The 2014 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT-P was the most performance-focused version of the original two-seat Commander for that model year. Introduced as the successor to the earlier Commander 1000 X package, the XT-P combined the practical equipment of the Commander XT with fully adjustable FOX suspension, beadlock wheels, rock sliders and distinctive black-and-yellow bodywork.
Underneath those upgrades was the original first-generation Commander platform, powered by an 85-horsepower Rotax V-twin and equipped with a 600-pound-capacity Dual-Level cargo box, 1,500-pound towing capacity and 10 inches of suspension travel. The result was a recreation-utility UTV that could carry equipment during the week and still deliver a sportier trail experience on the weekend.
2014 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT-P Overview
| Model year | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Two-seat recreation-utility UTV |
| Engine | 976cc liquid-cooled Rotax V-twin |
| Claimed output | 85 horsepower |
| Suspension travel | 10 inches front and rear |
| Cargo-box capacity | 600 pounds |
| Towing capacity | 1,500 pounds |
| Color | Painted black with yellow accents |
What Was New for the 2014 Commander?
The XT-P was introduced as part of a broader update to the Commander family for 2014. Can-Am added Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering, a quicker-engaging Visco-Lok QE front differential, ECO mode and an updated analog-digital instrument display. Changes were also made to reduce heat entering the cockpit.
The same model year brought another important expansion of the platform: the first four-seat Can-Am Commander MAX 1000.
The Commander 1000 XT-P built upon the XT package by adding performance-oriented suspension and chassis equipment. It was intended for owners who wanted the Commander’s cargo and towing capability without giving up adjustable shocks, additional protection or sportier handling.
Commander 1000 XT-P Package Equipment
Factory-installed equipment on the 2014 Commander 1000 XT-P included:
- Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering
- Visco-Lok QE automatic-locking front differential
- FOX Podium X Performance RC2.0 HPG piggyback shocks
- Dual-speed compression, rebound and spring-preload adjustment
- Front sway bar
- 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels
- 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires
- 4,000-pound WARN winch with roller fairlead
- Heavy-duty front bumper
- Rock sliders
- Mudguards
- Premium steering wheel
- Updated analog-digital gauge
- Painted black bodywork with yellow accents
85-Horsepower Rotax V-Twin
The 2014 Commander 1000 XT-P used the original 976cc Rotax V-twin, producing a claimed 85 horsepower. The liquid-cooled, single-overhead-cam engine had four valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection and Can-Am’s Intelligent Throttle Control system.
Intelligent Throttle Control used a throttle-by-wire connection rather than a conventional mechanical cable. The system was designed to filter unintended pedal movement when the driver’s foot bounced over rough terrain.
Drivers could select between Sport and ECO throttle modes. Sport provided the more immediate response expected for recreational driving, while ECO softened throttle delivery for smoother low-speed operation.
Selectable Four-Wheel Drive and Visco-Lok QE
Power was delivered through a continuously variable transmission with high, low, park, neutral and reverse. The drivetrain also provided selectable two- and four-wheel drive with engine braking.
The XT-P’s Visco-Lok QE front differential was calibrated to engage more quickly than the standard Visco-Lok system. When one front wheel began to spin, the differential progressively transferred torque to the wheel with traction. It operated automatically without requiring the driver to engage a separate differential-lock switch.
Adjustable FOX RC2 Suspension
The FOX suspension was one of the primary differences between the XT-P and the more utility-oriented Commander XT. FOX Podium X Performance RC2.0 HPG piggyback shocks were installed at all four corners, with adjustments for dual-speed compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload.
The front suspension used double A-arms with Can-Am’s dive-control geometry and 10 inches of travel. A front sway bar helped limit body roll during more aggressive cornering.
At the rear, the Commander used Can-Am’s Torsional Trailing arm Independent suspension, commonly abbreviated TTI. Rather than moving through the lateral arc created by conventional A-arms, the rear wheels moved primarily rearward as the suspension compressed. Rear travel was also 10 inches.
Beadlock Wheels and Bighorn Tires
The XT-P rode on 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires mounted to 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels. The mechanical beadlocks helped retain the tire beads when running reduced air pressure in rocks, sand or other technical terrain.
