2011 Can-Am Commander 1000 X: Specs, Features and Photos

Originally published June 8, 2010. Updated with information covering the 2013 Can-Am Commander 1000 X.

The Can-Am Commander 1000 X was the performance-focused version of the original Commander introduced for the 2011 model year. It combined the Commander’s 85-horsepower Rotax V-twin engine and dual-level cargo box with adjustable FOX piggyback shocks, a front sway bar, beadlock wheels, rock sliders and other X-package upgrades.

When Can-Am unveiled the Commander on June 8, 2010, it represented BRP’s entry into the recreational side-by-side market. The Commander 1000 X sat at the performance end of the original lineup, offering considerably more power and factory suspension adjustability than most UTVs available at the time.

I had two opportunities to drive the Commander 1000 X before its public introduction: first at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes and later during Can-Am’s media introduction in Montreal.

Original Can-Am Commander 1000 X

The first Commander was designed to bridge the space between traditional utility UTVs and the rapidly developing sport side-by-side segment. It retained a useful cargo box and a 1,500-pound towing capacity while delivering 85 horsepower, relatively aggressive suspension tuning and a selectable Sport mode.

The Commander 1000 X started with the mechanical foundation of the Can-Am Commander 1000 and added equipment intended for harder recreational riding in the desert, dunes, rocks and rough trails.

976cc Rotax V-Twin Engine

Power came from a liquid-cooled, 976cc Rotax 80-degree V-twin producing a claimed 85 horsepower. The single-overhead-cam engine used four valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection and a 54mm throttle body.

A continuously variable transmission provided high, low, neutral, reverse and park ranges. Drivers could select two- or four-wheel drive, while the Visco-Lok front differential automatically transferred power to the front wheel with available traction.

The Commander also included two selectable engine-response settings. Sport mode delivered more immediate throttle response, while the standard mode provided a softer response better suited to slower or more controlled operation.

Commander 1000 X Package Equipment

The X package transformed the standard Commander 1000 into the most performance-oriented version of the original two-seat lineup. Its principal upgrades included:

• FOX 2.0 HPG piggyback shocks
• High- and low-speed compression adjustment
• High- and low-speed rebound adjustment
• Adjustable spring preload
• Front sway bar
• 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels
• 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires
• Heavy-duty front bumper
• Rock sliders
• Analog and digital instrumentation
• X-package seats, trim and graphics

Adjustable FOX Piggyback Shocks

The Commander 1000 X used large-diameter FOX HPG aluminum piggyback shocks at all four corners. The shocks offered adjustments for high- and low-speed compression, rebound and spring preload, allowing owners to tune the suspension for different terrain and driving styles.

Front and rear suspension travel measured 10 inches. The piggyback reservoirs increased the shock oil capacity and helped manage heat during extended aggressive driving.

Front Sway Bar

A 5/8-inch front sway bar was added to reduce body roll during aggressive cornering. It worked with the sport-oriented shock calibration to give the 1000 X more controlled handling than the base Commander.

Beadlock Wheels and Maxxis Tires

The Commander 1000 X rode on 12-inch cast-aluminum beadlock wheels. The mechanical bead-retention system helped prevent a tire from separating from the wheel when operating at lower air pressures.

Can-Am paired the wheels with 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 six-ply radial tires. Their non-directional tread made them a versatile choice for rocks, roots, hardpack and mixed trail conditions.

Analog and Digital Instrumentation

The X-package instrument cluster combined analog speedometer and tachometer displays with a digital information center. Available information included the odometer, trip and hour meters, fuel level, gear position, drive mode, four-wheel-drive status, warning indicators and diagnostic information.

Protection and Interior Details

A heavy-duty front bumper and rock sliders provided additional protection for the body and lower sides of the vehicle. The Commander 1000 X also received model-specific seat upholstery, graphics and contrasting yellow accents.

Utility Capability

Despite its performance equipment, the Commander 1000 X retained the useful features that distinguished the original Commander from more narrowly focused sport UTVs.

Its dual-level cargo box could carry a combined 600 pounds, divided between a 400-pound upper bed and a 200-pound lower storage compartment. The vehicle was rated to tow as much as 1,500 pounds and included additional storage in the glove box and beneath the driver’s seat.

This combination of power, adjustable suspension and cargo capacity helped establish the Commander as a sport-recreation UTV rather than a pure sport or utility machine.

2013 Can-Am Commander 1000 X Updates

Can-Am continued developing the first-generation Commander after its 2011-model-year introduction. For 2013, Dynamic Power Steering became available across the Commander XT, X and Limited packages equipped with either the 800R or 976cc Rotax engine.

Dynamic Power Steering and Visco-Lok QE

Can-Am’s Dynamic Power Steering system varied the amount of steering assistance according to vehicle speed. It provided more assistance during low-speed operation and reduced the assistance as speed increased.

DPS-equipped Commanders also received the quicker-engaging Visco-Lok QE front differential, which responded more rapidly when additional front-wheel traction was needed in slow, technical terrain.

2013 Colors and Appearance

The 2013 Commander 1000 X received an updated yellow, black and white color scheme. Can-Am also offered an exclusive Carbon Black treatment with a carbon-fiber-inspired appearance that reinforced the X model’s position as the performance flagship of the Commander family.

For more information about the smaller-displacement version of the original platform, see the Can-Am Commander 800R.

2011 Can-Am Commander 1000 X Specifications

Specifications reflect the original Commander platform and X-package equipment. Exact colors, equipment and listed weights could vary by model year.

Can-Am Commander 1000 X Photo Gallery

Why the Original Commander 1000 X Matters

The Commander 1000 X was an important early step in the development of the sport-recreation UTV. Its 85-horsepower V-twin, adjustable FOX shocks and beadlock wheels delivered serious performance for 2011, while its cargo box, storage and towing capacity preserved the versatility expected from a Commander.

Can-Am eventually developed more specialized sport machines, beginning with the Maverick, but the Commander 1000 X demonstrated that substantial performance and practical utility could coexist in the same side-by-side.

See how the platform evolved in our complete history of the Can-Am Commander.