History of the Can-Am Commander: 2011 to Today

Posted on August 18, 2026
6:30 pm

By Jon Crowley

The Can-Am Commander helped establish the modern recreation-utility UTV category. When BRP introduced the original Commander for the 2011 model year, it combined V-twin performance and sport-oriented suspension with a dumping cargo box, substantial storage and the ability to handle work around a property or campsite.

That combination has remained the Commander’s identity through two distinct generations. It is more recreation-focused than the Can-Am Defender, but more practical for hauling and everyday use than Can-Am’s dedicated Maverick sport models.

UTVGuide.net has followed the Commander since before its public introduction. I drove a pre-production Commander 1000 X in the dunes, attended its official media introduction and later owned, modified and tested examples from both generations. This history connects those firsthand experiences with the models and changes that shaped the Commander family.

Can-Am Commander History at a Glance

Model year	Major Can-Am Commander development
2011	BRP enters the side-by-side market with the Commander 800R and 1000
2012	Commander Limited expands the luxury and touring side of the family
2013	The Maverick arrives as Can-Am’s dedicated sport UTV, clarifying the Commander’s recreation-utility role
2014	Four-seat Commander MAX debuts; XT-P becomes the performance-oriented Commander package
2016	The Defender separates Can-Am’s work-focused UTVs from the recreation-oriented Commander
2018	Commander 1000R output increases to 92 horsepower, accompanied by wider wheel offset and larger front brakes
2021	Can-Am introduces the completely redesigned second-generation Commander with a 100-hp 1000R engine
2022	Commander 700 and mud-focused Commander X mr join the second-generation lineup
2027	The Commander continues with 700 and 1000R engines, two- and four-seat configurations and trail, performance and mud packages

2011: Can-Am Enters the Side-by-Side Market

BRP revealed the Can-Am Commander in June 2010 as a 2011 model. Although Can-Am was already well established in the ATV market, the Commander was the company’s first production side-by-side.

Expectations were high. BRP had built its reputation around high-performance products such as Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and Rotax-powered Can-Am ATVs. Riders were expecting more than another conventional utility vehicle—and Can-Am delivered something noticeably different.

The original lineup offered two Rotax V-twin engine choices:

Commander 800R: 71-horsepower Rotax V-twin
Commander 1000: 85-horsepower 976cc Rotax V-twin

The 85-horsepower Commander 1000 was especially significant at a time when most side-by-sides were still closely tied to traditional utility-vehicle designs. It gave Can-Am an immediate horsepower advantage while retaining practical features that allowed the vehicle to do more than recreational trail riding.

Read the original announcement in our 2011 Can-Am Commander 800R introduction.

2011–2020: The First-Generation Commander

The original Commander remained in production for ten model years. Can-Am expanded the family with power steering, premium Limited models, the performance-oriented XT-P and the four-seat Commander MAX. Output from the 976cc Commander 1000R increased from 85 to 92 horsepower for 2018, accompanied by larger front brakes and a wider stance.

Despite those updates, the underlying platform retained the qualities established by the 2011 model: Rotax V-twin power, TTI trailing-arm rear suspension, a Dual-Level cargo box, 1,500-pound towing capacity and a balance between trail performance and practical utility.

Our first-generation Can-Am Commander guide provides the complete 2011–2020 timeline, original specifications, package differences, firsthand tests and notable Commander builds.

First-generation 2011 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT — The first-generation Can-Am Commander debuted for the 2011 model year.

2011–2020 First-Generation Commander

The original Commander remained in production through the 2020 model year—an unusually long run for a UTV platform that had entered a rapidly changing market in 2011.

Over that decade, the industry progressed from relatively simple utility-derived side-by-sides to highly specialized sport, recreation, mud, trail and work models. The Commander’s role evolved along with it, but the underlying vehicle remained recognizable.

For a deeper model-by-model look at the original platform, including specifications, packages and notable builds, see our first-generation Can-Am Commander history.

2021 Can-Am Commander XT-P 1000R

2021: The Second-Generation Can-Am Commander

Can-Am completely redesigned the Commander for 2021. The new model retained the original idea of combining recreation and utility, but virtually every important part of the vehicle changed.

The second-generation Commander 1000R arrived with:

A 100-horsepower 976cc Rotax V-twin engine
A 64-inch-wide stance on performance packages
Up to 14 inches of suspension travel
A 2,000-pound towing capacity
A 600-pound-capacity dumping cargo box
Full half doors
Improved cockpit comfort and reduced noise
Two- and four-seat MAX configurations
Smart-Lok front differential on specialized packages
Integrated LinQ accessory mounting points

The larger conventional dumping bed replaced the original Dual-Level cargo box. Although the distinctive two-level storage system disappeared, the new bed gave the Commander substantially more usable cargo space and strengthened its ability to handle property work, hunting and camping.

Read our original overview, More Than a Decade Wait for the New 2021 Can-Am Commander, for the perspective of someone who drove both generations when they were introduced.