This wheel-and-tire package also visually separated the XT-P from the regular Commander XT, which was positioned as the more conventional trail and utility package.
Dual-Level Cargo Box
Although the XT-P had a sportier equipment package, it retained the original Commander’s signature Dual-Level cargo box. A removable, water-resistant divider allowed the composite bed to be divided into upper and lower compartments, each with a separate tailgate.
Total capacity was rated at 600 pounds: 400 pounds in the upper bed and 200 pounds in the lower compartment. The tilt-assist dump box could be released from either side of the vehicle.
The Commander was also rated to tow 1,500 pounds through its standard two-inch rear receiver. This combination of cargo capacity, towing ability and sport-oriented suspension was what distinguished the Commander from a pure sport UTV.
2014 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT-P Specifications
| Engine and Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 976cc liquid-cooled SOHC Rotax V-twin; four valves per cylinder |
| Claimed horsepower | 85 hp |
| Bore and stroke | 91 x 75mm |
| Fuel system | Intelligent Throttle Control with EFI and 54mm throttle body |
| Transmission | CVT with high, low, park, neutral and reverse; engine braking |
| Drive system | Selectable 2WD/4WD with Visco-Lok QE front differential |
| Suspension, Tires and Brakes | |
| Front suspension | Double A-arm with dive-control geometry; FOX Podium X Performance RC2.0 HPG piggyback shocks; 10 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | TTI trailing-arm independent suspension; FOX Podium X Performance RC2.0 HPG piggyback shocks; 10 inches of travel |
| Front brakes | Dual 214mm ventilated discs with hydraulic twin-piston calipers |
| Rear brake | Single 214mm ventilated disc with hydraulic twin-piston caliper |
| Front tires | 27 x 9-12 Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 |
| Rear tires | 27 x 11-12 Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 |
| Wheels | 12-inch aluminum beadlock |
| Dimensions and Capacities | |
| Length | 118.3 inches |
| Width | 58.6 inches |
| Height | 72 inches |
| Wheelbase | 75.8 inches |
| Ground clearance | 11 inches |
| Claimed dry weight | 1,295 pounds |
| Fuel capacity | 10 gallons |
| Cargo capacity | 600 pounds total: 400 pounds upper and 200 pounds lower |
| Towing capacity | 1,500 pounds |
| Hitch | Two-inch receiver |
Where the 2014 XT-P Fits in Commander History
The XT-P arrived during the middle of the original Commander’s unusually long production run. Can-Am introduced the platform for 2011 and continued building the same basic generation through 2020. The XT-P represented the sport-oriented evolution of the original Commander 1000 X while adding the winch, bumper and practical equipment associated with the XT package.
Can-Am eventually increased Commander 1000R output to 92 horsepower for 2018, but the fundamental chassis remained largely unchanged until an all-new Can-Am Commander arrived for 2021.
For a complete timeline of the original platform, including its engines, packages, model-year changes and notable UTVGuide builds, see our first-generation Can-Am Commander history and model guide.
2014 Commander 1000 XT-P FAQ
How much horsepower did the 2014 Commander 1000 XT-P have?
The 2014 XT-P’s 976cc Rotax V-twin produced a claimed 85 horsepower. Output increased to 92 horsepower when Can-Am updated the Commander 1000R for 2018.
What was included with the XT-P package?
The XT-P combined Tri-Mode DPS, Visco-Lok QE, a 4,000-pound WARN winch and heavy-duty front bumper with adjustable FOX RC2 piggyback shocks, a front sway bar, 12-inch beadlock wheels, 27-inch Bighorn 2.0 tires and rock sliders.
How is the Commander XT-P different from the Commander XT?
The XT was the more utility-oriented package. The XT-P added adjustable FOX suspension, a front sway bar, beadlock wheels, rock sliders and performance-focused styling while retaining useful XT equipment such as the winch and front bumper.
Was the 2014 Commander XT-P a four-seat UTV?
No. The 2014 Commander 1000 XT-P covered here was a two-seat model. Can-Am introduced the four-seat Commander MAX for the same model year, initially in other package configurations.
How much could the 2014 Commander 1000 XT-P tow?
Can-Am rated the XT-P to tow up to 1,500 pounds using its standard two-inch rear receiver. Its Dual-Level cargo box could carry another 600 pounds.
