For 2027, Can-Am continues to evolve some of its most popular side-by-sides. A new Defender XU, a completely redesigned Defender HD10, a second-generation transmission across the Maverick R lineup, practical upgrades to the Maverick X3, and the return of the X package on the Maverick Trail and Sport all highlight a model year focused on meaningful improvements and innovation.
On August 17, Can-Am unveiled its latest off-road products for the 2027 model year. For the Quebec-based manufacturer, the direction is clear: refinement, technology and added value.
That philosophy quickly becomes apparent when looking at the new lineup. Can-Am is doing much more than introducing new colors or adding a few accessories. Several changes directly affect powertrains, transmissions, ergonomics, connectivity and standard equipment.
On the utility side, the Defender receives considerable attention with the introduction of the Defender XU and, more importantly, a new generation of the HD10. On the performance side, the Maverick R gets the second-generation Rotax DCT across the entire lineup, while the Maverick X3 receives several practical improvements.
Here is what side-by-side enthusiasts need to know about the 2027 Can-Am lineup.
2027 Defender XU: Ready to Work Straight from the Dealership
Can-Am knows its Defender customers well. Farmers, ranchers, landowners, forestry workers, hunters and recreational users generally have one thing in common: they want a versatile machine capable of getting to work without immediately requiring an extensive list of accessories.
That is precisely the idea behind the new 2027 Can-Am Defender XU.
Instead of requiring owners to equip their Defender after purchase, Can-Am installs several work-oriented accessories directly at the factory.
The Defender XU comes equipped with a Headache Rack, Low Bed Wall Extender, LinQ Tool Holders and Trailer Hitch Ball Mount.
It is a practical approach that makes the Defender better prepared for everyday work right from the start. Carrying equipment, securing tools or towing a trailer can be accomplished with fewer modifications after purchase.
Can-Am is also making the XU package widely available. It can be ordered across much of the Defender lineup, from base models all the way to the Lone Star, with both open- and closed-cab configurations. The main exception is the X mr, whose mud-focused mission puts it in a different category.
The XU is therefore not an entirely new Defender platform. Instead, it represents a new way to purchase one: better equipped from the factory and ready to work.
2027 Defender HD10: The Second Generation Arrives
The much bigger news, however, can be found under the hood of the 2027 Defender HD10.
Following the introduction of the new-generation Defender HD11 for 2026, Can-Am is now bringing much of that evolution to its HD10 offering.
The most significant change is mechanical.
The second-generation Defender HD10 receives a new 80-horsepower Rotax three-cylinder engine.
Can-Am describes it as best-in-class horsepower. But in a vehicle such as the Defender, peak horsepower is only part of the equation. The manufacturer has also focused on delivering quiet, hardworking power suited to demanding jobs.
More importantly, the new powerplant is accompanied by a broader evolution of the vehicle.
The HD10 benefits from an updated chassis, redesigned suspension, new technology and improved interior comfort.
In other words, Can-Am did not simply install a new engine in the previous HD10. The model is moving onto the second-generation Defender platform.
For owners who spend several hours a day behind the wheel of their side-by-side, these changes could ultimately prove more significant than the horsepower increase alone.
The Defender Becomes More Connected
Another major evolution of the Defender takes place directly in front of the driver.
Second-generation 2027 models now feature a new 5-inch color gauge display.
Higher-end versions take things considerably further.
The Limited, X mr and Lone Star models feature a refined 10.25-inch wireless touchscreen display with embedded navigation powered by BRP GO!
The system includes navigation, AM/FM radio, digital audio and customizable screen capabilities.
One of its most interesting features, however, works behind the scenes: remote software updates.
Using Wi-Fi or a smartphone hotspot connection, owners can remotely update their vehicle’s software to access the latest compatible features and improvements.
The utility side-by-side is becoming an increasingly connected vehicle.
2027 Maverick R: Second-Generation DCT Across the Lineup
On the performance side, the Maverick R remains Can-Am’s technological showcase.
Its 999cc turbocharged Rotax three-cylinder engine already produces 240 horsepower, while its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is one of the platform’s defining technical features.
For 2027, Can-Am is bringing the second-generation Rotax DCT to every Maverick R model.
This upgraded transmission initially debuted on the Maverick R X rc and Maverick R MAX.
Its most important addition is an Extra Low gear.
Why add such a low gear to a machine built around extreme performance?
Because off-road performance is not only about outright speed.
In rock crawling, technical climbs and situations where the vehicle must move very slowly, a lower gear helps make better use of the available torque while providing more controlled power delivery.
Can-Am has also reinforced transmission components to handle the additional torque associated with these demanding low-speed conditions.
The Maverick R’s DCT retains one of its major advantages: unlike a traditional CVT, it uses a gear-driven transmission and does not require drive-belt replacement. Gear changes can be handled automatically or manually using steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
For 2027, every Maverick R owner will therefore have access to the most advanced version of this technology.
Maverick R and X3: Improvements Go Beyond the Major Components
The 2027 changes are not limited to major mechanical components.
Can-Am is also introducing several upgrades to the Maverick R and Maverick X3.
