Can-Am is expanding and updating its work-focused side-by-side lineup for 2027 with the introduction of the 2027 Can-Am Defender Lineup and the new 2027 Can-Am Defender XU and a major redesign of the Defender HD10. The new model year brings more factory-installed utility equipment, an all-new 80-horsepower Rotax triple-cylinder engine for the HD10, updated chassis and suspension components, and new in-cab technology.
The changes follow the introduction of the Defender HD11 for 2026, with Can-Am now bringing many of those advancements to its mid-horsepower HD10 platform.
2027 Can-Am Defender Lineup
New 2027 Can-Am Defender XU
The biggest addition to the 2027 Can-Am Defender family is the new Defender XU, a work-focused package designed to give owners more utility equipment directly from the factory.
Rather than requiring owners to outfit a standard Defender after purchase, Can-Am equips the XU with a selection of factory-installed accessories aimed at farmers, ranchers, land managers and other owners who use their machines for work.
Factory-installed equipment includes a Headache Rack, Low Bed Wall Extender, LinQ Tool Holders and Trailer Hitch Ball Mount.
The combination is intended to increase the Defender’s usefulness immediately off the showroom floor while adding value compared with purchasing and installing the equipment separately.
Can-Am is also making the XU package available across a large portion of the Defender lineup. According to Can-Am, it will be offered from the base model through the Lone Star package and on both open- and closed-cab configurations.
The exception is the mud-focused Defender X mr, which will not be offered with the XU package.
2027 Can-Am Defender Lineup
2027 Can-Am Defender HD10 Gets 80 Horsepower
The larger mechanical news for 2027 comes from the second-generation Can-Am Defender HD10.
Following the launch of the Defender HD11 for 2026, Can-Am has redesigned its mid-horsepower Defender and equipped it with a new Rotax triple-cylinder engine producing 80 horsepower.
Can-Am describes the new engine as delivering quiet, hardworking power and calls its 80-horsepower output best in class.
The engine isn’t the only significant change. The second-generation HD10 receives an updated chassis and suspension design as Can-Am continues to evolve the Defender platform around increased capability, comfort and performance.
Can-Am hasn’t provided detailed suspension specifications or individual chassis changes in this announcement, but says the redesigned HD10 combines its new powertrain with updated chassis and suspension components, new technology and improved interior comfort.
2027 Can-Am Defender Lineup
New 5-Inch Color Display
The 2027 second-generation Can-Am Defender also receives a technology upgrade inside the cab.
Models equipped with the standard display receive a new 5-inch color gauge, giving the Defender a more modern interface for vehicle information.
Higher-end Limited, X mr and Lone Star models take another step with a 10.25-inch wireless touchscreen display.
The larger display features embedded navigation powered by BRP GO!, along with AM/FM radio, digital audio and customizable screen capabilities.
Can-Am has also added wireless software updating. When connected through Wi-Fi or a hotspot, owners can remotely update the vehicle’s software to access new features and improvements without requiring a traditional wired update.
2027 Can-Am Defender Lineup
More HD11 Influence for the 2027 Defender
The redesigned HD10 represents Can-Am bringing technology introduced with the 2026 Defender HD11 farther down the Defender lineup.
Instead of simply adding horsepower to the existing HD10, Can-Am has paired the new 80-horsepower triple-cylinder engine with chassis, suspension, technology and interior updates.
For owners who prioritize utility, the new XU package takes a different approach by bundling useful Can-Am accessories into a factory-equipped machine.
Together, the new Defender XU and second-generation HD10 make the 2027 Can-Am Defender lineup more than a simple color-and-graphics update, with meaningful changes aimed directly at owners who depend on their side-by-sides for work.
