We got our first ride aboard Can-Am’s all-new and highly anticipated 2018 Maverick Trail this week and wanted to share our experience with you.
First off, this is Can-Am’s first entry into the 50-inch wide SxS market and they’ve done it right providing solid competition to the RZR and Wildcat Trail. Its radical styling reminds us of a downsized Maverick X3, while still carving out its own sporty and unique identity.
The Maverick Trail DPS is available in Country Camo, Can-Am Red or Sunburst Yellow with a 51-horsepower, 800-class engine or a 75-horsepower 1000 V-twin featuring beautifully crafted doors, 2WD/4WD and a locking rear differential. There are also very sweet wheels available and Can-Ams Dynamic Power Steering is included.
You can also get a base model in white in the 800 trim with steel wheels, nets instead of doors and no DPS or diff-lock.
The Ergo-Lok cockpit is surprisingly ample and, once buckled in, two full-sized adults fit comfortably with lots of leg and elbow-room. Storage is ample with a very deep passenger side container and a driver’s side goggle box and floor-mounted cup holders.
The rear rack features Can-Am’s unique LinQ attachment system that securely fits more than 100 BRP-designed accessories. You also get standard tie-down points to ensure your cargo makes it to your destination with you.
We packed on the mileage as we navigated the Wasatch-Cache National Forest trail system, riding over rocks, into mud, ice and, at times, over a foot of snow. Handling is predictable and accurate and the single-mode Dynamic Power Steering works as well as it does on the Defender, of which we are flag-waving fans.
Front and rear sway bars do an excellent job keeping the driver and passenger feeling balanced as we navigated tight corners at speed and the 50-inch width of the Maverick Trail allowed us to access all trails specified for ATVs. Come to think of it, one of the things we loved most was there was no compromise or limitations as to where we could travel.
Stay tuned for more about this vehicle coming up online, in DirtTrax Magazine and on the show. For more information about Can-Ams 2018 Maverick Trail, CLICK HERE
