Thinking about buying a sxs for hunting. Can Am Max Defender or Polaris Xpedition

[repins05]

Ok I am thinking about purchasing a SXS this year. Want a 4 seater. I also need to have a small bed in the back. Not looking for a discussion about a quad being more useful etc.

Posting this thread to get a head start on going ocd and researching the hell out of options. I have also decided I want a cab.

Why I want a SXS:

Primary use - Hunting. (hunting used 5 percent of the year)

Secondary use - Around the house on small acreage farm and transportation on construction job site. My secondary use is somewhat important because I want to write this off on my construction company's business taxes. (business use 95 percent of year. However most of this time it will be in storage).

Can Am Defender. Details I like are that it is has a rear bed, modular gun storage/transport accessories, miscellaneous modular accessories in general. The Defender fits the multi use thinking a bit better overall.

Polaris expedition Northstar. Rear Bed that can be covered and Roof Top tent option.

Anyone own either of these SXS? Or have owned both at one point or another?

Pros? Cons?

 

[MuleyFever]

I went in to my last sxs purchase with these 2 machines as my choices. I came out with the Xpedition.

The Polaris has better seats. After driving both over rough terrain the Polaris was the clear winner. My wife who is 5'6" also couldn't touch the floor when seated against the back of the seat in the can-am. Comfort became the deciding factor. My wife just couldn't do the can-am.

Other random things. The can-am does have much more bed storage. The Polaris probably has more aftermarket support. The Polaris is loud inside, especially if you get the ADV. We didn't like the suicide doors on the can-am. The can-am has bigger windows and better visibility, which I thought about for hunting.

If you are going to use it for construction the can-am has more utility. The Polaris bed is small.

 

[spike camp]

Can’t speak to any specifics, but my Polaris xp1000 is super loud inside as mentioned above.

 

[elkguide]

Which of the choices has the better dealer support? Definitely a factor.

Seen more Can Ams upside down and more Polaris as just a burned-out shell. Supposedly if you don't push the Can Ams they stay 4 wheels down and Polaris has supposedly fixed the fire problems. Around here you see way more Polaris rigs. Yamaha seems to be holding their own and the couple of guys that have them here, really like them. The Kawasaki Mule is a real workhorse but it is slow and loud. Every farmer that has a John Deere SXS has 2, so that while one is in the shop, they have something else to drive. (although a retired farmer/neighbor has over 30,000 miles on one of his 2 JD's!)

Honda Pioneer owner here. Good dealer support, which I've never used, and as long as you keep oil in them, they're really good to go.

Good luck and enjoy. They are useful and a lot of fun.

 

[repins05]

Agree on dealer support. Both can am and Polaris have good support near me.

 

[velvet muley]

I am a Polaris owner for 14 years now, the two I've had have been awesome with virtually no issues.

I think Can-am makes a good product overall too, one thing that I would strongly advise you look into is the excessive heat that comes from the console of the Can-am's. I have had 2 friends I have ridden with sell theirs because its that big of a problem, have heard of other people installing fans in the roof to try and get some of the heat out.

If you just google it there will be a plethora of threads on it.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I personally wouldn’t choose either. I’ve owned several Polaris machine with no trouble but they are loud and I do not care for belt driven CVTs.

I would choose the Honda.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[cbat]

I had a Polaris General 4 seater. Sold it and bought the Can-Am Defender 4 seater.
With heat and ac and it has been great. You can actually carry on a conversation without rasing your voice .

 

[TSAMP]

Which of the choices has the better dealer support? Definitely a factor.

Seen more Can Ams upside down and more Polaris as just a burned-out shell. Supposedly if you don't push the Can Ams they stay 4 wheels down and Polaris has supposedly fixed the fire problems. Around here you see way more Polaris rigs. Yamaha seems to be holding their own and the couple of guys that have them here, really like them. The Kawasaki Mule is a real workhorse but it is slow and loud. Every farmer that has a John Deere SXS has 2, so that while one is in the shop, they have something else to drive. (although a retired farmer/neighbor has over 30,000 miles on one of his 2 JD's!)

Honda Pioneer owner here. Good dealer support, which I've never used, and as long as you keep oil in them, they're really good to go.

Good luck and enjoy. They are useful and a lot of fun.

I bought a 2024 mule pro. It'll do 55mph with 4 people in it, 1000cc and can switch between 3 or 6 seats. I've owned nearly every mule they offer since 2008, currently have 3. That said. It isn't the same machine as either those mentioned above but it'd get the job done for what OP wants.

