Can-Am Maverick R Horsepower | The 240 HP Truth

The Maverick R makes 240 hp from a turbocharged 999cc Rotax triple built for hard acceleration, dunes, and open desert runs.

Can-Am built the Maverick R around one loud number: 240 horsepower. That puts it in rare air for a factory sport side-by-side, especially because the engine is only 999cc. The power comes from a turbocharged Rotax 999T triple-cylinder engine paired with a dual-clutch transmission, so the machine doesn’t just make big power on paper. It can keep the engine in the meat of its pull while shifting with a clean, mechanical snap.

The real story isn’t only the peak rating. A side-by-side has to put power through tires, suspension, gearing, heat control, and traction settings. A 240 hp machine can feel wild in sand, sharp on hardpack, and heavier in tight woods if the driver uses the wrong mode. The Maverick R has the muscle, but the setup decides how much of it reaches the ground.

Can-Am Maverick R Horsepower In Real Riding

The Maverick R’s 240 hp rating comes from a 999cc turbocharged triple with liquid cooling, an intercooler, launch control, and a high-flow air intake setup. Can-Am lists those specs on the official Maverick R model page, which is the cleanest place to verify current factory data before shopping.

That power feels different from an older belt-drive turbo UTV. The Maverick R uses a seven-speed Rotax dual-clutch transmission instead of a belt CVT. That matters because the car can shift gears with a direct feel while staying under load. Drivers used to belt slip may notice that the R feels more locked in, especially when climbing, launching, or rolling back into throttle after a corner.

Why 240 HP Feels Bigger Than The Number

Horsepower is only one piece. Turbo boost, gear spacing, throttle mapping, tire size, and surface grip shape the seat feel. On a loose dune face, some power turns into wheelspin. On packed dirt, it turns into a harder shove. On rocks, the smart move is rarely full throttle, because control matters more than peak pull.

The Maverick R’s engine also has to move a wide, long-travel chassis. That chassis helps the car stay composed when the pace rises. It also means the machine is not meant to feel like a small trail kart. It’s built for big terrain, rough whoops, sand bowls, and wide runs where the suspension and drivetrain can work together.

Engine Details That Shape The 240 HP Rating

The Rotax 999T is a turbocharged inline-three, not a twin. That third cylinder helps the engine rev with a smoother, eager feel while still carrying enough low-end pull for trail work. The turbo adds the top-end rush buyers expect from a flagship sport UTV, while the intercooler helps manage intake temperatures when the engine is working hard.

Launch control is part of the package, too. It’s not just a brag point. A clean launch can reduce bogging and help the drivetrain deliver repeatable starts when traction is decent. The driver still has to read the surface. Soft sand, deep silt, slick clay, and loose gravel all need different throttle input.

Factory Power Versus Tuned Power

A stock Maverick R makes 240 hp at the factory rating. Tuned cars can make more, but extra boost and fuel changes bring extra heat and stress. That can shorten the life of clutches, gears, axles, and cooling parts if the build isn’t matched from front to rear.

For many owners, stock power is already more than enough. The smarter early upgrades are often tires, beadlocks, skid protection, harness comfort, radio gear, and heat management. More horsepower sounds fun, but traction and control usually make the car quicker across rough ground.

Maverick R Power Specs And What They Mean

The table below turns the factory powertrain notes into plain riding terms. It also helps buyers compare trims without getting lost in spec-sheet noise.

Spec Or Feature	Factory Detail	What Riders Feel
Horsepower	240 hp	Hard pull under boost with enough power for dunes and open desert
Engine	Rotax 999T triple-cylinder	Smoother revs than many twin-cylinder turbo UTVs
Displacement	999cc	Small engine size with big output due to turbocharging
Cooling	Liquid cooling with intercooler	Better heat control during long pulls and hot-weather riding
Transmission	Seven-speed Rotax DCT	Direct shifts without the rubber-band feel of a belt CVT
Launch Control	Factory included	Cleaner starts when the surface has enough bite
Front Differential	Smart-Lok on many trims	More grip choices for sand, rocks, trail, and mixed terrain
Suspension Travel	Up to 25 inches front and 26 inches rear on select trims	Lets the chassis carry speed across rough ground

Where The Power Helps Most

The Maverick R’s horsepower pays off most when the machine has room to breathe. Sand is the natural playground. The engine can stay in boost, the suspension can work through chop, and the DCT can keep the car pulling instead of waiting on belt response.

In desert terrain, the power helps after corners, through washes, and across rolling whoops. The car can recover speed with less waiting, which makes it easier to keep momentum. That said, more throttle is not always the answer. A smooth driver who stays ahead of bumps will usually be cleaner and less worn out than a driver who stabs the pedal everywhere.

Where 240 HP Needs Restraint

In tight trails, 240 hp can feel like too much if the driver leaves the car in its sharpest setting. Short sight lines, trees, ruts, and blind turns reward calm inputs. The Maverick R can crawl and thread through slower ground, but the driver has to treat the throttle like a dial, not a switch.

Rock riding is the same story. Power helps when climbing ledges or clearing steep faces, but too much wheelspin can bounce the car, break traction, or punish driveline parts. Smart-Lok settings and tire pressure can matter as much as horsepower here.

How It Stacks Up Against Common Rivals

The Maverick R sits near the top of the sport UTV power race. Some rivals use bigger displacement, a supercharger, or a different transmission style. The numbers matter, but the delivery matters more. A 240 hp DCT car and a 250 hp CVT car won’t feel the same from the seat.

Machine Type	Power Character	Best Fit
Can-Am Maverick R	Turbo triple with 240 hp and DCT shifts	Riders who want direct drive feel and big-terrain speed
High-Output NA Sport UTV	Linear pull with no turbo lag	Drivers who like predictable throttle response
Supercharged Sport UTV	Sharp top-end power with a different boost feel	Open terrain riders chasing peak numbers
Older Turbo Belt UTV	Strong boost but more belt heat and wear risk	Owners who want lower buy-in and broad parts access

Buying Notes Before You Chase More Power

If you’re shopping a Maverick R, start with where you ride. Dune riders may want beadlock wheels, proper paddle tires, and cooling checks before engine tuning. Desert riders may care more about spare tires, comms, lighting, and shock setup. Trail riders should think about width, sight lines, and how much power they can use without fighting the car.

A used Maverick R deserves a careful inspection. Check service records, air filter care, tire wear, skid plates, suspension arms, axle boots, and signs of hard launches. A 240 hp UTV can live a healthy life when maintained well. It can also hide abuse if it spent its weekends bouncing off limiters in deep sand with poor filter care.

Simple Checks That Protect The 240 HP Setup

• Clean or replace the air filter on schedule, especially after dust-heavy rides.
• Watch coolant temps during long climbs, dune pulls, and hot days.
• Inspect axle boots, driveline mounts, and suspension joints after hard trips.
• Use tires that match the surface instead of asking horsepower to fix poor grip.
• Let the car warm up before hard throttle, then cool down after heavy runs.

Final Take On The Maverick R’s 240 HP

The Can-Am Maverick R has the horsepower number buyers expect from a flagship sport side-by-side, but its bigger advantage is how that power is delivered. The turbo triple gives it the punch, the DCT gives it a direct feel, and the long-travel chassis lets the car use that output across rough terrain.

For most riders, the stock 240 hp setup is already plenty. Spend time on tire choice, suspension setup, cooling care, and clean maintenance before chasing a tune. When the whole machine is set up well, the Maverick R feels less like a spec-sheet winner and more like a car that can turn big power into real pace.