New generation Defender HD11
The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.
The development journey began in NZ over five years ago, when the Can-Am Global ATV product team visited New Zealand to gather insight and local input from farmers, service centres and dealerships to ensure that the update was built from the rider down.
Looking at the machines from inside out, a new tubular steel chassis design derived from the Maverick X3 platform sees a front and rear arched A-Arm suspension configuration offer classleading suspension travel and ground clearance. In the case of the former, this equates to 9.75” of front suspension travel and 10.25” at the rear. The PRO models feature stiffer suspension tuning to allow for working conditions and heavier payloads, with up to 13” of ground clearance.
Riders will also notice increased knee room and more spacious floorboards that improve handling and increase stability, while a thicker, more durable seat improves comfort and reduces noise and chassis feedback.
In the engine department, an all-new rear facing 650cc single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected Rotax Advanced Combustion Efficiency (ACE) four-stroke engine design and configuration are complemented by a new integrated transmission design and pDrive clutch, giving the new Outlander platform class leading power and towing capabilities. The 700 and PRO HD7 models have 50hp and 41 ft-lb of torque, while the PRO HD5 models have 40hp and 37 ft-lb of torque.
All Outlander 700 machines are equipped with the new pDrive primary CVT transmission for smoother shifting, increased durability and feature L/H/N/R/P gearing. The Outlander PRO HD5 and HD7 machines are equipped with a new pDrive primary CVT transmission that also features work calibration along with extra L/H/ N/R/P gearing. Both the Outlander and Outlander PRO platforms share a selectable 2WD / 4WD with Visco-Lok†, Visco- Lok† QE or Visco-4Lok with auto-locking front differential drivetrain offered according to the packages.
A key focus of the development was less farming down time, with engineers focusing on easy access for maintenance on key components to include easily removable side panels for oil checks and CVT access, a removable headlamp assembly allowing access to a fuse box and the air filter assembly and a quickly lifted seat to access the battery location. Engine and driveline grease nipples have been replaced with rubber bushes and universal joints that require no maintenance, while integrated drain holes in the skid plate facilitates easy oil changes.
Outlander and Outlander PRO both come standard with increased storage capabilities, starting upfront with the new 1-gallon integrated glove box compartment, while some models also feature a magnetic phone mount and USB port to keep riders’ devices charged on the go. A wide range of LinQ accessory options allows individual customisation in the front cargo area, handlebar interface and ergo zone, and rear cargo area. As an example, these options include gun and chainsaw racks, heated grips, multiple windshield options, winches, skid-plates and HID lighting options.
Other points of note throughout the range include the use of twin tube shock absorbers at each corner, dual front and single disc brakes and 748kg towing capacity, alongside 54kg front and 109kg rear rack capacities.
While the Pro HD 5 is offered without power steering, the Pro XU HD5 and HD7 machines feature a tri-mode steering assist system, alongside intelligent engine braking and a speed limiting function. The Pro HD 5 is equipped with 12-inch steel wheels, while the two higher spec versions feature cast aluminium equipment. All models are offered with a 3-year unlimited kilometre powertrain and Rotax engine warranty, complemented by an unlimited kilometre one-year warranty on the rest of the machine.
