Originally published June 9, 2016. Updated with the complete 2017 Can-Am side-by-side lineup, including the Maverick X3 models introduced later in the model year.
The 2017 Can-Am UTV lineup became one of the most consequential in the company’s history. Can-Am expanded its young Defender utility family, added specialized versions of the original Maverick and then introduced the completely new, 154-horsepower Maverick X3.
Those additions gave Can-Am three distinct side-by-side families. The Defender focused on work and utility, the Commander combined trail performance with practical cargo capacity, and the Maverick family covered everything from 60-inch trails to mud riding and high-speed desert terrain.
2017 Can-Am UTV Lineup at a Glance
| Can-Am family | Primary purpose | Key 2017 development |
|---|---|---|
| Defender | Work, hunting and utility | New Mossy Oak Hunting Edition and expanded Defender MAX range |
| Commander | Recreation and utility | FOX QS3 suspension updates, front sway bar and new colors |
| Maverick | Sport and recreational riding | New 60-inch Maverick xc and four-seat Maverick MAX X mr |
| Maverick X3 | Dunes, desert and high-speed performance | All-new 154-horsepower platform introduced later in 2016 |
Can-Am Maverick X3
All-New 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3
The most important 2017 Can-Am introduction did not appear in the company’s initial June lineup announcement. Can-Am revealed the completely new Maverick X3 later in the summer of 2016, replacing the original Maverick as its flagship high-performance platform.
The X3 used a turbocharged and intercooled 900cc Rotax ACE three-cylinder engine rated at 154 horsepower. Can-Am positioned the engine behind the occupants and paired it with a QRS-X continuously variable transmission.
Its low seating position, long wheelbase, four-link TTX rear suspension and extensive suspension travel represented a dramatic departure from the original Maverick. The new chassis was developed specifically for aggressive dune and desert driving.
2017 Maverick X3 Models
- Maverick X3 Turbo R: The 64-inch base model with FOX 2.5 Podium QS3 shocks, 20 inches of front travel and 20 inches of rear travel.
- Maverick X3 X ds Turbo R: A 64-inch model with upgraded fully adjustable FOX 2.5 Podium RC2 shocks and 20 inches of suspension travel.
- Maverick X3 X rs Turbo R: The 72-inch flagship with FOX 3.0 Podium RC2 rear shocks, 22 inches of rear travel and a stance intended for high-speed desert and dune terrain.
Can-Am subsequently expanded the platform with four-seat Maverick X3 MAX models. Our 2017 Maverick X3 MAX X ds dune review covers how the long-wheelbase machine performed in the Glamis sand dunes.
The longer Defender MAX platform combined two bench seats with the Defender’s utility cargo box.
2017 Can-Am Defender Lineup
Introduced during the 2016 model year, the Defender was still a relatively new platform when Can-Am expanded it for 2017. The utility-focused family used work-calibrated Rotax V-twin engines, a PRO-TORQ CVT with Extra-Low range and a versatile three-person VERSA-PRO bench seat.
The Defender HD8 produced 50 horsepower, while the Defender HD10 produced 72 horsepower. Both versions offered a 1,000-pound cargo-box rating, up to a 1,500-pound payload and a 2,000-pound towing capacity, subject to model and regional specifications.
Two-seat packages included the Defender, Defender DPS, Defender XT and Defender XT Cab. The six-passenger 2017 Can-Am Defender MAX expanded the platform with a longer chassis and two bench seats.
Defender Mossy Oak Hunting Edition
The new Defender Mossy Oak Hunting Edition was developed as a factory-equipped hunting vehicle. It combined Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camouflage with protective equipment, a winch, roof, skid protection and hunting-focused storage solutions.
A Stronghold Gear Rail could carry Kolpin gun boots using quick-release mounts, allowing firearms to be transported securely while keeping the cargo box available for other equipment. The specialized package established a formula Can-Am would continue using on later Defender hunting editions.
For the full development of the platform, see our Can-Am Defender history.
2017 Can-Am Maverick xc 1000R
New 2017 Maverick xc 1000R
The Maverick xc 1000R created a lower-priced entry point into Can-Am’s 60-inch sport side-by-side range. Its width allowed it to fit on many designated 60-inch trail systems while retaining the original Maverick platform’s 976cc Rotax V-twin and sport-oriented suspension design.
Finished in yellow, the Maverick xc carried a starting price of $15,699 in the United States. It joined the existing Maverick DPS and more heavily equipped X-package models as a value-oriented trail machine.
UTV Guide previously tested this chassis configuration in our Can-Am Maverick X xc tight-trail review.
