more room on tight trails, but it also created a stable platform for faster terrain and made the Maverick MAX practical for family rides. Can-Am also equipped the four-seat model with larger front hydraulic disc brakes than the contemporary two-seat Maverick.
Trips in Our Can-Am Maverick MAX
2015 UTV Industry Ride
We brought the Maverick MAX to the 2015 UTV Industry Ride, where its four-seat layout allowed us to carry passengers while exploring the surrounding desert. The outing added another type of terrain to the long-term project and demonstrated why the MAX configuration appealed to families and groups.
Idaho Dunes UTV Invasion
The Maverick MAX also joined us at the Idaho Dunes UTV Invasion. Its 101-horsepower Rotax engine and long wheelbase made it a natural fit for open sand, while the rear seats allowed the trip to remain a family experience.
Read our Maverick MAX Idaho Dunes UTV Invasion trip report.
Rally on the Rocks in Moab
Moab gave us an opportunity to use the Maverick MAX in a very different environment. The long-wheelbase four-seater took on the rocky trails around Rally on the Rocks, including the Chicken Corners area.
First Family Ride at Kane Springs
A quick afternoon trip to Kane Springs became the first UTV outing for our kids. The trip could not have gone much better. My five-year-old daughter was already asking when we could go again, and my wife was surprised by how easy the Maverick MAX was to drive after spending time behind the wheel.
Read the complete Kane Springs Maverick MAX trip report.
Accessories Installed on Our Maverick MAX
GMZ Kahuna Tires and LiteLoc Beadlock Wheels
We fitted the Maverick MAX with 30-inch GMZ Kahuna radial tires and 14-inch LiteLoc beadlock wheels. At the time, the Kahuna was promoted as a DOT-approved eight-ply tire with a reinforced sidewall and self-cleaning tread pattern.
The LiteLoc was a functional beadlock wheel using an 8mm bolt system. Each 14-inch wheel weighed a claimed 15 pounds and carried a 1,000-pound load rating.
Speed Strap Ratchet Tie-Downs
We also used Speed Strap heavy-duty two-inch ratchet tie-downs to secure the Maverick MAX for transport. Their features included an integrated axle strap, snap hooks, soft-touch handle and a claimed 3,300-pound working rating.
What the X rs DPS Package Added
The X rs DPS was the performance-oriented version of the original Maverick MAX. Its important upgrades included:
- Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering
- Quicker-engaging Visco-Lok QE front differential
- FOX 2.5 Podium piggyback shocks
- 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels
- X-package seats, graphics and steering wheel
- Updated analog and digital gauge package
Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering
Can-Am’s Tri-Mode DPS allowed the driver to select low, medium or high steering assistance. The system provided greater assistance during low-speed maneuvering while retaining a more connected feel at higher speeds.
Visco-Lok QE Front Differential
The DPS-equipped X rs also received Can-Am’s quicker-engaging Visco-Lok QE front differential. It automatically transferred power away from a slipping front wheel without requiring the driver to engage a separate differential-lock switch.
FOX 2.5 Podium Shocks
FOX 2.5 Podium piggyback shocks were fitted at all four corners. The rebuildable aluminum-body shocks offered dual-speed compression and rebound adjustment, giving owners considerably more tuning control than a basic nonadjustable suspension.
Beadlock Wheels and X-Package Details
The factory 12-inch aluminum wheels used functional beadlock rings to help retain the tire bead at reduced pressures. Other X-package touches included a three-spoke steering wheel, embroidered seats and model-specific graphics.
Long-Term Takeaway
The original Maverick MAX helped establish the four-seat performance UTV as more than a stretched utility vehicle. It carried our family comfortably, gave rear passengers useful legroom and visibility, and still delivered the power and suspension expected from the original Maverick platform.
Its size required some consideration on tight trails, but the longer wheelbase also contributed to a planted feel in open desert terrain and the dunes. Most importantly for our use, the MAX made it possible to share those trips with the entire family.
For additional driving impressions, see our original Can-Am Maverick MAX 1000R review. You can also explore more historical models and reviews in our Can-Am UTV coverage.
