The 2014 Can-Am Commander MAX 1000 brought four-passenger seating to Can-Am’s original recreation-utility side-by-side platform. The MAX retained the Rotax V-twin power, independent suspension, dumping cargo box and towing capability of the two-seat Commander while adding a longer wheelbase and a more accommodating rear passenger area.
Introduced as part of the 2014 Can-Am lineup, the Commander MAX was offered in DPS and XT packages. It became an important addition to the family and helped establish the four-seat configuration that remains part of the Can-Am Commander lineup today.
First Four-Seat Can-Am Commander
Can-Am lengthened the Commander’s wheelbase by 29.5 inches to make room for two rear passengers. The resulting Commander MAX measured 147.8 inches long, 58.6 inches wide and rode on a 105.3-inch wheelbase.
Rather than simply installing a second row of seats, Can-Am developed what it called Dynamic Passenger Comfort. The system combined stadium-style rear seating with dedicated handholds, grab bars, cup holders and passenger restraints. Raising the rear seats improved the passengers’ forward view while providing more usable space inside the four-seat cockpit.
All four seating positions received three-point seat belts with anti-cinch mechanisms and easy-clip side nets. The removable bucket seats could also be taken out of the vehicle and used as freestanding camp chairs.
85-Horsepower Rotax V-Twin
The 2014 Commander MAX 1000 was powered by Can-Am’s 976cc, liquid-cooled Rotax V-twin. Rated at 85 horsepower, the engine used electronic fuel injection and Intelligent Throttle Control.
Can-Am paired the engine with a continuously variable transmission featuring high and low range, neutral, reverse and park. Selectable two- and four-wheel drive and a Visco-Lok QE automatic-locking front differential helped the longer four-seat machine maintain traction on changing terrain.
Drivers could choose between Sport and ECO operating modes. Sport mode delivered a more immediate throttle response, while ECO mode softened power delivery for smoother low-speed operation and reduced fuel consumption.
Commander MAX Suspension and Handling
The Commander MAX used double A-arm front suspension with dive-control geometry and Can-Am’s Torsional Trailing Arm Independent rear suspension. Ground clearance was 11 inches.
Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering allowed the driver to select the preferred level of steering assistance. The vehicle also rode on 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires mounted to 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels.
Hydraulic disc brakes with twin-piston calipers provided stopping power. The 2014 platform also incorporated an updated rear differential and changes intended to reduce heat inside the cockpit.
Dual-Level Cargo Box and Towing Capacity
The four-seat Commander continued to provide meaningful recreation-utility capability. Its tilting Dual-Level cargo box could be divided into upper and lower compartments, allowing different types of cargo to be separated.
- Total cargo-box capacity: 600 pounds
- Upper level: 400 pounds
- Lower level: 200 pounds
- Towing capacity: 1,500 pounds
- Hitch receiver: 2 inches
The vehicle also provided approximately 8.3 gallons of cockpit storage, distributed between the glove box, an under-seat compartment and the center console. Fuel capacity was 10 gallons.
2014 Can-Am Commander MAX 1000 DPS
The Commander MAX 1000 DPS served as the standard four-seat model. Its major equipment included:
- 85-horsepower 976cc Rotax V-twin
- Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering
- Visco-Lok QE front differential
- Sport and ECO driving modes
- Double A-arm front suspension
- TTI independent rear suspension
- 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
- 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels
- Four-passenger stadium-style seating
- Dual-Level dumping cargo box
- Digitally Encoded Security System keys
The DPS model was offered in yellow.
2014 Can-Am Commander MAX 1000 XT
The XT package added trail and utility equipment to the DPS model, including:
- 4,000-pound WARN winch with wired remote
- Heavy-duty XT front bumper
- Cargo-box rails
- Mud guards
- XT steering wheel
- Package-specific trim and finishes
In addition to yellow, the Commander MAX XT was available in Pure Magnesium Metallic and NEXT G-1 Vista camouflage. The camouflage version used painted black cast-aluminum wheels.
2014 Can-Am Commander MAX 1000 Specifications
| Engine | 976cc liquid-cooled Rotax V-twin |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 85 hp |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection with Intelligent Throttle Control |
| Transmission | CVT with high, low, neutral, reverse and park |
| Drive system | Selectable 2WD/4WD with Visco-Lok QE |
| Length | 147.8 inches |
| Width | 58.6 inches |
| Height | 75.4 inches |
| Wheelbase | 105.3 inches |
| Ground clearance | 11 inches |
| Tires | 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 |
| Cargo-box capacity | 600 pounds |
| Towing capacity | 1,500 pounds |
| Fuel capacity | 10 gallons |
| Seating capacity | Four |
Where the Commander MAX Fits in Can-Am History
The 2014 Commander MAX was the first factory four-seat model in the Commander family. It expanded the usefulness of the original platform for families and groups without abandoning the combination of trail performance, cargo capacity and towing ability that defined the Commander.
The original-generation Commander remained in production through the 2020 model year. Can-Am introduced a completely redesigned second-generation platform for 2021, again offering both two- and four-seat configurations. See our complete history of the Can-Am Commander for the full model timeline and major changes from 2011 to today.
