The Can Am Commander UTV Ride Review

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

The Can Am Commander UTV Ride Review

I was able to finally get an up close and personal look at the all new Can Am Commander SSV UTV. What a machine this is. Like the other Can Am ATV's, the Commander is certainly in it's own class with design and innovation. The dual-level cargo box, throttle by wire and anti-dive geometry introduce the Commander and off-roading into the 21st century.

The Cockpit

Unlike some UTV models, getting into the Commander is very easy. Both driver and passenger are secured in place by a 3 point seat belt. I had some difficulty locating the driver seatbelt latch several times as it easily falls between the seat and console. The side nets are the best. They are easy to close and latch with a buckle system much like the standard seat belt latches. I am told the vehicle will not go over a certain speed unless the side nets are latched in place. Climbing into this machine you realize you are in a machine that was made for performance. The ergonomics are incredible. The adjustable drivers seat and tilt steering wheel give the driver the operator customization and complete control. The passenger gets several amenities like a horizontal bar and a vertical grab handle for the left hand which I really liked. The Commander center console initially turned me off because I was afraid of being cramped. This was not the case at all. The Commander offers a lot roomy cab space even for the biggest person. Reading the gauges and accessing the control buttons for the ignition, headlights and the sport mode buttons are very easy. The reverse rev-limiter over ride button is right next to the shift lever for easy access also.

Drivers, Start your Engines

When I hit the start button the engine smoothly started and idled smooth. a few blips of the throttle seemed to lag. The gear shift works very smooth even when on an incline. Finally after my orientation of the controls it was time to get the Commander rolling. I shifted the Commander from park and into drive and hit the throttle pedal. The Commander has a smooth acceleration. There was no jerkiness when hitting the washouts or small bumps. My excitement waned as I decided to let the beast eat and pounded the acceleration pedal to the floor. The Commanders acceleration seemed to lag and lack the get up and go torque that I expected. from a machine with a 1000cc engine. This could likely be solved with an aftermarket clutch and some intake and exhaust mods. With the engine centrally located, it lightens the rear enough for some serious off-road fun. Getting the Commander to cut loose in the turns is very easy. I did notice a lot of heat in the cockpit area which was emanating from the engine of the Commander. It was rather cool that day and this may pose an issue if running in slower technical terrain. Our solution was to simply just go faster...problem solved The suspension works great with the Commander. We were intentionally hitting some off camber areas to gauge how well the Commander will articulate and handle certain terrain. I did it well, however I think the clearance could be improved as we hit bottom several times without really trying. I really enjoy the plush ride the Commander suspension provided. The Commander did possess a little more body roll than expected. But in defense, I never looked at the shock setup of our test machines and likely you could do a little adjusting and work out some of the body roll. I was fortunate enough to test the 1000 X as well as the 1000 XT. The 1000 X featured fully adjustable shocks and a front sway bar. While this would be my first choice of machines, I think the 1000 XT suspension and handling was very comparable when driven across the same terrain.

Can Am Commander DNA Composition

* 85 HP Rotax 1000 EFI V-Twin engine, or 71hp Rotax 800 EFI V-Twin Engine
* Industry-leading fuel mileage
* Dual-level cargo box
* Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC)
* Visco-Lok front differential
* TTI rear suspension
* Double A-arm front suspension with dive-control geometry
* 2-inch diameter, high strength steel, ROPS-approved cage
* 1,928 cubic inches (31.6 litres) cockpit storage
* 240-watt lighting
* Quick-attach side nets
* 10-gallon (38 litres) gas tank
* Normal & Performance D.E.S.S.™ Keys (w/ an optional third work key)
* 3-point seatbelts with anti-cinch
* 11-inch (35 cm) of total ground clearance
* 214mm disc brakes with twin-piston calipers
* 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) towing capacity
* 2-inch rear hitch receiver
* Comfort seats with sit-in fore / aft driver adjustment
* Adjustable-tilt steering
* Passenger handhold and grab bar
* Dual cup holders
* 650-watt magneto
* Easy-to-use maintenance center

Can-Am Commander 800 or 1000 XT Packages

* 4,000-pound winch
* 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
* 14-inch Cast aluminum wheels
* Analog/digital gauge
* Heavy-duty front bumper
* Rugged bed rails
* Mud guards
* Leather steering wheel

Can-Am Commander 1000 X Package

* Fully adjustable front and rear Fox Racing Shox‡ HPG piggyback shocks
* Front sway bar
* 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels
* 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
* Analog/digital gauge
* Heavy-duty front bumper
* Rock sliders
* Leather steering wheel
* X-package seat trim and graphics
* Available in black with yellow accents


Conclusion

After reading all the hype on the Commander I really had higher expectations. But I think my biggest disappointment was in the Commanders' low end power. Perhaps this was a fluke, but our other 2 test drivers felt the same about the 3 different machines we had driven. It goes without saying that Can Am / BRP has created a great machine in looks great and is packed with features. I my opinion the Can Am Commander offers a lot for the money that the other UTV manufactures do not. You get some utility and a lot of sport with this machine. It's a fun UTV to drive and I am looking forward to the evolution of the Can Am / BRP Commander.

Additional Images

[BATTLEGUN]

Thanks for the honest review! Do you think that new throttle control contributes to the "lag"?

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

Originally Posted by BATTLEGUN

Thanks for the honest review! Do you think that new throttle control contributes to the "lag"?

Perhaps that as well as the distance between the throttle body and the engines heads has something to do with is also.

Out of the box I think it needs some work. Hopefully the aftermarket companies come out with a cure.

The body roll could likely be tuned out.

[dieselpowered]

Nice write-up, I think you are the first individual to claim that the Commander lagged. I wonder if those pre-production machines you were testing on had issues? I wonder if it could have been something as system as the pre-loaded fuel map? Do you recall which key you were given?

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

Originally Posted by dieselpowered

Nice write-up, I think you are the first individual to claim that the Commander lagged. I wonder if those pre-production machines you were testing on had issues? I wonder if it could have been something as system as the pre-loaded fuel map? Do you recall which key you were given?

Valid points. I am sure there was something going on with these machines. I mean, let's face it, this is a machine with a V-twin 1000cc engine. It should not have behaved the way in which it did.

And yes, I had the black key.

I would really like to try one of these machines. I just cannot justify the expense in transitioning from my RZR at the moment for something that is going to barely handle the trails (due to width) and for something that I am not completely sold on the performance.

I love everything else about it, and have my name on one. So who knows, come Nov 1, I may say hell with it and get it.

[dieselpowered]

I hear ya, it is quite the chunk of change to throw down on something you may or may not be happy with. All the reports from our members are they love it...I suppose one thing to think about is that lag could very well be remedied with a clutch kit of some kind?

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

Originally Posted by dieselpowered

I hear ya, it is quite the chunk of change to throw down on something you may or may not be happy with. All the reports from our members are they love it...I suppose one thing to think about is that lag could very well be remedied with a clutch kit of some kind?

Very true. The more people I talk to though I am really wondering if there was something going on with the computer. Maybe they tuned them down to make a programmer to keep people safe.

Not sure, I love the machine and am looking forward to another crack at it when our test vehicle get here.

[1Bad1000Xxc]

So I guess ya never got one huh?