I work in manufacturing and did some design work on the Polaris expeditions back in 2021 before they were a production unit. When working with Polaris we had to disclose that we do lots of work with JD and wanted to be transparent about confidentiality and all that. The Polaris guys literally laughed and said JD might make a SxS but they are not considered a competitor.

 

[sf jakey]

I am a Polaris owner for 14 years now, the two I've had have been awesome with virtually no issues.

I think Can-am makes a good product overall too, one thing that I would strongly advise you look into is the excessive heat that comes from the console of the Can-am's. I have had 2 friends I have ridden with sell theirs because its that big of a problem, have heard of other people installing fans in the roof to try and get some of the heat out.

If you just google it there will be a plethora of threads on it.

There is no heat from a defender. Maybe you are talking about the older commanders? Defender is a good work machine, but I don’t really feel comfortable with it in serious, off camber situations. My Honda pioneer was a mountain goat, but hot, loud and dusty. I love the new Polaris expedition form factor, but how they made a machine as nice as that and allowed it to be so loud is beyond me. Total deal breaker.

 

[Speaks]

I have a General, looked at a defender. Real decision point for me is that from my cabin I would have to drive past six Polaris dealerships to get to a Can-am one. Parts available in every small town around me was a bigger deal than which machine.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Can am defender 10 is quiter but xpedition has more “stock” suspension travel

I personally hate the seats in the xpedition. I’ll take the extra capacity and upright over xpedition

I see no point in the xpedition for hunting, too loud and limited storage/seating

 

[cuerro viejo]

I am a Polaris owner for 14 years now, the two I've had have been awesome with virtually no issues.

I think Can-am makes a good product overall too, one thing that I would strongly advise you look into is the excessive heat that comes from the console of the Can-am's. I have had 2 friends I have ridden with sell theirs because its that big of a problem, have heard of other people installing fans in the roof to try and get some of the heat out.

If you just google it there will be a plethora of threads on it.

Never seen that issue in a single or crew defender, you must be thinking of a commander or some thing as defenders are bench seats with fold out consoles

 

[dgfavor]

Never seen that issue in a single or crew defender, you must be thinking of a commander or some thing as defenders are bench seats with fold out consoles

Yah, the Commander singles can get a bit warm...but they are soooo much more comfortable than the "golf carty" Defenders/Rangers IMO.

Gratuitous Commander shots in Upland trim:

 

[repins05]

How well does the Defender handle off road?

 

[IDLassie]

We started our SxS life with a used Commander. That thing killed our backs. Traded it in on a new Defender 1000. We have 10k miles on it now. Wouldn't have any other style due to back issues. The seat and cab sit just right for us.
They are wide so can't do most trails (50" rule). They handle off road just fine other that side hilling. Off road in forest is a big no no. They do ride a little stiffer than the zoom zoom models. But our shocks are stiff due to the extra weight we usually carry.

 

[TxLite]

I have seen more than one Polaris ranger spontaneously catch fire. A friend of mine had one do it in the middle of the night on a trailer, two other friends (separate occasions, different units) had a fire start in the fuse box while being driven, and saw a Facebook post of one that was parked in a garage and burned their house down.

I’m not sure if it’s “common” or not and not sure of the root cause, but for that reason alone Polaris wasn’t even on my radar when I got my Pioneer 1000-6.

I haven’t seen that issue pop up with other brands

 

[KurtR]

I have a 17 general 2 now and my main uses are ice fishing and dog training. I like the seats better than a ranger but the cab does not seal up as good and it does not have ac. It takes a while to heat up when its -0 but having a cab is still better than not. It is noisy but its a side by side not a car. It has a bikeman performance clutch kit and tune and i like the power I can run 80 if i want to and the ride is better than a ranger. That said my next one will be a ranger as thats what every one uses ice fishing up here

 

[snowymtnwolf]

I bought CanAm Defender about 5 years ago because buddy bought CanAm Commander year-1 and loved it.

Defender has been great.

Last year - my buddy with the old school Commander was in the same predicament you are (testing both the Defender and Xpedition). I watched a few YouTube videos to aid his decision. He researched and went and tested both models.

He went Defender route.

My suggestion: Weight which dealer is closer for support AND Go and actually test drive both.

Fully loaded - Xpedition is a few $$ more than fully loaded Defender (with equivalent upgrades).

I’m a long time CanAm fan and can admit Xpedition is good looking but has flaws (degrading factors) as others mentioned.

Either way I think you’ll be happy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SuperDUECE22]

⚠️ Polaris XPEDITION Problems and Issues

Discussions for all Polaris XPEDITION Problems and Issues. Repairs, TSB, Recalls, and Warranty related questions will also be covered in this section

xpeditionforums.com