Can-Am Defender UTV 2023 Range Review

The Canadians can’t put a foot wrong lately, at least not with their Can-Am UTV range which is proving a hit with farmers who want big productivity out of a pint-sized workhorse. 

Can-Am turned 50 earlier this year, under the ownership of recreational powerhouse BRP, and the brand also won its sixth Dakar Rally since first tackling the race in 2018 - well and truly earning its off-road stripes.

The ag-focused utility vehicle range from Can-Am is every bit as good as its hardcore off-road racers, though, which is what we are here to put to the test.

We headed to Townsville, in North Queensland, to drive the current range of Can-Am work-focused Defender models to see if they live up to the ever-growing hype that surrounds them.

A friendly farmer let Can-Am tear up a dusty section of land, just a stone’s throw away from the freshly-laid foundation for his gigantic new shed. More like a warehouse than a shed, as is often the case with farmers that have done well for themselves, and we were clearly jealous.

The short test loop offered a range of off-camber corners, rocky step downs and one fast uphill sweeper that exited on a dam wall - carry too much pace and you'll be in the drink, we were told.

An old Cat grader provided a suitable backdrop, against the brightly-coloured lineup of schmick new Can-Am Defender models consisting of HD7, HD9 and HD10 models - even a 6x6 HD10 with every bell and whistle you can imagine.

At one point, jokingly, we asked the farmer when the old Cat last moved from what looked like its above-ground resting place, to which he responded, “I’ll move it now if it’s in the way!”

Apparently the old steed is as dependable as his new earthmoving gear, without having to worry about damaging it creating fire breaks in the rougher sections of his property.

Looking past the old grader and up at the rocky ridgeline, we couldn’t help but ponder how spectacular the view must be from up there. Apparently it is, too, because that’s where this farmer is planning to build his next house!

“I reckon we’d get up there, and probably over it too, in one of these,” said Can-Am Product Expert, Mick Andrewartha, chiming in to tout the true off-road potential of these UTVs.

While the Defender range offers no less than 10 variants, with countless customisation and upgrade options, we are going to look at the three core models to see what separates them.

Can-Am’s Defender range consists of HD7, HD9 and HD10 models with different engine outputs, payloads and seating configurations, from three-seat to six-seat and 4x4 to 6x6 variants.

The HD9 is considered the sweet spot by Australian farmers, with Can-Am confirming nearly half of all Defender sales volume comes from the mid-range models, but the others are still popular options and share the same proven platform.

The entry-level HD7 DPS ($23,629) is powered by a Rotax 650cc single-cylinder engine producing 52hp/41 lb-ft, While the larger HD9 XU ($26,129) and HD10 XU ($28,929) score the thumping 976cc Rotax V-twin producing 65hp/59 lb-fit and 82hp/69 lb-ft respectively.

Both engines benefit from generous 200-hour/12 month/3000km service intervals and both use the same tried-and-tested belt-driven CVT transmission - albeit with slightly different clutch setups.

All Defender models feature a profiled, ROPS-approved cage and adjustable tilt steering, while comfortable seats and a digital dash make the cabin a suitably refined place to be.

Cast aluminium 14-inch wheels, with 27x9 (front) and 27x11 (rear) XPS Trail Force eight ply tyres, roll over just about anything, and 220mm rotors all round with twin-piston front and single-piston rear stoppers pull the Defender up with ease.

Despite the little HD7 sitting at the bottom of the range, it shares the same platform and highly-specified parts as the more powerful HD9 and HD10 models, and all three models offer a 680kg payload and 1134kg towing capacity.

The Defender DPS 6x6 model can tow and carry more, understandably, but four-wheeled variants all share the same productivity benefits.

All models are equipped with a two-inch tow ball receiver and well-sized cargo box - or tray - measuring 96.5 x 138.4 x 30.5cm for regular models or 180.3 x 138.4 x 25.4cm for long wheelbase models.

High- and low-range four-wheel-drive is controlled via the dash-mounted shifter, with an auto-locking front diff and lockable rear diff controlled via switches to put power down through the sloppiest of conditions.

While wading depth isn’t specified, the Defender models have enough height to the critical intakes to cross small creeks or puddles, which coupled with ground clearance of 280-330mm (depending on the model) offers pretty serious go-anywhere ability.

We were told, rather colloquially, that as long as your bum is dry and the cooling duct for the belt-drive system isn’t underwater, the Defender is good to go - in a few more words. Snorkels are an option, though, if you are serious about water crossings.

These will also top out, unofficially, at around 100km/h so should you need to cover serious ground the Defender range is good for it.

It never ceases to amaze us, jumping back into a UTV after time in other machinery and vehicles, just how effortlessly these little smile-givers soak up hits.

That rock the front right tyre is about to bounce off? Don’t bother bracing or even expecting to feel it through the steering - you won’t even know it’s there.