Living With the 2021 Commander XT-P

We selected a two-seat 2021 Commander XT-P 1000R for a long-term project. The XT-P combined the 100-horsepower engine with Smart-Lok, FOX 2.5 Podium QS3 shocks, 30-inch tires, beadlock wheels, a roof, front bumper and 4,500-pound winch.

We used it for trail riding, dunes, hauling firewood, camping and technical terrain. We also took it onto the Rubicon Trail to see whether a recreation-utility vehicle could handle terrain normally associated with more specialized rock-crawling UTVs.

The Commander’s low range, Smart-Lok front differential and compliant suspension worked well in the rocks, while its bed made it considerably easier to carry camping equipment and trail supplies. Read our 2021 Can-Am Commander Rubicon Trail test and long-term Commander XT-P review for the complete firsthand experience.

2022: Commander 700 and X mr

Can-Am broadened the second-generation family for 2022 with a lower-priced Commander 700. Its 650cc Rotax ACE single-cylinder engine produced 52 horsepower and replaced the previous generation’s 800R as the entry point into the Commander family.

The 700 was not simply a continuation of the old Commander 800R. It used the newer second-generation chassis and offered a smoother, quieter and more efficient powertrain for buyers who prioritized trail riding and practical use over maximum acceleration.

Can-Am also added the Commander X mr. The purpose-built mud package included 30-inch mud tires, strategically positioned engine and CVT air intakes, Smart-Lok, additional protection and a relocated winch.

Current Can-Am Commander Lineup

The Commander continues into 2027 with the same basic second-generation platform and a choice of 700 and 1000R engines. The current family includes two-seat and four-seat MAX configurations along with several equipment packages.

Commander DPS: Entry-level model with power steering and Visco-Lok QE
Commander XT: Adds a roof, winch, front bumper and additional trail equipment
Commander XT-P: Performance trail package with Smart-Lok, FOX 2.5 shocks, 30-inch tires and beadlock wheels
Commander X mr: Mud-focused model with elevated intakes, mud tires and a relocated winch
Commander MAX: Extended four-seat versions offered in DPS, XT, XT-P and X mr configurations

The 700 remains the value-oriented engine choice, while the naturally aspirated 1000R produces 100 horsepower. Current models retain the 600-pound bed capacity and 2,000-pound towing capacity introduced with the second-generation platform.

Why the Can-Am Commander Matters

The Commander was not the first side-by-side, but it arrived at a pivotal point in the UTV market. Its 85-horsepower 1000cc engine, trailing-arm rear suspension, bucket-seat cockpit and innovative cargo system demonstrated that a practical UTV could also deliver serious recreational performance.

It also helped establish a segment that nearly every major UTV manufacturer now serves: the recreation-utility crossover. These machines are expected to handle property chores and hunting trips during the week, then carry their owners on recreational trail rides during the weekend.

The 2013 Maverick and 2016 Defender allowed Can-Am to build more specialized sport and work machines, but neither eliminated the need for the Commander. Instead, they made its place in the lineup easier to understand.

More than 15 years after its introduction, the Commander remains the Can-Am for riders who do not want to choose between a useful bed and an entertaining trail machine.

Can-Am Commander FAQ

What year did the Can-Am Commander come out?

Can-Am revealed the Commander in June 2010 and sold it as a 2011 model. It was BRP’s first production side-by-side vehicle.

How many generations of the Can-Am Commander are there?

There are two major Commander generations. The original platform was produced from 2011 through 2020. Can-Am introduced the completely redesigned second-generation Commander for 2021.

When was the Can-Am Commander MAX introduced?

The four-seat Commander MAX was introduced for the 2014 model year. Four-seat MAX versions continued when Can-Am launched the second-generation Commander.

What is the difference between a Can-Am Commander and Defender?

The Commander is a recreation-utility crossover with bucket seats and more trail-oriented handling. The Defender is primarily a work UTV, with utility-focused seating, cargo and cab configurations. Both can tow and haul, but they are designed around different priorities.

What is the difference between a Can-Am Commander and Maverick?

The Commander combines recreational performance with a dumping cargo bed and substantial towing capacity. Can-Am Maverick models are dedicated sport UTVs designed around acceleration, suspension performance and aggressive recreational driving.

When did the Commander get 100 horsepower?

The redesigned 2021 Commander 1000R launched with a 100-horsepower naturally aspirated Rotax V-twin. The original Commander 1000 produced 85 horsepower at launch and increased to 92 horsepower for 2018.

When was the Commander 700 introduced?

The second-generation Commander 700 joined the lineup for 2022. Its 650cc Rotax ACE single-cylinder engine produces 52 horsepower.

Is the Can-Am Commander considered a sport UTV?

The Commander is better classified as a recreation-utility or crossover UTV. It is more performance-oriented than a traditional work vehicle but retains a large dumping cargo box, strong towing capacity and practical storage.