2018 Polaris Sportsman 850 Touring vs. Can-Am Outlander MAX XT 850: By the Numbers

ATVs have always been single-person machines, even though the idea of having someone jump on the back and riding with you is something that has been done for decades. The manufacturers took notice and some started offering machines with longer wheelbases and specialized seating that allows for a passenger to ride along in a safe way. A two-up machine is an idea borrowed from the snowmobiling world. It gives the rear passenger a seat that is a little higher than the driver, with separate hand holds and proper foot placement. While both Polaris and Can-Am offer two-up machines of various sizes, two that match up very well are in the 850 class – the Polaris Sportsman Touring 850 and Can-Am MAX XT 850. Let’s see how well they do, by the numbers.

All Things Being Equal

Both machines claim an impressive 78 horsepower number. What’s funny to think about is how impressive and tame that number is at the same time. It wasn’t that long ago that even half that number would have been considered impressive. Now there are machines boasting much more HP. Oh how far we’ve come! The Polaris gets its power from an 850cc ProStar parallel Twin engine that is fed by full electronic fuel injection. The Can-Am runs an 854cc Rotax V-Twin motor, also fed by EFI.

Both machines also run through a variation of a CVT transmission. Polaris calls its system a PVT, but it’s largely the same thing. Each has Park, Reverse, Neutral, Low and High range. Polaris uses its signature On Demand all-wheel drive system, while the Can-Am runs its standard two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and the Visco-lok QE auto-locking front differential.

And Then, Everything Changed

The Polaris Sportsman Touring is 86.5 inches long. That is just three inches longer than a standard Sportsman 850. While the overall length only increases by three inches, the wheelbase increases by four. The Sportsman Touring model has a 57-inch wheelbase. The Outlander MAX is 94 inches long and has a 59-inch wheelbase. The standard single-rider Outlander 850 is 86 inches long and has a 51-inch wheelbase. Where is the passenger space coming from?

The extra room comes at the expense of rear cargo area. The Sportsman uses an integrated rear passenger seat with separate hand-holds and foot rest areas. The Outlander MAX does something similar, but with a little additional space reserved for the rear passenger. The Can-Am also offers a little more foot space for the second rider with bigger footwells.

Both machines offer 14-inch cast aluminum wheels. Polaris wraps 26-inch CST tires around its wheels, while Can-Am opted for 26-inch ITP Terracross rubber. Both machines have nine inches of travel on the front end with dual-A-arm suspension. Out back, Polaris runs dual A-arms with 10.25 inches of travel. Can-Am uses its torsional trailing arm rear setup on the Outlander with 9.3 inches of travel.

When you look at how each machine is accessorized from the factory, things get dramatically different. With a list price of $12,799 U.S. for the Can-Am Outlander MAX XT 850, you get front and rear bumpers, a 3,000-pound Warn winch, hand guards on the bars and a rear two-inch receiver hitch. It comes in two color options of Brushed Aluminum with Can-Am Red Accents, or Brilliant Red. You can also get it in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo for a little more. The Polaris Sportsman Touring 850 has an MSRP of $11,199 U.S. and comes with Engine braking and Active Decent Control. It is available only in Radar Blue. Find out more about these two machines by visiting your local dealership. As always, they are your best source for more information, and nothing beats seeing the machines in person.