Are a UTV, a side-by-side, an SSV and a buggy the same thing?
Essentially, yes: all of these names describe an off-road vehicle with a steering wheel and at least two seats side by side, protected by a roll cage. The word mostly changes with the country and with the intended use, recreation or work.
| Term | Where it is used | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| UTV | United States, Latin America | Utility task vehicle or utility terrain vehicle |
| Side-by-side, SxS | United States, Canada | Common shorthand in spec sheets and dealer listings |
| ROV | North American safety standards | Recreational off-highway vehicle: a recreational side-by-side |
| SSV | Manufacturers' spec sheets, France, rally | Side-by-side vehicle |
| Buggy | Dominican Republic, Spain, France (everyday speech) | Usually a recreational side-by-side, especially on tours |
| Côte à côte | Québec | The same vehicle in Canadian French |
| Razer | Mexico | Everyday word taken from the Polaris RZR line, often pronounced "razor" |
On our English pages we mostly say "UTV" or "side-by-side"; our French pages say "SSV" or "buggy" and our Spanish pages say "buggy". The vehicle is always the same: the 2026 Can-Am Maverick R X RC.
What is the difference between a side-by-side and an ATV?
A side-by-side is driven seated, with a steering wheel and pedals, while an ATV (quad) is ridden astride and steered with handlebars. That is the core distinction in North American definitions: a side-by-side has no straddle seat and no handlebars.
- ATV or quad: the rider sits on a saddle-type seat and steers with handlebars. In Québec it is called a VTT.
- Side-by-side: driver and passenger sit next to each other in a cockpit enclosed by a roll cage, with seat belts or harnesses. It drives more like a car.
Coming from Canada? Flights, prices and entry rules are in our guide to a side-by-side tour in the Dominican Republic from Canada.
What do UTV, ROV and SxS stand for?
They are three acronyms for the same family of vehicles, with slightly different uses. SxS is simply short for side-by-side.
- UTV (utility task vehicle or utility terrain vehicle): widely used in the United States, including for sport models.
- ROV (recreational off-highway vehicle): the term used in North American safety standards for recreational side-by-sides. The ANSI/ROHVA 1-2016 standard covers vehicles capable of more than 30 mph (48 km/h).
- MOHUV (multipurpose off-highway utility vehicle): the standard term for work-oriented models designed to carry people and cargo.
Why don't we use "raid" in our English page titles? In English the word first suggests an attack, so we describe our trips as multi-day UTV tours, even though the package names (Discovery Raid, Grand Raid, Expedition Raid) stay the same in every language.
Can-Am, BRP, Rotax: who makes what?
Can-Am is an off-road vehicle brand of BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products), headquartered in Valcourt, Québec, Canada. Rotax, which builds the Maverick R's engine, is also a BRP brand.
- Can-Am: the brand celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and includes, among others, the group's side-by-sides and ATVs.
- Maverick R: the sport side-by-side line Can-Am unveiled in 2023 as a 2024 model.
- X RC: the equipment package of the version we use, with 35-inch tires, beadlock wheels, a hard roof, a winch and heavy-duty protection.
- Rotax 999T: the Maverick R's 999 cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine rated at 240 hp, with an integrated intercooler and launch control.
What do DCT, CVT and Extra Low range mean?
DCT stands for dual-clutch transmission: the Maverick R uses a 7-speed Rotax DCT designed to run automatically or, optionally, with paddle shifters. Its two clutches let it move through the gears without cutting drive.
- CVT (continuously variable transmission): a transmission with no fixed gears that varies the ratio continuously, usually with a belt and pulleys. The Maverick R does not use one.
- High and Extra Low ranges: the Maverick R gearbox offers a normal range (High) and a very short range (Extra Low) for slow, technical sections.
What is Smart-Lok?
Smart-Lok is Can-Am's front differential, which can be fully locked on the fly and has electronically controlled automatic modes to keep maximum traction. On the 2026 Maverick R X RC, the driver chooses between true 2WD, 4WD with the front differential locked and three automatic modes.
- Trail: front wheel speed sensors detect the slipping wheel and synchronize both front wheels as needed.
- Trail Activ: for aggressive driving, the front end locks progressively as engine torque or vehicle speed rises, and releases when you lift off the throttle or slow down.
- Rock: a calibration for crawling over obstacles; at low speed and high torque, the front end locks progressively and stays locked until the throttle is released.
Suspension travel, ground clearance, beadlocks: what do they mean?
These are the figures that describe how capable a side-by-side is over rough ground. The table gives each definition and the value for our machine, from the manufacturer's spec sheet.
| Term | Definition | 2026 Maverick R X RC |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension travel | Vertical distance a wheel moves between full extension and full compression | 25 in (63.5 cm) front, 26 in (66 cm) rear |
| Ground clearance | Gap between the ground and the lowest point of the chassis | 18 in (45.7 cm) |
| Beadlock wheel | Wheel with a bolted ring that clamps the tire bead, even at low pressure | 16-inch flow-formed aluminum |
| Tires | Diameter x width x wheel size, in inches | XPS Hammer King 35 x 10 x 16 |
| Shocks | Dampers that control suspension movement | FOX Podium (Smart-Shox version depending on package) |
| Skid plate | Plate protecting the underside of the vehicle | Full heavy-duty skid plate |
| Rock sliders | Side protection against rocks | Standard on the X RC package |
| Winch | Powered cable to recover the vehicle | 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) |
| 4-point harness | Seat belt with four anchor points | With shoulder pads |
Beadlock wheels deserve a word of explanation. On a standard wheel, only air pressure holds the tire bead against the rim. A beadlock's bolted ring keeps that seal even when you air down for more grip in mud, sand or rock.
Which terms do we use on our trips?
Our pages use a few terms with a specific commercial meaning, so it helps to know them before asking for a quote.
- Multi-day tour (raid): a trip of several days with stages, lodging and logistics, unlike a tour of a few hours. Our packages last 7, 10 or 13 days.
- Driver: the person behind the wheel. Prices are per driver: 5,900 USD, 7,900 USD or 9,900 USD.
- Shared buggy: the base option, included in the per-driver price.
- Private buggy: the Can-Am is reserved for one driver for the whole trip; the supplement is charged once per vehicle.
- Companion: the person riding in the driver's private buggy, who does not pay a second full package.
- Passenger with a professional driver: a team driver takes the wheel for you, at the same price as a driver, with 1 passenger maximum per vehicle.
- Briefing and ability check: an introduction to the machine and the rules, then a check of your driving on arrival.
- Security deposit and booking deposit: the security deposit (4,000 USD per driver) is taken before departure and returned at the end if there is no damage; the 50% booking deposit confirms your reservation and is non-refundable.
To see these terms in action, compare the Discovery Raid, the Grand Raid and the Expedition Raid, then check pricing and options and upcoming departures. A question about vocabulary or skill level? Write to us through the request form. New to side-by-sides? Read our guide to UTV tours for beginners.
Sources
- BRP, 2026 Can-Am Maverick R X RC specification sheet (PDF)
- Can-Am (BRP), Smart-Lok technology, accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Rotax (BRP), Can-Am transforms the rider experience and performance with the all-new 2024 Maverick R, Aug 21, 2023
- BRP, About BRP (in French)
- BRP, Can-Am 50th anniversary press release, Valcourt, Jun 20, 2023 (PDF, in French)
- Wikipedia, Side-by-side (vehicle), accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Wikipedia, Polaris RZR, accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Office québécois de la langue française, "autoquad biplace" entry, 2014
- UTV Source, Method Race Wheels explains beadlock technology