Can-Am Maverick MAX X mr 1000R
2017 Can-Am Maverick MAX X mr 1000R
The new Maverick MAX X mr 1000R brought Can-Am’s factory mud package to a four-seat chassis. It combined the specialized equipment of the two-seat Maverick X mr with a wheelbase stretched by 29.5 inches to accommodate two additional passengers.
Mud-specific equipment included elevated engine and CVT air intakes, aggressive mud tires, a winch, mudguards and specialized suspension calibration. The MAX X mr also received 14-inch aluminum wheels and Can-Am’s Quick Response System CVT.
Original Maverick Models Continue for 2017
Although the Maverick X3 became Can-Am’s new performance flagship, the original V-twin Maverick platform continued alongside it for 2017. The range included naturally aspirated, turbocharged, two-seat and four-seat configurations.
Depending on the package, buyers could choose a trail-width Maverick, a longer-wheelbase Turbo model, the mud-oriented X mr or a four-seat Maverick MAX 1000R. This created some overlap during the transition from the first-generation Maverick to the new X3 platform.
The 2017 Maverick Turbo models gained Can-Am’s QRS CVT. The system was designed to provide quicker engagement and more efficient power transfer while improving CVT cooling and reducing belt friction.
2017 Can-Am Commander Lineup
The Commander remained Can-Am’s recreation-utility crossover for 2017. It combined a tilting Dual-Level cargo box and useful towing capacity with more trail-oriented handling than the Defender.
Can-Am continued offering 800R and 1000R V-twin engines along with two- and four-seat configurations. Available packages included base, DPS, XT, XT-P, Limited and specialized hunting-oriented versions, depending on engine and seating configuration.
The four-seat Commander MAX 1000 provided additional passenger capacity without abandoning the Commander’s recreation-utility design.
For a broader look at the platform and its evolution, visit our history of the Can-Am Commander.
FOX Podium QS3 Shock Updates
Can-Am expanded the use of FOX Podium QS3 piggyback shocks across its 2017 lineup. The three-position compression adjuster allowed owners to make quick, tool-free changes without working through a large number of individual adjustment clicks.
FOX Podium 2.0 QS3 shocks were used on selected Commander and Maverick packages, including the Commander XT-P, Commander MAX Limited, Maverick DPS and Maverick MAX DPS.
Larger FOX Podium 2.5 QS3 shocks appeared on several higher-performance models, including the Maverick X mr, Maverick MAX X mr, Maverick Turbo, Maverick MAX Turbo and Maverick MAX X ds Turbo.
Some sport packages also used Bottom-Out Control to provide compliant damping through the normal portion of the suspension stroke while increasing resistance near full compression.
Front Sway Bars Added
All 2017 Commander and original-platform Maverick models received a front sway bar. The change was intended to reduce body roll and weight transfer during aggressive cornering, producing flatter and more predictable handling.
This update was separate from the all-new Maverick X3 chassis, which used its own suspension design and calibration.
Additional 2017 Changes
Commander Tires
The base Commander received six-ply Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires. Their versatile tread and radial construction were intended to provide a smoother ride across varied trail conditions.
Maverick X mr Wheels
The Maverick X mr and Maverick MAX X mr received new 14-inch, eight-spoke aluminum wheels with machined faces and painted black accents.
2017 Colors
- Triple Black: Commander XT-P and Maverick Turbo
- Midnight Blue: Commander Limited and Commander MAX Limited
- Black and Octane Blue: Maverick DPS
- Yellow: Maverick xc
- Light Grey, White and Octane Blue: Maverick Turbo and Maverick MAX Turbo
- White, Black and Can-Am Red: Revised Maverick X mr graphics and accents
Why the 2017 Can-Am Lineup Mattered
The 2017 model year marked the beginning of a new era for Can-Am. The Defender gave the company a credible and rapidly expanding utility platform, while the Commander continued serving riders who wanted both recreation and cargo capability.
The most significant development, however, was the Maverick X3. Its 154-horsepower three-cylinder engine, long-travel chassis and 72-inch X rs configuration reset expectations for factory high-performance side-by-sides. At the same time, Can-Am continued selling the original Maverick in a broad selection of trail, turbo, mud and four-seat packages.
That combination made the 2017 range unusually diverse: buyers could choose a three-person work vehicle, a six-passenger utility UTV, a practical recreation machine, a 60-inch trail model, a factory mud vehicle or one of the industry’s most advanced high-speed sport UTVs.
Source: BRP’s original 2017 Can-Am Off-Road lineup announcement.
