For the 2021 model year, Can-Am is uniting the key features of two of its best vehicles into one — the end result being the Defender PRO Limited. This new machine combines the PRO’s longer bed and farm/ranch functionality with the Limited’s full-range HVAC system that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. When we saw both of these individual vehicles last year, it was obvious that it was only a matter of time before these standout qualities would be joined into a single machine. And for those of us who work in the elements regularly, it’s a winning combination.
The Defender PRO, which showcases a 6-by-4-foot bed with an engine pushed to rear to limit noise, has been part of a lineup that specifically targets farmers and ranchers who need to maximize their muscle (in fact, in our review last year, it was our favorite machine we drove). This year’s addition of auto-climate controls, which was the highlight of the Limited’s unveiling in fall 2019, means you get a machine where you set the temperature once, and the system applies heat or cold automatically to find that sweet spot. Imagine not tinkering with the dial after a chilly summer morning turns into a scorching afternoon.
Can-Am’s Defender PRO line has always had great versatility, allowing people to haul and tow safely and with the confidence that the machine will handle any terrain you’d throw at it. Every Can-Am Defender PRO features an industry-leading 6-foot-long multifunctional cargo box along with a lower box storage area accessible from both sides.
The new Defender PRO Limited model adds trim to the Defender PRO line, and when compared with last year’s standard Defender Limited, the Defender PRO Limited will have more ground clearance, bigger tires, and a valuable power-tilt bed.
The new machine also comes standard with a 4,500-pound winch, bolstered seats, signature LED lights, and a 7.6-inch digital display with keypad (a significant increase over last year’s PROs).
For power, the Defender PRO Limited has a Rotax 976cc V-twin engine that produces 82 horsepower and 69 lbs.-ft. of torque. The machine has a Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential as well as rear differential with turf mode, and its dynamic power steering makes tackling each turn a breeze.
It comes with 14-inche wheels and Maxxis Bighorn tires, and it boasts 1,000 pounds of cargo-carrying capacity, 2,500 pounds of towing capacity, and 250 pounds of tailgate capacity.
