Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - May 2022

suspension to work. With enough room to sprint, the machine eats up rocky trails and washboards. “On fast, rocky two-track, the Can-Am is the thing,” I wrote. “Flat and stable, the Rotax at full scream, the Commander is easy to point with the brake or the throttle in two-wheel drive. Way more fun than it should be.”

We tried all three rigs on two moderate trails: Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge. Both provide a good mix of quick, sandy sections and slow, technical crawls that can stretch a stock vehicle’s legs. Our three drivers rotated through each machine, taking notes after every stint.

The Good

Excellent visibility and top-tier fit and finish make the RMAX one of our favorite rigs. Photo by Justin W. Coffey

The Can-Am Commander XT-P is longer than its competitors and looks great with the orange-on-black color scheme. Photo by Justin W. Coffey Everyone liked the looks of the Can-Am. While the Yamaha RMAX and Polaris General have similar footprints, the Commander XT-P is more than 10 inches longer than its competitors. That gives it a 90-inch wheelbase and larger cargo box. It also means the machine has familiar proportions. While the Can-Am brings to mind your favorite pickup truck, both the RMAX and the General feel closer to a golf cart. The extra room between the wheel wells means more space inside too. “The cabin comfort is great,” Executive Editor Aaron Richardson said. “There aren’t Yamaha levels of fit and finish, but it’s very comfortable and accommodating.” The Commander’s seats sit low in the chassis too, which helps the machine feel sportier than its rivals. That’s a feeling that was underscored by the Can-Am’s willingness to play on the fast sections. With beefy springs and stiff shocks, the Commander demands speed in order for the

But as we know, the RMAX is no slouch. It won an Editor’s Choice Award from us last year, in part because of its ability to do everything well. We brought in Brandon Fitch, a development engineer with Flyin’ Miata, to help wheel and give us his thoughts on the machines. “The RMAX doesn’t care about anything,” he said. “The plush suspension just makes every obstacle easy.” “It’s so much plusher than the Can-Am or the General,” he said. “If you need refinement, this continues to be it.” He’s not wrong. The RMAX2 simply feels a few generations ahead of its competitors inside. The shift lever is solid with positive feedback, the hand brake gives you a little extra confidence when parking on steep inclines, and the soft- touch steering wheel feels like it belongs in a Richardson agreed.