I took the Can-Am Commander XT-P 1000R out for a 3-day adventure weekend in Oregon with a friend. We managed to test this UTV in a wide range of terrain, from dunes to mud and even rocks. We really put this machine through the paces.
Check out this video for all the fun, and read below for the details and my thoughts on this versatile off-road adventure machine.
Commander XT-P 1000R
- $22,690 MSRP
- 1000R: 100 hp
- 14 in. (35.6 cm) of suspension travel, FOX 2.5 PODIUM Piggyback with QS3 compression adjustment
- 30 in. XPS Hammer Force tires on 15 in. cast-aluminum beadlock wheels
- 4,500-lb winch with roller fairlead, XT front bumper, Sport roof & panoramic mirror
- Smart-Lok front Differential
- 7.6 in. digital display with keypad
- LED headlights
Instead of beating around the bush, let’s get right to what I liked and what I didn’t about this versatile sporty utility side-by-side.
PROS
- The Fox 2.5 suspension is even better than you think it could be.
- Selectable lockers are the easy buttons of off-road driving, and really helpful in keeping this UTV from getting really stuck.
- An integrated winch offers great piece of mind, especially when solo vehicle adventuring.
- A full undercarriage skid plate, reinforced in the right areas, really opens up the capability envelope of this vehicle, while protecting it from sustaining any damage.
- The dump bed with a tailgate is a super useful utility feature for around the ranch and/or around camp.
- The side panels of the bed come off without tools and have super useful storage for extra drive belts and small tools.
- Built-in large storage bins in the passenger compartment offer great storage for those things you want close at hand while out on an adventure. Things like snacks, cameras, dry gloves, goggle wipes, and bottled water.
- The seats are durable, simple, and way more comfortable than they look.
- The Lynk storage boxes are an optional accessory, which I highly recommend for their security, convenience, and durability.
CONS
- Very poor turning radius.
- Cheap fealing steering wheel and drive selector.
- Not quiet (ie: quite loud and will scare off the wildlife).
- Poor cupholders (and possibly dangerous when cup/bottle/can rolls around driver’s feet).
- Not great tires (first upgrade I’d make).
- The seat belt regularly gets caught in the door latch, which is super annoying and damages the seat belt.
Can-Am Commander XT-P 1000R Review
Overall, I’m super impressed with the do-it-all capabilities of the Can-Am Commander XT-P 1000R. It just works really well in a wide range of conditions. The capability off-road is way higher than you’d expect from a UTV with a dump bed and relatively short and narrow wheelbase. If you’re on the hunt for a one UTV quiver then this is your machine.
If you want a bit more utility-focused UTV be sure to check out our full review of the Can-Am Defender HERE.
You can virtually build out your own Can-Am UTV, and find a dealer near you, at Can-Am.BRP.com.
