Trusted Review™ Scorecard
The Commander XT side by side was one of the more memorable rides at BRP’s Ultimate Playground in Detroit. Thank goodness the seats were extremely comfortable because I was the passenger to an absolutely crazy, thrill seeking driver who nearly flipped us by suddenly accelerating as we took a curve. We were just pushing the Commander XT to its limits then, not anything comparable to a real-life scenario though.
I felt safe and secure thanks to the 2 inch steel cage that’s standard in the industry for rollover protection. The seat belt functioned flawlessly and didn’t cut off circulation to my legs on the high jumps from bumps. And I definitely made use of the passenger handhold on the console to my left.
- Rotax 1000 EFI engine, 85 hp
- Industry-best fuel efficiency
- Double A-arm front suspension
- Torsional Trailing arm Independent (TTI) rear suspension with external sway bar
- Viso-Lok Auto-locking front differential
- Dual-level cargo box
- 4,000 lb winch with roller fairlead
- 14 inch cast-aluminum wheels
- 27 inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
- Analog/digital gauge
Quality
Heavy duty front bumpers, 14 inch cast aluminum wheels and the 2 inch steel cage enclosing the riders make the Commander XT feel like a dependable ride. Even when we were about to rollover on a curve I felt like I would emerge unharmed. It was thrilling rather than scary.
With a Rotax V-twin engine this machine is more powerful than other side by side vehicles. The engine on both 1000R and 800R models feature Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) that lets you control the throttle in any situation. The Commander really shot us out on command from a stopped position and we were flying down the course in an instant
Reliability
The power this machine delivers doesn't make me question its ability to trudge up a steep hill, even at a low speed and with the drag of our weight plus the equipment.
The storage chest has a 600 lb capacity at 13.1 cubic feet. For a lengthy, equipment-heavy trip the dual level, rain-proof storage chest is essential. And just in case of any sticky situations, there is a 4,000 lb winch by WARN; the kit includes a roller fairlead, wired remote control and integrated winch remote storage.
Price/Value
The Commander XT 800R and 1000R engine options range from $13,399 to $14,699. Considering this is a two-person ride with plenty of cargo space that could potentially take you on extended journeys across various terrain it makes a good buy for the serious adventurer. It's something that I would expect to last one to two decades.
Referability
Besides being extremely fun to ride in, the Commander XT is a practical ride on sand, dirt, in the woods, over rugged rocks and on hunting trips (but only if you plan on bringing back a massive carcass, no peewees). I felt safe in the side by side, with only a minor scare when we took a curve at top speed - something most drivers probably won't be doing anyway.
