Can-Am updated the styling, platform and powertrain and for the 2023 Outlander and Outlander Pro lineup.
Middle-displacement ATVs have exploded in popularity in recent years, and the competition is especially fierce. For the past eight years, the Can-Am Outlander has been the brand’s primary competitor against the likes of the CFMoto CForce, Honda Fourtrax Rancher and Rubicon, Kawasaki Brute Force, Polaris Sportsman and Yamaha Kodiak. In the 2022 season, Can-Am sold 123,500 units in the “Mid-CC” market. Now, the manufacturer is substantially updating the Outlander lineup, bringing in a magnitude of changes that BRP says makes this one of its biggest launches in the past decade. To that end, Tuesday’s announcement debuts the new Outlander 500 and 700 models, as well as their utility counterparts, the Outlander Pro HD5 and HD7.
At the heart of this mid-CC ATV revamp is a replacement Rotax engine, the 650 ACE.
The 650cc unit puts out between 40 and 50 horsepower, as well as 37 lb-ft to 41 lb-ft of torque. The two output levels correspond to which Outlander model you get, with the Rotax 500/HD5 and Rotax 700/HD7 replacing the old Outlander 450 and 570 respectively. Can-Am claims class-leading power among all its rivals, edging out the CFMoto CForce 500 on the lower end of the range, and the Yamaha Kodiak/Grizzly 700, CFMoto CForce 600 and Polaris Sportsman 570 HO on the higher end.
In addition to the new engine, Can-Am also improved its continuously variable transmission. The newly integrated pDrive transmission offers up a revised ratio range, a tougher drive belt and an improved CVT intake system to improve performance as well as vibration and overall durability. The new design also uses a new system to pre-select gears for smoother shifting. The Outlander Pro HD5/HD7 models get a work-focused transmission calibration, while both models share selectable 2WD/4WD systems (where 4WD is equipped, at least). Can-Am’s Visco-Lok, Visco-Lok QE or Visco-4Lok with an automatically locking front differential are available through different package options.
Can-Am says it’s also given the Outlander range a more ergonomically friendly shift lever with “a smoother grip” as another quality-of-life improvement.
Chassis changes to the 2023 Can-Am Outlander lineup
The revamped Outlander 500/700 and Outlander Pro HD5/HD7 feature a new tubular steel chassis design, borrowed from the Maverick X3 platform. Compared to the outgoing ATVs, the new steel alloy design is 35% lighter, in addition to being more rigid and durable. The Outlander lineup also gets a new 7/32″ (5.5-millimeter) skid plate that runs the full length of the ATV and features integrated drain holes to make oil changes a bit easier. A thicker, 3/8″ (10-millimeter) skid plate is available as an accessory.
A new front and rear arched A-arm configuration gives the new lineup improved suspension travel and ground clearance. According to Can-Am’s statement, the new Outlanders bring class-leading figures, at 9.75 inches of suspension travel in the front and 10.25 inches in the rear. That’s 1.25 inches better in the front and 1.75 inches better in the rear than the outgoing ATVs. Ground clearance reaches up to 13 inches on certain models (up from 10.5 inches), while the Pro models get a stiffer suspension setup to accommodate heavier payloads. The new Outlander models are two inches wider (at 47.6 inches) to improve riding stability.
Along with an expectedly wide range of accessories, the 2023 Can-Am Outlander and Outlander Pro lineup brings towing capacity up to 1,830 pounds. That’s 530 pounds better than before, though you’ll likely want to gravitate toward the Outlander Pro HD7 to make the most of that capability. The higher gearing on the Outlander 700 trades low-down grunt for a higher top speed, while Can-Am fits the Pro models with work-related features like a speed limiter, different engine modes and 3-setting engine braking to make them better load luggers.
Across the range, the 2023 Can-Am Outlander has a front rack capacity of 120 pounds, while the rear can hold up to 240 pounds.
Styling and ergonomic updates
The updated 2023 Can-Am Outlander models get new styling, ditching the round headlights for slimmer LED units across all models. You also get new rear taillights, new 14-inch wheels on the XT and X mr variants, new XPS tires, an RF DESS key anti-theft system on certain packages, a new 4-1/2-inch digital display and new color options.
While Can-Am focuses a great deal on performance, the new Outlanders also bring in a few noteworthy comfort and ergonomic changes. There’s a thicker seat, more spacious footboards, a revised brake lever and a standard glovebox with a cell phone holder and charging on some packages.
The manufacturer also mentioned its “console extension ecosystem”, with a variety of add-ons focused around rider comfort. A console extension atop the instrument cluster, available on some models, can magnetically hold your smartphone. There are two windshield options, full wrap handguards (not to mention there are new, configurable heated grips and a new thumb throttle), side wind deflectors and a USB power outlet.
Trim walk, pricing
Can-Am says more than 75 accessories will be available at launch. What’s more, it also improved its “LinQ” system for simplified integration across that accessory lineup. That could naturally change the bottom-line price dramatically, but general pricing for the 2023 Can-Am Outlander ranges between $5,999 and $10,899 USD.
The cheapest Outlander of the 650cc pack is the 500 2WD, which comes in at that $5,999 price point. Adding four-wheel drive bumps the price up to $6,999 for the Outlander 500. Stepping up again to the more potent Outlander 700 will cost you $800 more, for a $7,799 MSRP.
Rounding out the Outlander range is the mid-range DPS ($7,999 for the 500, $8,799 for the 700 version), the XT ($9,799, 700 version only) and the top-spec, $10,199 X mr. XT models get a 3,500-pound winch, as do the Pro Hunting Edition models.
The Outlander Pro lineup, for its part, starts at $7,299 for the base Pro HD5. The HD7 once again bumps the price by $800. The Pro XU is the mid-range model, kicking off at $8,899 (or $9,699 for the HD7 version). Finally, the Pro Hunting Edition tops out the work-focused side of the lineup with pricing at $10,099 or $10,899, depending on which power level you select.
Can-Am’s latest Outlander and Outlander Pro ATVs are available to configure on the brand’s consumer site right now.
