I do know this doesn’t matter for most folk who purchase utility-specific side-by-sides, however one of many chief issues that tends to tire you out on a protracted day of utilizing them round your own home, ranch, or within the discipline when scouting, looking or no matter, is that rattling factor’s noise. Many of the class is principally 20-year-old farm tools that also has the potential for tinutus after extended publicity, the identical issues I used to make use of once I was a fresh-faced 16-year-old working for my metropolis’s native parks division.
It wasn’t the whacky Park and Recs crew, however we undoubtedly had a Tammy 1 who labored within the workplace.
But, even with all of the modernity that’s been pushed into the section, i.e. Apple CarPlay, related providers, adaptive suspension, strut-assisted beds, and all method of off-road and work modes for the engine, not a lot has been executed within the service of saving your ears from long-term harm. You simply get in and both slap on some ear safety as in case you’re going to shoot some guns, or grin and bear it, solely on your ears to be ringing all night time lengthy when the work is completed. It sucks, and that’s coming from somebody who has had dangerous tinnitus for a lot too lengthy for being so comparatively younger. Effective, high-quality, high-quality, for somebody that’s semi-old.
That, nonetheless, was what I observed had modified essentially the most when going from the earlier Can-Am Defender HD10 to the all-new, 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11, in addition to among the others I’ve been lucky to check throughout the section. It is so quiet. And never simply on the skin, the place an excellent muffler can do so much to, effectively, muffle. However from the within with an insulated cab, too, the place sound doesn’t have anyplace to cover. It ain’t a Rolls-Royce cloister, not a lot is. However the truth that you’ll be able to maintain a dialog along with your passenger with out screaming or utilizing signal language is trigger for celebration, as like the remainder of the brand new Defender household, it ups the ante by way of sophistication to fashionable truck ranges but to be seen within the utility side-by-side market.
Fortunately for you and me, all that newly-added quiet, the increase in horsepower and torque, the near-infinite customization via the model’s equipment, and the beefed-up all the pieces else doesn’t include a large worth enhance in comparison with the outgoing mannequin. It’s barely greater than final 12 months’s, however hell, it’s nonetheless probably the greatest bargains within the trade, and it completely deserves your consideration for all of your utility wants.
I ponder if I can get my Roofnest on top of it?
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
For our introduction of the all-new Defender HD11, we have been spirited to the Japanese Seaboard, alongside the state strains that bridge Connecticut, New York, and Vermont at Yard Adventures, considered one of BRP’s Uncharted Society partners. It’s a large personal parcel of some 3,000 acres of prime East Coast trails, all with a limestone base. It’s dusty, coated in thick old-growth forests, coated in moss and lichen, and the humidity sucks the life out of you everytime you’re away from something with air-con, a fan, or one thing to protect you from its oppressiveness.
I really feel like I misplaced a couple of kilos whereas simply strolling to and from the side-by-sides as we traded from Restricted to X mr to common XT fashions, or whereas queuing up the following track to play via the JL Audio audio system—myself and Outdoor Life’s Derek Horner had essentially the most enjoyable of the group.
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
All that’s to say is that whereas I’d usually put it via its paces whereas out within the wilds of Utah, climbing mountains, and throwing youngsters or canines or logs or frogs into its mattress, the Yard Adventures farm was virtually extra abusive than my regular loops and chores. And that’s the purpose, as Can-Am’s purpose with the brand new Defender—and its litany of upgrades all through—are supposed to dominate the category, and turn into the go-to workhorse mannequin for anybody that desires, or quite wants, principally a truck with out the concern of upkeep, and fright of wanton abandon of the motive force’s mechanical sympathy. It’s designed to be the Garmin of the side-by-side world, full with thick-ass, practically half-inch skidplates, which is precisely what people demand from these autos.
The side-by-side is powered by a naturally aspirated 999cc Rotax Ace three-cylinder engine that places out extra horsepower and torque than its predecessor—95 horsepower, and 70 pound-feet, to be precise. Energy was bumped largely because of a brand new air consumption system, in addition to a cooling system, however was executed not simply because prospects demanded extra energy, however to coincide with some added strengthening—which bumped up its weight—in addition to bigger payload and towing capacities in comparison with each its predecessor and the competitors. Towing is pegged at 2,500 kilos, with a normal 2-inch receiver, whereas payload is 1,500 usable kilos. Oh, and in that strengthening, Can-Am additionally strengthened the load-bearing of the Defender’s tailgate, which, on the prior Defender HD10, would bend barely within the center. It wouldn’t break, however whereas the general weight restrict hasn’t modified in accordance with the model, the brand new Defender’s gate didn’t budge an inch once I sat my 190-pound body proper smack dab in the midst of it.
I even gave it a couple of slight hops up and down simply to ensure I used to be being thorough. So people who use these to tailgate, or simply crack a beer on the finish of a protracted day to observe a beautiful Connecticut sundown, you’ll be able to completely sit down with out concern.
Picture by: Can-Am
With that horsepower leap, in addition to strengthening and barely elevated weight, the Defender HD11’s CVT needed to be beefed up, too. There’s a brand new, stronger belt, together with each a brand new main and secondary clutch. Each of that are aimed toward higher longevity, elevated aptitude, and simpler upkeep—the latter of which I’ll get to in a second. However in constructing a brand new clutch, Can-Am sought to kill probably the most annoying options of the prior mannequin, and that was the side-by-side’s shifter.
