The 2027 Can-Am Outlander 2WD 500 is one of those products that becomes more interesting when you read the small print instead of just the price tag. At $6,999, it is the entry point to the Outlander 500/700 family. It has a 40 hp Rotax ACE single, a full skid plate, LED lighting, 25-inch tires, a hitch receiver, and a useful 1,830 lb braked-tow rating. That is real ATV for the money.
It is also a rear-wheel-drive ATV with no power steering and no winch. Those are not omissions to discover after the paperwork is signed; they are the entire reason the price starts where it does. For flat property, dry trails, and riders who value simple mechanical utility, the 2WD 500 may be exactly right. For snow, mud, steep ground, or low-speed technical riding, the extra cost of a 4WD or DPS Outlander is likely money better spent. If the spec sheet is new territory, start with our guide to what ATV and UTV specifications mean.
What is new for 2027?
Can-Am positions the 2027 Outlander 500/700 family as its value-focused recreational line. The entry Outlander 2WD 500 starts at $6,999 before transportation and preparation. Its core formula is straightforward: a rear-mounted, liquid-cooled 650cc Rotax ACE single rated at 40 hp and 37 lb-ft, a pDrive CVT, double A-arm suspension, and a steel-wheel/25-inch-tire package.
Do not confuse the 650cc engine displacement with the 500 designation. Can-Am sells it as the Outlander 500 model family; the factory sheet identifies the 500 engine as a 650cc single. It is a practical bit of context for shoppers comparing engine labels across brands.
Engine and transmission: simple power with low range
The Rotax ACE single uses electronic fuel injection and feeds a pDrive primary CVT with low, high, neutral, reverse, and park. Forty horsepower and 37 lb-ft are useful numbers for an entry single: enough for normal trail pace, a loaded rack, and careful trailer work, without turning the ATV into something that wants to be ridden like a sport quad.
Low range is the important gear here. Use it for towing, slow climbs, soft ground, and repeated technical work. It keeps the CVT from doing more than it needs to and gives the rider finer control. The Outlander 2WD is rear-wheel drive only, though, so gear selection cannot manufacture front-end traction. If your typical route routinely pulls the rear tires loose, start with the 4WD package rather than trying to out-ride the limitation.
Chassis: capable basics, not premium equipment
The Outlander 2WD 500 rides on double A-arms front and rear, with 9.75 inches of front travel and 10.25 inches at the rear. Twin-tube shocks, 25-inch tires, 12-inch steel wheels, and 12 inches of clearance describe a sensible all-rounder, not a machine designed to soak up repeated high-speed hits. The 47.6-inch width and 53-inch wheelbase should make it approachable for newer riders and easier to place on tighter property routes.
At 718 lb dry, it is not a featherweight. That is worth remembering when loading it, recovering it, or deciding whether a small trailer is adequate. The factory full skid plate is welcome at this price, and the LED lighting is a useful inclusion for early chores or a late ride home.
Work capability: better than the price suggests
Can-Am rates the Outlander 2WD 500 for 120 lb on the front rack and 240 lb on the rear, for 360 lb combined rack capacity. It also supplies a two-inch receiver and lists a 1,830 lb braked-trailer towing capacity. Those numbers give it genuine property value: tools, feed, a sprayer, fencing supplies, and a small braked trailer are all realistic uses when the load and terrain are managed responsibly.
The word braked matters. The rating assumes a trailer with brakes, and it does not erase the effect of hills, loose ground, or an inexperienced rider. An ATV with no front drive should be treated with added respect when towing on variable surfaces. Carry the load low, use low range, and leave a safety margin instead of aiming for a brochure maximum.
Equipment and the price of moving up
For $6,999, Can-Am includes a 4.5-inch digital display, glovebox, front dropdown storage, mechanical key, handlebar protection, LED lights, full skid plate, and the basic rack system. That is a usable starting point, not a stripped rolling chassis.
The missing equipment is what separates the 2WD package from the rest of the range: no 4WD, no Visco-Lok differential, no dynamic power steering, and no winch. The next 4WD Outlander package adds the traction hardware; the DPS package adds Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering. Whether the entry bike represents value depends entirely on whether those upgrades solve problems you actually have.
2027 Can-Am Outlander 2WD 500 specifications
| Specification |
2027 Outlander 2WD 500 |
| Engine |
650cc liquid-cooled Rotax ACE single-cylinder |
| Factory-rated output |
40 hp / 37 lb-ft |
| Fuel system |
Intelligent Throttle Control with EFI |
| Transmission |
pDrive primary CVT, L/H/N/R/P |
| Drive system |
2WD (rear-wheel drive) |
| Estimated dry weight |
718 lb |
| Width / length / height |
47.6 / 86.7 / 48 in |
| Wheelbase |
53 in |
| Ground clearance |
12 in |
| Fuel capacity |
5.1 gal |
| Rack capacity |
120 lb front / 240 lb rear |
| Towing capacity |
1,830 lb with braked trailer |
| Suspension |
Double A-arm front and rear; 9.75 / 10.25 in travel |
| Tires / wheels |
25 in tires; 12 in steel wheels |
| Brakes |
Dual front hydraulic discs; single rear hydraulic disc |
| Steering / winch |
No power steering; no winch |
| Lighting / display |
LED headlights and taillights; 4.5 in digital display |
| Warranty |
1-year BRP limited warranty |
| Base MSRP |
$6,999, transportation and preparation not included |
How it compares
The 2027 Polaris Sportsman 500 starts at the same $6,999 on ATVPedia’s current data, but it takes a very different approach with AWD and a factory winch. The Outlander 2WD is the simpler road; the Polaris is the better fit if front-drive traction is already a requirement. Compare them →
The 2025 CFMoto CForce 400 is another low-price utility option. It brings a smaller engine and its own value proposition. Its local dealer support and the exact included equipment are worth checking, especially if the Can-Am’s 2WD layout feels too limiting. Compare them →
The 2025 CFMoto CForce 600 is closer in engine size and lists standard EPS and a winch in ATVPedia’s current data. That makes it the obvious reminder to compare out-the-door specification, not simply base MSRP. Compare them →
Remaining-stock 2025 Outlander 500 models deserve an honest inventory check. The 2027 entry model’s 2WD specification is different enough that the package, price, and warranty start date matter more than the year stamped on the listing. Compare the model years →
Price advice: cheap is only cheap if 2WD suits the job
The $6,999 MSRP is before transportation and preparation, plus tax and any dealer costs. That still makes the Outlander 2WD 500 an aggressively priced new ATV, and the full skid plate, LED lighting, hitch, racks, and 40 hp engine keep it from feeling like a toy.
But do the honest upgrade math. If you expect to add a winch immediately or if your property becomes slick, rutted, snowy, or steep every season, the 4WD and DPS packages are likely worth considering before you buy. A low purchase price is a win only when the machine’s layout matches the work.
Verdict
The 2027 Can-Am Outlander 2WD 500 is a strong entry ATV for riders who want a new, simple, capable single-rider machine without paying for features they will not use. Its 40 hp Rotax single, pDrive CVT, full skid plate, practical rack ratings, and serious braked-tow rating make the $6,999 starting price credible.
The catch is not subtle: rear-wheel drive, no EPS, and no winch. Treat those as the decision, not footnotes. On dry trails and flatter property, the Outlander makes a lot of sense. On demanding terrain, spend the money on a 4WD package before you wish you had.
