Originally published June 4, 2015. Updated to cover the complete 2016 Can-Am side-by-side lineup, including the Defender models introduced later in 2015.
The 2016 Can-Am UTV lineup marked an important turning point for BRP. Can-Am increased its factory-turbocharged Maverick models to 131 horsepower, added the specialized Maverick X rs Turbo and expanded the Commander family. Later that year, the completely new Defender gave Can-Am its first dedicated utility side-by-side.
With the Defender joining the lineup, Can-Am could address three distinct parts of the UTV market. The Maverick served performance-oriented riders, the Commander balanced recreation with utility and the Defender focused primarily on work, hauling and towing.
2016 Can-Am UTV Lineup at a Glance
| Can-Am family | Primary purpose | Major 2016 development |
|---|---|---|
| Defender | Utility and work | All-new HD8 and HD10 utility UTV platform |
| Commander | Recreation-utility | New Commander MAX DPS 800R and Mossy Oak Hunting Edition |
| Maverick | Sport and performance | Turbo output increased to 131 horsepower |
| Maverick X rs Turbo | Dunes and high-speed terrain | New specialized performance package |
| Maverick X mr | Mud riding | Purpose-built 101-hp mud model continued for 2016 |
All-New 2016 Can-Am Defender
Can-Am completed its 2016 side-by-side lineup in September 2015 with the introduction of the Defender. Although the Commander already offered a cargo box and useful towing capacity, it was designed as a recreation-utility crossover. The Defender was engineered from the beginning around work.
The original Defender used rear-mounted, work-tuned Rotax V-twin engines. The Defender HD8 produced 50 horsepower, while the Defender HD10 produced 72 horsepower and emphasized strong torque at low engine speeds. Both engines were paired with Can-Am’s PRO-TORQ continuously variable transmission, which included an Extra-Low range for towing, hauling and controlled low-speed operation.
| 2016 Defender specification | HD8 | HD10 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 799.9cc Rotax V-twin | 976cc Rotax V-twin |
| Horsepower | 50 hp | 72 hp |
| Transmission | PRO-TORQ CVT with Extra-Low, High, Neutral, Reverse and Park | |
| Suspension travel | 10 inches front and rear | |
| Ground clearance | 11 inches | |
| Cargo-box capacity | 1,000 pounds; 600 pounds on California models | |
| Payload capacity | 1,500 pounds | |
| Towing capacity | 2,000 pounds | |
| Seating | Three-person VERSA-PRO bench | |
The Defender’s four-mode traction system allowed the operator to combine two- or four-wheel drive with an open or locked rear differential. That made it possible to protect finished ground in Turf Mode, tighten the turning radius or lock the rear differential when additional traction was required.
Can-Am offered four initial Defender packages: base, DPS, XT and XT Cab. Depending on the package, equipment included Dynamic Power Steering, Visco-Lok QE, three selectable engine modes, a winch, roof, upgraded tires, additional protection and cab components.
The multifunction cargo box included integrated tie-down points, recesses for five-gallon buckets and multiple LinQ accessory mounting locations. Inside the cab, Can-Am provided extensive storage, a removable toolbox and a 40/20/40 VERSA-PRO bench seat.
We tested the new platform at its introduction and later spent considerably more time working and trail riding with the Defender. Read our 2016 Can-Am Defender HD10 review for firsthand driving impressions, cargo testing and long-term perspective. The complete development of the family is documented in our Can-Am Defender history.
2016 Can-Am Maverick Turbo: 131 Horsepower
For 2016, Can-Am increased output from its turbocharged 976cc Rotax V-twin from 121 to 131 horsepower. The change applied to the Maverick 1000R Turbo, Maverick X ds 1000R Turbo and newly introduced Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo.
These models represented the original Can-Am Maverick platform near the peak of its development, before the Maverick X3 arrived for the 2017 model year. They combined factory turbocharging with a long-wheelbase chassis, trailing-arm rear suspension and specialized packages for different types of high-performance riding.
For the engine, chassis and model-year details, see our complete Can-Am Maverick X ds Turbo guide. The broader platform is covered in our first-generation Can-Am Maverick 1000R history.
New Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo
The Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo expanded Can-Am’s high-performance lineup for 2016. It was based on the longer-wheelbase Maverick X ds platform and shared its 131-horsepower turbocharged Rotax engine, 88-inch wheelbase and Torsional Trailing A-arm rear suspension with 16 inches of travel.
The X rs package added equipment aimed at aggressive dune and desert use, including four-point harnesses, a Yoshimura exhaust, rear bumper and specialized FOX suspension calibration. It provided another factory-equipped option for owners who wanted more equipment than the standard Maverick Turbo without building the vehicle from individual aftermarket components.
2016 Can-Am Maverick X mr 1000R
The naturally aspirated 2016 Can-Am Maverick X mr 1000R returned as Can-Am’s purpose-built two-seat mud UTV. Its 976cc Rotax V-twin produced 101 horsepower.
The X mr package combined 30-inch Gorilla Axle Silverback mud tires with elevated engine and CVT air intakes, FOX suspension, a winch, mudguards and other terrain-specific equipment. It occupied a different role than the dune- and desert-oriented X ds and X rs Turbo models.
2016 Can-Am Commander Lineup
The arrival of the Defender clarified the Commander’s place in Can-Am’s lineup. Rather than serving as the company’s most practical side-by-side by default, the Commander could concentrate on combining recreational performance with useful cargo and towing capability.
The 2016 Commander family continued with 800R and 1000R Rotax V-twin engine choices. Two-seat packages included the base Commander, DPS, XT, XT-P, Limited and the specialized Commander Mossy Oak Hunting Edition 1000. Four-seat Commander MAX models provided the same general recreation-utility formula with room for additional passengers.
Updates for the model year included revised break-in maintenance requirements and new colors. The Commander retained its distinctive Dual-Level cargo box, TTI trailing-arm rear suspension and 1,500-pound towing capacity.
For the complete story of this long-running platform, including its 2011 introduction and eventual second-generation redesign, visit our Can-Am Commander history.
New Commander MAX DPS 800R
Can-Am expanded the four-seat range later in 2015 with the new Commander MAX DPS 800R. It gave families a less expensive way to enter the four-passenger Can-Am lineup while retaining the Commander’s recreational handling and practical cargo system.
The Commander MAX DPS 800R combined the 71-horsepower Rotax 800R V-twin with Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering, Visco-Lok QE, cast-aluminum wheels and a revised CVT with improved service access and Electronic Belt Protection.
Why the 2016 Can-Am Lineup Mattered
The 2016 model year established the three-family structure that would define Can-Am side-by-sides for years:
- Defender: A work-focused utility vehicle built around towing, hauling and adaptable seating and storage.
- Commander: A recreation-utility crossover that retained a useful cargo box without giving up trail performance.
- Maverick: A dedicated sport family offering naturally aspirated, turbocharged and terrain-specific models.
The Defender was the most consequential addition. It allowed Can-Am to compete directly in the core utility UTV market while freeing the Commander to occupy a clearer position between work vehicles and pure sport machines.
At the performance end, the 131-horsepower Maverick Turbo models demonstrated how quickly factory sport UTV output was increasing. The Maverick X ds and X rs also showed the industry’s growing move toward specialized packages developed for dunes, desert terrain and aggressive recreational driving.
