Polaris and Can-Am both chase power in the high-end sport models. They’ve been trading blows at the pinnacle of the sport for over a decade now, and if you want the most powerful production sport UTV in the industry, you’ve got to go with a Polaris RZR Pro R or a Can-Am Maverick R.
We’re pitting them head-to-head, comparing power, features, and upgrades.
We’ll break them down so you know exactly what your tens of thousands of dollars get you.
Polaris and Can-Am came up with their own proprietary engines for their flagship sport side-by-sides. Polaris stuck with its tried-and-true CVT, while Can-Am took a different route. Let’s see how they compare.
The Maverick R takes the cake on this one. With a bump in horsepower paired with a gear-on-gear 7-speed transmission, it’s a robust, power-forward kind of powertrain. Plus, you can forget about changing belts—it doesn’t use any.
That doesn’t mean the Polaris Pro R is a slouch—it still delivers serious white-knuckle power when you need it.
When there’s tons of power under the hood (or bed in the case of these UTVs), you need suspension that can handle it.
Both models come with great suspension travel and shocks that can absorb hits without sending you off track or making you lose traction. Again, these machines are the pinnacle.
The biggest difference comes from the width and the front suspension design. The Maverick R gives you four extra inches of stability, and they use what they refer to as a “tall knuckle” in the front.
The knuckle design on the Maverick R keeps the front camber consistent through its full range of travel. In practice, that leads to better traction and control.
Both models have live-valve options in the form of Smart-Shox on the Maverick R and Dynamix on the Pro R. These make a big difference to ride feel, thanks to automatic on-the-fly adjustments that keep you from bottoming out so you get a smoother ride.
When it comes to other dimensions, there’s really not all that much between the two models.
| Spec | RZR Pro R | Maverick R |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 104.5 | 108 |
| Ground clearance (in.) | 16 | 17 |
| Dry weight (lb.) | 2144 | 2150 |
The dry weights are nearly identical, and both are on the heavy side. They more than make up for it with power.
But the real meat and potatoes are the suspension specs. The wheelbase and ground clearance is great on both machines. The Maverick R gets a little bit of an edge thanks to its 3.5 extra inches—good for stability on hill climbs and rocks.
Let’s go down the list, because there’s a lot to compare.
First, Polaris’s Ride Command is considered a better on-board touchscreen experience than Can-Am’s.
Second, both front diffs are great. The Pro R diff ditches Polaris’s old sprague design and replaces it with an on-demand locker for more predictable traction.
But Smart-Lok wins this bout. You can set your terrain type, and it automatically senses your slippage and adjusts the diff lock to help when you need it.
Lastly, when it comes to tires, the Mav R has a bigger option for its rock-crawling trim. If that’s what you want to do, the Maverick R X RC is a great factory option. Otherwise, they’re all great starter tires.
Look, it might sound like we’re tooting our own horn here, but it is important to consider what kind of aftermarket parts and accessories you can get for your UTV before you buy it.
Lucky for you, we’ve got loads of good stuff for both machines:
So obviously, we’ve got a lot of stuff you want and need on your UTV. We’ve even got portals compatible with the Mav R’s tall knuckle. And we’ve also got tons of lights, tires, and other accessories to make your ride more complete.
When it comes down to it, the Polaris RZR Pro R is a familiar RZR with the most power and suspension Polaris can cram onto the platform. The things you love about RZRs are better on the Pro R, and things you don’t like are improved too.
The Maverick R is a major evolution for Can-Am. The Maverick R is the most powerful production UTV in the industry and features truly innovative suspension.
The difference comes down to your specific preferences, but you can’t go wrong either way. Either way, we’ll be here to help you make the most of your new machine.
