Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - May 2022

We got a quick look at the all-new Can-Am Commander last year and came away impressed. The 976cc Rotax V-twin engine churns out 100 hp and sounds great doing it. Like the other machines here, the Commander uses a traditional CVT gearbox. There’s a viscous limited-slip differential up front and a selectable locking rear differential with turf mode out back. This particular example features the XT-P trim, aimed squarely at the rock- crawling crowd. While the base rig comes with 27- inch tires on steel wheels, our tester came rolling on more capable 30-inch rubber wrapped around cast aluminum beadlocks. Perfect for scrambling up Utah’s slickrock. 2022 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Sport: $22,599 MSRP

Fox shocks. The RMAX’s 999cc engine manages a bit more grunt at 108 hp. But is that enough to help the Yamaha defend its crown as one of our favorite machines? 2022 Polaris General XP 1000 Trailhead Edition: $28,399 MSRP

This is the oldest machine in the group and also the most expensive, but it’s clear where your money’s going. There are the obvious bits—like the high-end paint and graphics, clever bed racks, and Walker Evans Needle shocks—plus the not- so-obvious parts—like the unique seats, Ride Command infotainment system, and Rockford Fosgate stereo. Polaris threw most of the option book at this thing in an attempt to pave over its old bones. There’s a familiar, 999cc twin good for 100 hp and Polaris’ clever Hilliard limited-slip differential.

The Route

The new RMAX has officially been on the market for more than a year, and Yamaha wasted no time rolling out special editions and niche trims. This Sport model belongs in the latter category. It’s the cheapest rig here, and offers buyers a stripped- down, no-nonsense machine that’s big on capability and short on creature comforts. You’ll find no navigation screen or stereo. Just beadlock wheels, amechanical locking front differential, and