Can-Am vs. Polaris: The Complete Comparison

“This wouldn’t’ve happened if you’d bought a RZR 1000.”

“Buy them cheap, bury them deep.”

“What do you expect from a POOlaris? I’ve never had that problem with my Commander.”

Do you ever hear people say things like this? We sure do. Every day. It seems like side-by-side fans all over the world are stuck in an eternal battle for vehicular supremacy. If you’re a fan of UTVs, you’ve got to pick a side and jab at your buddies for picking the obviously inferior Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, or Honda. It doesn’t really matter what they have—you just know yours is better.

At the forefront of this beef are Polaris and Can-Am. 

If you read the comments section on anything Polaris or Can-Am related anywhere on the internet, you’re bound to get an eyeful of “POOlaris” and “Can’t-Am”.

Let’s take a look at these two companies. We’ll see where they started, talk about how they interacted, and maybe find out who’s on top now.

The History of Can-Am and Polaris

Who Makes Can-Am Side-by-Sides?

Polaris and Can-Am share a common starting point. They both opened shop as snowmobile companies. Can-Am’s founder, J. Armand Bombardier, built the first propeller-driven sled as a teenager in 1922 and the world’s first track-based snowmobile in 1937. He later founded Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) in 1942.

Can-Am itself wouldn’t appear until the 1970s, when BRP created the Can-Am name as a motorcycle brand. Initially, the Can-Am name was only tied to high-performance motocross dirt bikes. They were successful in this sector, becoming the first company to sweep the American Motorcycle Association 250 cc Motocross National Championship in 1974.

Despite the success, BRP had set its sights on other ventures by the 1980s, and ‘87 was the last production year for Can-Am motorcycles. They turned their attention instead to ATVs, once again operating under the Bombardier name. A prototype version of the BRP Traxter, a utility-based ATV, was released in February 1998.

Just one year later, ATV Magazine named the new BRP Traxter “ATV of the Year.” What followed was a succession of ATV releases—with a focus on both sport and utility—and even more success in the racing scene.

In May 2006, BRP once again began operating under the Can-Am name. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Who Makes Polaris Side-by-Sides?

Polaris didn’t enter the game until 1954, when they created their first snowmobile. This snowmobile was small and designed for only one or two people. It was the first modern-style snowmobile.

From the start, the two companies were competing. Bombardier innovated with its standalone, wind-powered snowmobile and Polaris refined it with a smaller, sleeker, and more broadly-appealing vehicle.

Snowmobiles kept the guys at Polaris busy for quite some time, releasing and testing several different models over the next few decades. It wasn’t until 1985 that they ventured away from the snowmobile scene and released the Scrambler ATC and TrailBoss, which are considered the very first American-made four wheelers.

Can-Am Maverick vs. Polaris RZR

The Ranger RZR released in 2008 and was laser-focused on being the best recreational sport vehicle available.

The 2012 Can-Am Maverick came out a few years later as a direct competitor to the RZR.

Nearly a decade later, both side-by-sides have expanded into an entire family of performance-first machines.

Let’s compare their most affordable models and their most competitive models.

The big dogs in sport UTVs continue to trade punches for top power. With similar suspension specs and horsepower, your choice of the world’s most powerful machine comes down to personal preference. But what’s that premium the Maverick R X RS demands over the RZR Pro R? Part of it has to do with its wild front knuckles that maintain the front wheels’ camber over full travel. It’s the only UTV that does front suspension this way.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the Maverick Trail 700 and the RZR Trail, both competing for exciting, entry-level trail-riding dominance. And they’re both fine! The RZR Trail has a little bit of an edge in price and power, but it’s best to get some seat time in each before you make your decision.

These performance machines can get even more powerful with a little help from SuperATV. Check out our clutch kits and ECU tuners if you want to get more out of the industry’s fastest side-by-sides.

Can-Am Commander vs. Polaris General

The first Can-Am Commander came out in 2010, and it broke ground as the first UTV with a 1000 cc engine. It also took a different approach to the whole utility-versus-sport conundrum by combining both in one machine. It’s got power and a big bed.

And in 2020, it got a full redesign to modernize and upgrade it.

The Polaris General came out in 2020 to compete with the hybrid performance and utility of the commander. And it hasn’t really changed much apart from the addition of an XP edition which sports a slightly different suspension.

Let’s compare their current incarnations.

The high-end Commander XT-P and General XP 1000 are in lockstep together in terms of price and performance. If you want to know which one you’ll like better, you better get behind the wheel of each.

When it comes to their entry-level options, the General doesn’t really have one. That makes the General 1000 pretty appealing when compared to the Commander DPS, even if it costs a couple grand more.

Want to get even more out of your Commander or General’s suspension? Check out our Can-Am Commander Lift Kits and our Polaris General Lift Kits.

Can-Am Defender vs. Polaris Ranger

The Polaris Ranger is Polaris’s original side-by-side. The original Ranger released way back in 1998, and since then, the Ranger line has expanded to include models that fit basically any role for any rider or property owner.

The Defender is Can-Am’s response to the Ranger and came out decades later in 2015. Now they have plenty of Defender models for all kinds of needs.

Let’s compare their entry-level and high-end models.

If you’re interested in a high-end pure utility side-by-side, you can’t beat the Ranger XP 1000 Northstar Edition or the Defender HD10 Limited. They both sport similar specs and they both come with a full cab enclosure and HVAC. Try both before buying.

The lower-end models are also similar in design and function. It really comes down to the track width you think you want. The Defender’s 62” width is pretty wide and very functional. But it could be too wide depending on the terrain you deal with. If you need a narrow machine to fit on tight trails, the Ranger SP 570 is the way to go.

And if you want to go with an aftermarket cab enclosure and HVAC, SuperATV’s got you covered. Check out our doors, windows, and cab heaters.

Can-Am or Polaris: Which Vehicle Is the Best?

So who comes out looking better in the end? Does Polaris’s classic lineup stand the test of time or does Can-Am’s bolder, more radical lineup deserve your dollar?

At the moment, it looks like push, and the only real deciding factor is your preference. The best way to know which one you will like more is to get in the driver’s seat and see how it feels. Nothing beats personal experience.

And when you do finally make your decision, make sure to upgrade and accessorize your machine at SuperATV.com.