For 2013, Can-Am expanded the original Commander family with broader availability of Dynamic Power Steering, quicker-engaging front differential technology and two value-oriented DPS models. The lineup continued to offer both the 71-horsepower Commander 800R and 85-horsepower Commander 1000, with packages ranging from the basic recreation-utility model to the performance-focused Commander 1000 X and premium Limited.
The 2013 model year was also an important point in Can-Am Commander history. The arrival of the dedicated Maverick sport UTV began to clarify the Commander’s long-term position as Can-Am’s recreation-utility crossover: more practical than a pure sport UTV but more recreational than a traditional work machine.
What Changed for the 2013 Can-Am Commander?
The most significant change was the expansion of Can-Am’s Dynamic Power Steering system. DPS became standard on the Commander XT, Commander 1000 X and Commander 1000 Limited packages. Can-Am also introduced more affordable Commander 800R DPS and Commander 1000 DPS models for buyers who wanted power steering without stepping up to the XT package.
Other 2013 changes included:
- New Commander 800R DPS and Commander 1000 DPS models
- Visco-Lok QE on all DPS-equipped Commanders
- Yellow bodywork and 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels on DPS models
- Revised yellow, black and white graphics for selected models
- Carbon Black finish for the Commander 1000 X
- White Pearl painted bodywork for the Commander 1000 Limited
- Red bodywork and carbon-colored steel wheels on base models
2013 Can-Am Commander Model Lineup
The 2013 family used the same first-generation Commander platform across two engine choices and several equipment packages.
| Model | Engine | Package highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Commander 800R | 71-hp Rotax 800R V-twin | Base model with steel wheels and Visco-Lok |
| Commander 800R DPS | 71-hp Rotax 800R V-twin | DPS, Visco-Lok QE, 14-inch aluminum wheels and 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires |
| Commander 800R XT | 71-hp Rotax 800R V-twin | DPS, Visco-Lok QE, winch, aluminum wheels, upgraded tires, bumper and bed rails |
| Commander 1000 | 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin | Base model with steel wheels and Visco-Lok |
| Commander 1000 DPS | 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin | DPS, Visco-Lok QE, 14-inch aluminum wheels and 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires |
| Commander 1000 XT | 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin | DPS, Visco-Lok QE, winch, aluminum wheels, bumper, bed rails and additional protection |
| Commander 1000 X | 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin | Performance package with adjustable FOX shocks, front sway bar, beadlock wheels, rock sliders and sport trim |
| Commander 1000 Limited | 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin | Premium touring package with painted bodywork, DPS and additional comfort equipment |
The four-seat Commander MAX did not arrive until the 2014 model year, so every 2013 Commander was a two-seat model.
Dynamic Power Steering
Can-Am calibrated its Dynamic Power Steering system specifically for the Commander. The variable-assist system provided more steering assistance at low speed and progressively reduced assistance as vehicle speed increased. This made the vehicle easier to maneuver through rocks, ruts and other technical terrain without removing as much steering feedback at higher speeds.
The system used a high-capacity electric motor and Can-Am’s Direct Link magnetic steering-position sensors to respond to driver input. Expanding DPS availability was a meaningful improvement for a machine that weighed well over 1,200 pounds and was commonly driven on tight, uneven trails.
Visco-Lok QE Front Differential
Every DPS-equipped 2013 Commander also received Visco-Lok QE. The QE designation stood for quicker engagement and identified a more responsive calibration of Can-Am’s automatic locking front differential.
When one front wheel began to spin, Visco-Lok progressively transferred power to the wheel with better traction. It worked automatically, without a separate differential-lock switch. The quicker-engaging calibration was especially helpful during low-speed climbing, rock crawling and operation in deep ruts.
Commander 800R and 1000 Engines
The Commander 800R used a liquid-cooled 799.9cc Rotax V-twin producing a claimed 71 horsepower. It provided the same basic chassis, cargo system and suspension layout as the larger Commander while offering a lower entry price.
The Commander 1000 used a 976cc Rotax V-twin rated at 85 horsepower. At the time, that output helped establish the Commander as one of the strongest recreation-utility side-by-sides available. Both engines used electronic fuel injection, throttle-by-wire Intelligent Throttle Control and a continuously variable transmission with high and low ranges.
Learn more about both powertrains and their evolution in our first-generation Can-Am Commander guide.
Commander 1000 X Performance Package
The Commander 1000 X remained the performance-oriented member of the 2013 family. Its equipment included adjustable FOX piggyback shocks, a front sway bar, aluminum beadlock wheels, 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires, rock sliders, a heavy-duty front bumper and unique X-package trim.
For 2013, the Commander 1000 X was offered with updated yellow, black and white graphics or a new Carbon Black finish. The dark carbon-fiber-look bodywork gave the X a substantially different appearance from the red base model and brightly colored DPS packages.
Commander 1000 Limited
The Commander 1000 Limited occupied the luxury and touring end of the lineup. Dynamic Power Steering and Visco-Lok QE were standard, while the package added premium equipment and painted bodywork.
White Pearl joined Pure Magnesium as a color choice for 2013. Can-Am said the painted finish provided better scratch resistance than conventional colored plastic while giving the Limited a more upscale appearance.
Shared Commander Chassis and Utility Features
Although equipment varied by package, the 2013 models shared the defining features of the original Commander platform:
- Double-A-arm front suspension with dive-control geometry
- Torsional Trailing arm Independent rear suspension
- 10 inches of front and rear suspension travel
- Approximately 11 inches of ground clearance
- Dual-Level dumping cargo box
- 600-pound total cargo-box capacity
- 1,500-pound towing capacity
- Two-inch rear hitch receiver
- 10-gallon fuel capacity
- Adjustable driver’s seat and tilt steering wheel
- Removable freestanding seats
- Selectable two- and four-wheel drive
The Dual-Level cargo box was particularly distinctive. A removable divider separated the upper dumping bed from a lower storage compartment, allowing the Commander to carry tools, recovery equipment or other cargo in two separate areas.
Where the 2013 Commander Fits in Its History
The 2013 lineup represented an important refinement of the original Commander rather than a major redesign. Power steering became accessible across nearly the entire family, but the engines, chassis, suspension and Dual-Level cargo system remained fundamentally unchanged.
Can-Am introduced the 101-horsepower Maverick later in the 2013 model year as its dedicated sport side-by-side. That allowed the Commander to settle more clearly into the recreation-utility role it would occupy for the remainder of its first generation.
The original platform continued through 2020 before Can-Am introduced a completely redesigned Commander for 2021. See our complete Can-Am Commander history for the full timeline from its 2011 introduction through the current generation.
