We’re big fans of the Can-Am Defender as a do-it-all workhorse in the farm, with its pickup truck profile, versatile utility, and unstoppable off-road prowess. So how do you make a killer ATV even better? The Can-Am Defender 6×6 DPS does it by throwing in an extra pair of wheels.
That’s right, there’s now a 6×6 version of Can-Am’s utilitarian off-roader, allowing you to strut around with an even more badass-looking ride. We know, the 4×4 already does everything you need, but if you’re shopping for an ATV anyway, might as well make it that crazy one with the six wheels, right? We mean, that’s the whole reason we lust for this 8×8 ATV, after all.
The Can-Am Defender 6×6 DPS ATV, naturally, retains all the elements that made the Defender such a popular off-roader. These include the Rotax 976cc V-twin engine, which puts out 82 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque, along with the PRO-TORQ CVT transmission, which boasts improved cooling and electronic belt protection for even better durability. Like previous iterations of the drivetrain, it offers Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential, along with selectable turf mode, 2WD, and 4WD, while adding a 6WD option to fully take advantage of the ATV’s configuration.
It has a redesigned double A-arm suspension out front and an arched torsional trailing arm suspension in the back, giving it up to 11 inches of travel, reliable response, and even better stability, as well as twin tube gas-charged shocks both front and rear. To ensure a smooth drive on the unpredictable terrain of farm and backcountry trails, it gets dynamic power steering and electronic hill descent control, so even your lazy nephew who would rather play video games can drive it while being constantly distracted by his phone. For protection, it gets an integrated front steel bumper and an HMWPE central skid plate, along with 140-watts lighting output from four reflectors for wide visibility and LED tail lights.
The Can-Am Defender 6×6 DPS puts those six wheels to good use by towing up to 3,000 pounds on off-road terrain, while the 4 x 5.6-foot dump bed can carry cargo up to 1,000 pounds (with the whole vehicle supporting payloads up to 1,700 pounds), making this an excellent vehicle for moving stuff around. Even the tailgate can 250 pounds on its own, so you can totally use it as a bench while resting your legs after unloading an entire batch of cargo.
Inside, it gets a 4.5-inch digital display that shows all relevant information at a glance, making it easy to monitor speed, fuel, gear position, driving modes, engine temperature, and more. It comes with two seats in the cabin, although the specs list claim it can hold three people, so we imagine it’s been tested to accommodate someone squeezing in the middle (we’re guessing you have to remove the side frames to make that remotely comfortable). Other details include 14-inch cast aluminum wheels, Maxxis Bighorn tires, dual 220mm ventilated disc brakes front and rear, a 13-inch ground clearance, and a 115.5-inch wheelbase.
Want one? The Can-Am Defender 6×6 DPS is available now, priced starting at $17,999.