UTV Buyer's Guide
With Spring approaching, it’s only natural that people are going to be looking for new toys to play with in the warm weather. So we thought we might help out and give you the scoop on some of the hottest UTVs on the market today! This is the MASSFX UTV Buyer’s Guide.
The first thing you need to ask yourself is, “What type of UTV do I need/want?” That is very important because there are two styles of UTVs that are designed for completely different tasks. There are UTVs that are built to work and haul a heavier payload. Then there are the kind that are designed to go fast and look even better doing it. It’s the same thing as comparing a truck to a sports car, if that sports car had 4X4 and could handle rough terrain that is. The next thing you need to consider is the amount of passengers you’ll have. Some UTVs come with enough seating for six people. After those factors, everything else is based on your personal preference and opinion.
This week we’ll cover the workhorses of the UTV world. Next week we will continue this and review some recreational UTVs that are on the market.
The Polaris Ranger has been at the top of the game for a long time. If you were to ask a group of ATV/UTV owners about the Ranger, a majority of the feedback will be great. The newest edition of the Ranger showcases a 1,000cc 4-Stroke Twin Cylinder DOHC engine that puts out an impressive 82 HP. If that’s not enough, it offers a 1,500 lb payload capacity and 2,500 lb towing capacity. The Ranger is definitely a vehicle you should test drive if you’re in the market for a new UTV.
A tough competitor of the Ranger is the Can-Am Defender. The Defender was built to do whatever the driver wants it to do. There are several editions of the Defender so the customer can have the vehicle tailored to them perfectly. Can-Am’s ROTAX engine offers up to 72 HP (dependent on model). This is a little less than the Ranger; however, this is still a very good number to be working with. It also falls short of the Ranger by only having a 2,000 lb towing capacity. This UTV is still neck-and-neck with the Ranger. This is another vehicle that should be considered when looking for a UTV.
This next UTV was the first in the game and is still going strong today. The Kawasaki Mule was the first UTV on the market, which we discussed in one of our previous articles (). The Mule is still very popular and is used vastly as a farm or ranch vehicle. The Mule has many different levels of UTVs, which is great for those who don’t know exactly what they want. They have models that range from 400cc to 800cc engines. The Mule PRO-FXT will also offer a 2,000 lb towing capacity and payload capacity just over 1,500 lbs. The Mule may not be as big and powerful as the Ranger or Defender; however, it does offer experience over its competitors. If a you’re looking for a good and reliable UTV to drive around the farm, you should strongly consider the Kawasaki Mule.
The last utility vehicle we’ll cover is the Yamaha Viking. The Viking is what Yamaha designed to compete with the bigger and more powerful UTVs that were overwhelming the Rhino. They did a great job making the Viking a vehicle that could work while having a sporty ride and look. Yamaha dropped a 686cc liquid-cooled SOHC 4-stroke engine in the Viking which is plenty of power for any job around the farm. One of the best features of the Viking VI is seating with room for six occupants. Put the Viking on your checklist the next time you’re shopping for a UTV.
Now keep in mind that these are only four of the UTVs in this category. We decided to select the more popular ones on the market to help narrow your search down. Make sure to study all of the UTVs you’re considering purchasing and go with the one that YOU love. Don’t let us or the salesman talk you into a vehicle you won’t be happy with a year down the road. If you don’t absolutely love it in the showroom and on the test drive, you won’t be happy with sitting in your garage.
Here is a list of links you can use to look up more details, pictures and all the packages available of the UTVs we've discussed:
Polaris Ranger: https://ranger.polaris.com/en-us/
Can-Am Defender: https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/2018/defender.html
Kawasaki Mule: https://www.kawasaki.com/category/sidexside
Yamaha Viking: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/utility-side-by-side
We hope this has helped you if you are looking for or are considering looking for a UTV of your own. Remember to check back next week for the review on the recreational UTV class!
The quicker you find a UTV of your own, the quicker you can start Doing Fun Right.