Can Am UTV

[ArlyA]

These have a separate clutch so the CVT belt is engaged at all times.

 

[DK35vince]

The defender is there work machine while the commander is there sport model. Very different designs and purposes.

The Defender is a utility model, the Commander is a recreational/utility (also has a dump bed) the Commander not considered a sport model.

 

[Code54]

Can-am is a good machine, a direct competitor to Polaris. I personally would not say "best built" but decent. They are a belt drive and guys blow the belts on the trail just like Polaris machines. I personally prefer the Hondas (Currently own a Talon). If I was deciding between a Polaris or Can-am I would lean toward the Can-Am. I owned a Polaris RZR in the past and while it never left me stranded I did a LOT of maintainace to make sure it didn't and always felt the quality was lacking.

 

[ArlyA]

The Defender is a utility model, the Commander is a recreational/utility (also has a dump bed) the Commander not considered a sport model.

Here is my review of the defender. I'd not put the commander in the utility department.

 

[DK35vince]

The Maverick line is their sport models

 

[bigtiller]

I like the Defender Limited. But the retail price starts at $25000 and there is a truck load of options to choose from. Maybe I should just keep my old Gator.

Can-Am Defender | Side-By-Side 2

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Here is my review of the defender. I'd not put the commander in the utility department.

The Commander is sold as a light utility sport model. Observe that on Can-Am's web site that Can-Am bills the Commander as a recreation-utility machine.

Can-am is a good machine, a direct competitor to Polaris. I personally would not say "best built" but decent. They are a belt drive and guys blow the belts on the trail just like Polaris machines. I personally prefer the Hondas (Currently own a Talon). If I was deciding between a Polaris or Can-am I would lean toward the Can-Am. I owned a Polaris RZR in the past and while it never left me stranded I did a LOT of maintenance to make sure it didn't and always felt the quality was lacking.

Just watched a video comparing a Ranger 1000 to an HD10 Defender and the commenter noted that the Can-Am appeared to have better build quality. Sadly, the comparison was done by an aftermarket shop that didn't functionally compare the two machines. That said, I sat in a Talon on a showroom floor and immediately did not like it in comparison to my RZR 1000S because visibility was impaired on the Talon due to the hood sticking out compared to my machine. That said, while I haven't needed to do a lot of maintenance to my RZR over the last 2500 miles, I am bolting on parts to improve the RZR's drivetrain reliability.

 

[Motorboatin]

CanAm makes quality machines. I owned a Commander for a few years with no issues and friends of mine have owned CanAm 4 wheelers for years with no problems. The Commander has a mid engine and the heat it generated was my only gripe. The Defender has a rear engine so the heat sin't an issue and if the Defender was around when I sold the Commander I wouldn't have bought a Polaris

The Maverick is CanAm's sport machine. The Commander is their trail machine and the Defender is for utility. When I bought the Commander I thought it would serve my needs but I quickly found out I needed a machine with more utility than sport so I ended up with a Polaris Ranger. I can load up more gear in my Polaris than I could in the yellow machine but it served me well for a couple of years. The heat was unbearable in the summer so I sold it

 

[mikester]

I was looking at a 3-seater UTV with a hard cab this week. I have never heard of this brand before. The salesman told me it is the best built and highest quality on the market today. It was hard for me to believe that because he had just the one, in a show room that was about 80' X 200' and FULL of 3 & 4 wheeled big boy toys.

I'm not going to buy one, I'd rather have a Deere or a Polaris.

But I have to ask your opinion so I have a better idea of what I am passing up.

In terms of reliability CAN-AM motorcycles were rated by consumer reports as the bottom of the pile
Who Makes the Most Reliable Motorcycle? - Consumer Report

 

[Code54]

That said, I sat in a Talon on a showroom floor and immediately did not like it in comparison to my RZR 1000S because visibility was impaired on the Talon due to the hood sticking out compared to my machine. That said, while I haven't needed to do a lot of maintenance to my RZR over the last 2500 miles, I am bolting on parts to improve the RZR's drivetrain reliability.

I have to agree you sort of sit down low in the Talon. Before I ever rode it I made some 1.5" spacers that lift the drivers seat up for better visibility. It really did help give me a better view. They have a bunch of headroom so Im guessing they put you down low for the high speed handling?? The places we ride I almost never go over 20-25mph so it works for us.

I do have to say the RZR's seem to have one of the best rides from the factory, Polaris is pretty good at dialing in a suspension system.

I really like the looks of the MAVERICK X3 X RC TURBO RR but that machine is pushing $30K new. Thing is wicked fast but I also believe that is what hurts the reliability a bit. Anytime you run them that hard something is more likely to break. Have to pay to play.......