Ranger XP900 or Commander 800XT!?!

NS Gearhead · Mar 29, 2014

I've got it narrowed down to these two. They're basically the same price. I'll be using it pretty well 50/50 for work and play. Plowing snow, hauling gravel and firewood in a trailer, towing logs, possibly grooming trail in winter... and taking rides in the trails behind my place. The one obvious difference is bench seat vrs buckets. Taking my wife and daughter at the same time or one at a time.... realistically though, I've had a fourwheeler for a year now and may have taken them both once or twice... although it may happen more often if it were more of a comfortable ride in a SXS... and seeing as how my daughter's 3 she could sit on the passenger's lap for a few years (putting along not trail blazing obviously)....

So anyone have any hands on experience with both?

Ranger's more work, and Commander's more play... Ranger's probably easier to get in and out of repeatedly... Can Am has a better reliability reputation...

Tough choice!!!

Relic · Mar 29, 2014

NS Gearhead,have You taken them for a test drive yet?I drove a Commander a couple of years ago and was very impressed with it.Saying that,I know a lad up in Moncton that has a 900XP Ranger and He uses HIs for chores and trail riding,He's very happy with His.
He has had at least 2 fourwheelers and RzR that was all tricked out in the past.I was surprised He bought the 900,but then again,He bought the LE model I believe.
Good luck with Your search for a SxS.

rapracing · Mar 29, 2014

I have no idea on these two machines but I'd buy a Can Am any day before I'd buy the Polaris. I never been impressed by anything Polaris does. Just my opinion.

AroniaFarmer · Mar 29, 2014

I would personally stay away from polaris. I think that there quality is dropping. I've had a lot of problems with my 2011 ranger 800

David_Kb7uns · Mar 30, 2014

It is hard to combine these two tasks for a side x side. The Polaris is like a pickup you off road in and the Commander is like a Baja racing truck, they both have beds but one hauls more then another. Now to really screw you up have Kubota RTV for work, CAN AM Outlander 800XT Max LTD for work/play personal rocket and RZR800S for the dunes. I would lean to the Polaris for the home stuff.

David Kb7uns

NS Gearhead · Mar 30, 2014

I haven't had a chance to test drive either... but the Mrs and I stopped in and crawled over a 900XP yesterday. The seat sure does seem so-so for comfort, but as expected it looks like it's easy in/ out. The dealer said I could either get $600 off or the winch. I said; "the XP comes with a winch" he said; "yeah, or $600 rebate" I wasn't too impressed. I'm looking at dropping $10K down and financing another $10K. I'm thinking he should drop 15-20% off sticker.

I have found something that tips the scales in the favor of the Can Am; aftermarket makes a bench seat for the box... so the odd times I take the family I could snap that in... the downside of that is that the seat's $750... and in the interest of safety I should probably get the cage extension that's another $1200... so not so cheap, or easy to install/ remove.

I had in mind that the Commander was a sport/ute... but there's not much mention of work in the adds they have out for it. : ( but honestly all it has to do is push & pull.

AroniaFarmer what kind of issues did you or are you having with it?

Ultimately I'm going to love whatever I get, and every machine's going to have some lemons... still completely undecided.

matt1524 · Apr 1, 2014

The commander and the ranger are both utility style machines.

I am a Polaris guy having owned a Ranger and a RZR now.

Have you checked out the diesel Ranger? they are nice rides!

The RZR 1000 and the Can Am Maverick are more for sport.

05rammer · Apr 1, 2014

I have a Commander 1000 dps and love it. I have ridden on Ranger 800 xps alot and wouldn't have on unless I was doing a lot of work. I have a snow plow for mine and was impressed with how good it did this winter. The bed is not as big as a Ranger but the seats are a lot more comfortable and it feels safer cause they hold you in as apposed to the Ranger bench seat.

NS Gearhead · Apr 2, 2014

matt1524 said:
Have you checked out the diesel Ranger? they are nice rides!

That would probably be on the more utility and less fun end of the spectrum.

NS Gearhead · Apr 2, 2014

05rammer said:
I have a Commander 1000 dps and love it. I have ridden on Ranger 800 xps alot and wouldn't have on unless I was doing a lot of work. I have a snow plow for mine and was impressed with how good it did this winter. The bed is not as big as a Ranger but the seats are a lot more comfortable and it feels safer cause they hold you in as apposed to the Ranger bench seat.

That pretty much confirms what I thought about the two. I see the Commander as being somewhere between the Rzr and Ranger for work/ play. The thing is I will be using my SXS for work 50-60% of the time. I'm a little concerned about getting in/out of a machine repeatedly that you sit "in" like the Commander vrs sitting on a bench like the Ranger.

I'm starting to think there is no clear winner... they're just different. LOL