Both families now feature integrated window nets. In addition to providing a more race-inspired appearance, they offer occupants better protection from the elements.
Front and rear braking systems also receive stiffer steel-braided brake lines, designed to improve braking performance and consistency.
The Maverick X3 receives door fillers to improve cabin sealing and help protect occupants from debris and outside elements.
The RS and DS versions also receive a full roof.
Finally, Can-Am is adding double-bonded bushings to the front suspension to help prevent squeaking and reduce maintenance requirements.
These may not be the specifications that attract the most attention on paper, but they are exactly the kind of improvements owners may appreciate after hundreds or thousands of miles on the trail.
The X Package Returns to the Maverick Trail and Maverick Sport
Can-Am has not forgotten riders who prefer tighter trails over wide-open desert terrain.
For 2027, the manufacturer is making its popular X package available on the Maverick Trail and Maverick Sport.
The philosophy here is quite different from the Maverick R. The objective is to provide a better-equipped trail machine without necessarily stepping into the world of extreme-performance side-by-sides.
The package includes LED lighting, full doors and a roof.
On the Maverick Sport, Can-Am also adds upgraded suspension components.
For Canadian riders, this addition is particularly relevant. The Maverick Trail and Sport platforms are more directly suited to traditional trail riding than extremely wide, high-performance machines.
The X package provides several desirable features directly from the factory and represents an interesting value proposition for riders looking for a trail-ready setup.
Two Concepts Show How Far Can-Am Is Willing to Go
Alongside its production 2027 models, Can-Am also unveiled two spectacular concept vehicles: the Defender Prerunner and Maverick R XRay.
It is important to note that Can-Am has stated that neither concept is intended for production.
They remain fascinating, however, because they serve as rolling laboratories and provide a glimpse at some of the ideas BRP’s designers and engineers are exploring.
Defender Prerunner: Turning a Defender 6×6 Into a Race Support Vehicle
The Defender Prerunner starts with the Defender platform but transforms it into a radically different 6×6 configuration.
Can-Am envisioned it as a support vehicle capable of following racing teams through extremely demanding off-road environments.
It rides on 35-inch tires, features a trophy-truck-inspired LinQ bed system for carrying tools and spare parts, and includes a four-seat cabin fitted with Sparco seats.
The result sits somewhere between a work vehicle and a competition support machine.
More importantly, it demonstrates how far the Defender platform’s versatility can be pushed when the normal limitations of a production vehicle are removed.
Maverick R XRay: When a Side-by-Side Becomes a Light Show
The Maverick R XRay takes an entirely different direction.
Inspired by the dune culture of Glamis, this concept focuses as much on visual impact as it does on performance.
Its most spectacular feature is an exoskeleton-style structure with an integrated lighting system, combined with translucent backlit body panels.
Lighting even becomes a form of communication. The vehicle can change colors, turn red under braking and display various programmable lighting patterns.
Can-Am also fitted the XRay with a custom two-wheel-drive configuration, sand paddle tires, Sparco seats and an active roof wing.
The XRay will not be appearing in dealerships for 2027, but some of the ideas it explores — particularly integrated lighting, personalization and aerodynamic elements — will be worth watching in the years ahead.
Evolution Rather Than Revolution
Looking at the complete 2027 Can-Am side-by-side lineup, one trend becomes clear.
The manufacturer is not trying to replace every platform at once. Instead, it is refining existing machines where riders and owners are most likely to notice and appreciate the difference.
The Defender HD10 is arguably the most significant development of the 2027 lineup. Its move to the second-generation platform, new 80-horsepower Rotax three-cylinder engine, revised chassis and new technologies substantially modernize Can-Am’s utility offering.
The Defender XU takes a more pragmatic approach by integrating several useful work accessories directly at the factory.
On the performance side, bringing the second-generation Rotax DCT to every Maverick R represents an important evolution. The Extra Low gear expands the capabilities of a machine often associated primarily with speed by providing greater control in technical terrain.
Meanwhile, the improvements made to the Maverick X3 and the return of the X package on the Maverick Trail and Sport show that Can-Am continues to invest in platforms designed for very different types of riders.
And Can-Am Is Not Slowing Down
Perhaps the most revealing detail from the 2027 announcement does not concern any single model.
BRP has announced its intention to introduce major off-road innovations every six months for the next four years.
That is an ambitious pace.
The Defender Prerunner and Maverick R XRay allow Can-Am’s design teams to explore ideas that may not necessarily be ready — or even intended — for production.
These concepts should therefore not be viewed as confirmed future models. What they do demonstrate is Can-Am’s intention to accelerate technology development and continue pushing the boundaries of its off-road platforms.
For side-by-side enthusiasts, the 2027 model year therefore represents more than a routine annual update.
Between the second-generation Defender HD10, the Gen 2 DCT becoming standard across the Maverick R lineup, the continued evolution of the X3 and the concepts unveiled alongside the production machines, Can-Am appears to be setting the stage for a particularly active period in the off-road industry.
And if the manufacturer follows through on its promise of a major announcement every six months, the 2027 lineup may only be the beginning.