You almost have to turn off your sense of mechanical sympathy to really find out what a UTV is capable of and, for these Defender models, the limit is far beyond anything we threw at them.

Not only are bumps somehow flattened by the 250mm+ of travel from the very capable shocks at each corner, the Defender range also has serious ground clearance and underbelly protection to boot.

You can expect to bottom out until the cows come home, but you probably won’t - the exception being the dual-cab models with longer wheelbase and not quite the rampover angle the three-seat ‘shorties’ have.

This off-road track simply did not require us to engage the front diff, nor was the rear locker needed, flicking the switches on the dash purely for comparison’s sake.

Around the farm, especially on grass you don’t wish to tear up, leaving the rear diff ‘open’ and letting the fronts freewheel is the way to go. Not only is it easier on the land, but the Defenders all have a better turning circle running around in rear-wheel drive too.

If you do happen to come unstuck in one of these, an optional winch will get you moving again. We are told, though, farmers tend to use the winch for a variety of other ‘creative’ uses - fair enough!

Comfort is unmatched across the range, in our opinion, with wide tracks and long wheelbases smoothing out ride across models. Couple that with surprisingly comfortable seats and we think a day spent in one of these wouldn’t leave you too battered.

While the primary perk of utility vehicles on farms is their pint-sized appeal, compared with, say, a 79-Series LandCruiser, the Can-Am range is the largest of the UTV pack.

This does mean a larger footprint than some competitor options, perhaps offering a little less agility through thick scrub, but for the most part that’s a good thing. Here’s why…

With a lengthy 2110mm wheelbase and wide wheel track, the Can-Am Defender range is stable at speed without being too big to duck and weave through cattle or trees.

The primary perk of its added heft, though, is a very healthy payload and shed-loads of storage both in the cab and around the vehicle.

Growing up in a farming family, it was ATVs (or Quads, for us Aussies), dirt bikes and battered work utes. Had we put a UTV like the Can-Am Defender to the test, I reckon it would have become a permanent fixture on the farm.

Defenders are larger than the rest of the UTV pack and carry more, too, yet the price tag doesn’t really reflect the extra metal starting at just over $20,000 before you start ticking boxes or adding bling.

From a productivity perspective, proven reliability and payload puts the Can-Am Defender range right up there with the best of them and it’s hard to fault just about anything about these UTVs.

Our pick of the bunch would be the single-cylinder HD7 model, slightly down on power but still peppy enough to throw rooster tails and keep you smiling day in, day out. It’s a light sipper with a proven Rotax powertrain, offering 90 per cent of what the larger models can but for a bargain price.

With a competitive two-year/15,000km service interval, and sub-$30,000 price tag across the three main variants, the Defender range is a compelling option if you are after serious productivity and a healthy dose of grunt to keep boredom at bay.

Engine: Rotax 650cc single cylinder, liquid-cooled producing 52hp/41 lb-ft

Transmission: CVT

Drivetrain: Selectable Turf Mode/2WD/4WD with auto-locking front differential

Steering: Dynamic Power Steering

Suspension: Twin tube gas-charged shocks all round

Wheels and Tyres: 14-inch cast aluminium wheels with XPS Trail Force 27-inch tyres

Brakes: 220mm rotors all round, two-piston front and single-piston rear calipers

Payload: 680kg

Towing Capacity: 1134 kg

Fuel Capacity: 40 litres

Service Interval: 2 years / 15,000 km, whichever comes first

Factory Warranty: 200 hours / 12 months / 3000km

Engine: Rotax 976cc V-twin, liquid-cooled producing 65hp/59 lb-ft

Transmission: CVT

Drivetrain: Selectable Turf Mode/2WD/4WD with auto-locking front differential

Steering: Dynamic Power Steering

Suspension: Twin tube gas-charged shocks all round

Wheels and Tyres: 14-inch cast aluminium wheels with XPS Trail Force 27-inch tyres

Brakes: 220mm rotors all round, two-piston front and single-piston rear calipers

Payload: 680kg

Towing Capacity: 1134 kg

Fuel Capacity: 40 litres

Service Interval: 2 years / 15,000 km, whichever comes first

Factory Warranty: 200 hours / 12 months / 3000km

Engine: Rotax 976cc V-twin, liquid-cooled producing 82hp/69 lb-ft

Transmission: CVT

Drivetrain: Selectable Turf Mode/2WD/4WD with auto-locking front differential

Steering: Dynamic Power Steering

Suspension: Twin tube gas-charged shocks all round

Wheels and Tyres: 14-inch cast aluminium wheels with XPS Trail Force 27-inch tyres

Brakes: 220mm rotors all round, two-piston front and single-piston rear calipers

Payload: 680kg

Towing Capacity: 1134 kg

Fuel Capacity: 40 litres

Service Interval: 2 years / 15,000 km, whichever comes first

Factory Warranty: 200 hours / 12 months / 3000km