In the Polaris General vs Can-Am Commander comparison, the Commander costs less to start and tows more, while every General has 100 hp. For 2027 the Commander DPS starts at $14,199 with 52 hp and the General 1000 at $16,999 with 100 hp. The Commander is rated to tow 2,000 lb, against 1,500 lb for the General.
Figures below are 2027 models, read from Polaris's and Can-Am's websites on 12 October 2026. Prices are manufacturer starting prices and exclude destination or freight, dealer fees and taxes.
| 2027 figure | Polaris General | Can-Am Commander |
|---|
| Lowest starting price | $16,999 (General 1000) | $14,199 (Commander DPS) |
| Engine | 100 hp on both models | 52 hp (650 cc) or 100 hp (976 cc) |
| Towing capacity | 1,500 lb | 2,000 lb |
| Cargo box | 600 lb | 600 lb |
| Width | 62.5 in. or 64 in. | 62 in. or 64 in. |
| Four-seat version | General XP 4 1000, from $25,999 | Commander MAX, from $21,999 |
| Factory warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year BRP limited |
See Polaris General and Can-Am Commander side-by-sides for sale on Searchshop.
The comparison uses published data, not test drives. Every price and specification was read from the 2027 model pages on polaris.com and can-am.brp.com on 12 October 2026, and dealer asking prices were taken from new listings on Searchshop the same day.
Horsepower, towing, cargo and clearance figures are the manufacturers' own. Polaris lists a destination charge on its model pages: $1,295 on the two-seat General models and $1,395 on the four-seat General XP 4 1000. Can-Am's page says that transportation and preparation fees may vary, so its freight charge is not included here.
The General comes in two models and the Commander in seven packages, and both lines include two-seat and four-seat versions.
- General 1000: from $16,999, two seats, 100 hp, 62.5 in. wide, 12 in. of ground clearance, 12.25 in. of front and 13.2 in. of rear suspension travel.
- General XP 1000: from $22,999, offered with two or four seats, 100 hp, 64 in. wide, 13.5 in. of ground clearance and 14 in. of usable suspension travel. The four-seat General XP 4 1000 starts at $25,999 in Sport trim, and the Ultimate trim is listed at $26,999 with two seats and $29,999 with four.
- Commander DPS: from $14,199, two seats, 52 hp, 62 in. wide, 12.5 in. of ground clearance.
- Commander XT: from $15,499, two seats, offered with the 52 hp engine or the 100 hp 1000R engine, 64 in. wide.
- Commander X mr: from $21,399, two seats, 100 hp, 15 in. of ground clearance.
- Commander XT-P: from $21,999, two seats, 100 hp, 13.5 in. of ground clearance.
- Commander MAX XT, MAX X mr and MAX XT-P: four seats, from $21,999, $24,399 and $24,999.
Can-Am's page notes that its starting price is for the entry package. The full list is on the Can-Am Commander page.
Every 2027 General has a 100 hp engine, while the Commander is sold with either a 52 hp or a 100 hp engine. Polaris lists the General's engine as the ProStar 1000 on the XP 1000 page. Can-Am lists a 52 hp, 650 cc Rotax ACE single-cylinder engine and a 100 hp, 976 cc Rotax V-twin.
The power figures are the same at the top of each line. The difference is at the entry level: the lowest-priced Commander has 52 hp and the lowest-priced General has 100 hp, so a Commander buyer who wants 100 hp should check which engine the quoted package has.
The Commander has the higher towing rating, 2,000 lb on every 2027 package, against 1,500 lb for both General models. Both lines carry 600 lb in the cargo box, and Polaris describes the General's box as dumping.
For a buyer who tows a trailer, the 500 lb difference in towing rating is the largest gap between the two lines in the published hauling figures.
Both lines come in two widths: the General 1000 is 62.5 in. wide and the General XP 1000 is 64 in., while the Commander DPS is 62 in. and the other Commander packages are 64 in. Check the width against any gate, trailer or trail limit before choosing a package.
Ground clearance runs from 12 in. on the General 1000 to 13.5 in. on the General XP 1000, and from 12.5 in. on the Commander DPS to 15 in. on the Commander X mr. Polaris lists 14 in. of usable suspension travel on the General XP 1000, and Can-Am lists 15 in. front and rear on the Commander XT with the 1000R engine.
New Generals on Searchshop had a higher median asking price than new Commanders on 12 October 2026: $26,999 across 37 listings against $20,599 across 27 listings.
These counts are new listings whose title names the Polaris General or the Can-Am Commander, all 2025 and 2026 model years. The medians mix trims and seat counts, so they show where dealer stock sits rather than the price of a like-for-like model. Fewer than five used listings were found for each line, so no used median is given.
Choose by the job and the engine you need, then compare the exact package's price.
- Lowest entry price: the Commander DPS, from $14,199, if 52 hp is enough.
- 100 hp in every version: the General, from $16,999 for the General 1000.
- Towing: the Commander, rated at 2,000 lb against 1,500 lb.
- Four seats on a budget: the Commander MAX XT, from $21,999, against $25,999 for the General XP 4 1000.
- Most ground clearance: the Commander X mr, at 15 in.
For the full brand comparison, including Ranger, Defender, RZR and Maverick, read Polaris vs Can-Am. The side-by-side buyer's guide covers what to check at the dealer. When you are ready, compare new and used side-by-sides for sale on Searchshop and ask each dealer for the out-the-door price, including freight.
The Can-Am Commander is rated to tow more. Can-Am lists 2,000 lb of towing capacity on every 2027 Commander package, while Polaris lists 1,500 lb for both the General 1000 and the General XP 1000. Both carry 600 lb in the cargo box, so the towing rating is the main difference in hauling figures between the two lines.
Every 2027 Polaris General has 100 hp. The 2027 Can-Am Commander is sold with either a 52 hp, 650 cc single-cylinder engine or a 100 hp, 976 cc V-twin, depending on the package. The entry-level Commander DPS has the 52 hp engine, so check the engine on any Commander you price against a General.
The Can-Am Commander has the lower starting price. The 2027 Commander DPS starts at $14,199 and the General 1000 at $16,999, before destination or freight and dealer fees. The cheaper Commander has a 52 hp engine, while the General 1000 has 100 hp, so compare packages with the same engine before deciding.