Once more, prior fashions and UTVs on this area don’t actually really feel all that completely different from the John Deere Gator I drove 20 years in the past. They’re agricultural of their match, end, and really feel. Tractors, however considerably extra subtle than these used to mow lawns, plow fields, or used to reap corn. You’d finest consider they’d work in case you drove them off an embankment and right into a creek—discover me someday, and I’ll let you know the story of Captain Ron (no, critically)—however they did little to make you need to drive them long-term, and also you’d find yourself utilizing the truck you garaged if you purchased the side-by-side and swore you’d go away for freeway towing or journeys to Dwelling Depot.
Not so anymore, because the Defender’s shifter is a lot extra buttery clean in its engagements than the prior mannequin. The place you’d beforehand hope you’d yank the shifter into Excessive or Low or Reverse with out passing the detent, there are extra pure stops at every gear. I by no means missed Excessive and slotted into low all through the three days we rode via the terrain.
Picture by: Can-Am
And the CVT itself is clean, too, even below load, as in a single specific take a look at placed on by the model, we loaded up a small horse trailer with hay bales, attached the 2-inch receiver, after which went for a rip across the corn fields on the property, plowing our approach via the silty sand and rocky outcroppings that litter the paths. By no means as soon as did I really feel the transmission need to disengage, even when letting off the gasoline. I’ll say that, like most different side-by-sides, the throttle pedal at low speeds will be, at occasions, imprecise. There’s a really small lifeless spot out of your first push till it begins to use energy and torque to the wheels. It’s lower than an inch of journey, however it may possibly catch you out at first go or if you’re taking part in the sport of who can get the hitch receiver into the trailer ball head with out getting out of the side-by-side.
Which may solely be a sport weirdo writers, or these like me who actually discovered to drive utilizing Ford F-250 and F-450s with big-ass trailers holding numerous 1000’s of kilos of mowing tools, however I can’t be alone in desirous to know that.
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
However the true profit, one which outweights the higher suspension, improved brakes, extra energy and torque, 200-plus equipment, and a CVS listing of different new options which might be virtually too quite a few to say—our briefing of all the novelty was practically 2 hours lengthy, adopted by an hour stroll across the following day—is the brand new cab that’s featured on the Restricted and Lone Star fashions. Once more, there’s no extra concern of going deaf, having to put on energetic taking pictures earmuffs like my Walkers, or headphones like my Cardo PackTalk ORVs. You’ll be able to simply speak, at a traditional voice, all within the consolation of a completely enclosed cab with icy-cold air-con, and supposedly superior heating.
Like hell I used to be going to check the heater in 94% humidity and a thermometer that learn 91 levels—a sauna, this was.
You’ll be able to see my again is drenched in case you look carefully…
Picture by: Can-Am
What I used to be capable of take a look at, nonetheless, have been among the model’s new equipment, together with the accent lighting, which lit up the darkened, oak-lined forests, the JL Audio audio system—a number of choices to which can be found, together with a 2, 4, and as much as 9 speaker setup—two units of professional quality bumpers full with customary winches, 12V in-bed outlet integration, numerous the model’s LinQ system equipment, together with one of many platforms, the non-obligatory roof (which took my total physique weight), and a pair wheel and tire packages that allow you to go from the backwoods trails to the swampy wetlands used to duck hunt. I didn’t actually discover fault with any of them, however this was my first taste-test.
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
I’ll say that we rode via a stream, inflicting a little bit of a wake alongside a predetermined crossing, and whereas Derek and I acquired completely soaked in one of many open-air Defender HD11s, nothing faultered as we went via and got here out the opposite aspect—and we did it twice.
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
Picture by: Can-Am
However as with something nowadays, with each successive era and new mannequin, there’s a slight enhance in worth, and the brand new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 isn’t any completely different.
Now, the value enhance goes to rely on the mannequin and equipment bundle you get out of your native dealership. Being that I’ve three youngsters, a loving and understanding spouse who places up with me, and a canine that solely needs to go on adventures, my mind went instantly to the Max four-door variations of the Defender. Particularly, the Defender Max Restricted HD11, which comes with a beginning worth of $37,799. That’s about $3,500 greater than the outgoing mannequin. And that’s largely true about the remainder of the lineup. All, nonetheless, have the newly enacted tariff prices baked into these MSRPs.
Nevertheless, Can-Am is aware of that not everybody goes to desire a spec’d-up Defender HD11, so the beginning worth for the brand new side-by-side begins at a extra affordable $22,999 for the two-door HD11, and $25,199 for the four-door. But, the model additionally stated that it might proceed numerous its HD7, HD9, and HD10 fashions with even decrease costs for these extra budget-conscious customers.
And on this financial system, that’s hella appreciated, particularly for individuals who make the most of these machines for what they have been constructed for. For getting jobs executed. Getting out into the backcountry to discover our public lands. Going tenting. Or utilizing them on the ranch, farm, or within the fields. And given they’re approach quieter than the earlier fashions, you’ll end up doing extra and operating out of daylight extra so than you ran out of the power to listen to something however the ringing in your ears.
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