UTV Models
Utility Vehicles, or UTVs as they are more commonly called started back as pure work vehicles back in the early nineties. Early UTVs like the John Deere Gator and Kawasaki MULE came with a bed that was much like a pickup truck and were used primary on farms, golf courses, worksites, and ranches. These early UTVs did not have aggressive tires, and lacked the ground clearance to be use off-road for recreation.
1988 Kawasaki MULE 1000 (KAF450-B)
In general, UTVs have four wheels (although a few utility versions have six), two seats in which passengers site side by side (although seating for four plus people is getting more popular), a bed for carrying stuff, 4 wheel drive (some 2 wheel drive work vehicles do exist), a CVT transmission and either a gas or diesel engine.
Yamaha Rhino 660 4x4
Today’s UTVs have come a LONG way. More power. More people. Better Suspension and ergonomics. And we can thank Yamaha for the big move to recreational and created a whole new “sport/utility” category when the Rhino 660 was introduced back in 2003. Before then, dune users had been taking golf carts and adding long travel suspension and doing engine swaps. In order to just cruise in the easy dunes meant you spent thousands of dollars on customization. When the Rhino 660 hit, people immediately saw that the vehicle has enough power, speed, suspension and ground clearance to cross over into the recreational segment. The rest is history and the sport/utility market segment has been growing steadily while other off-road markets have been slow in the shaky economy.
Once sport enthusiasts got a taste of what a decently configured Yamaha Rhino could do in full recreation mode, aftermarket companies popped up everywhere, especially in the southwest where sand dune and desert use focus users on performance and suspension.
Yamaha Rhino with Aftermarket Accessories
Following the Rhino, Arctic Cat came out with the Prowler 650, then Polaris introduced their ground breaking RZR with its patented behind the seats engine placement. Kawasaki followed along with the Teryx in 2008 as well.
After Polaris introduced the 50″ RZR in early 2008, Polaris upped the ante again in 2009 when it introduced the Polaris RZR S. With long travel suspension installed at the factory, and a higher output 760cc twin cylinder engine, it was a full sport mode UTV.
2009 Polaris RZR S
More manufacturers have seen the light and have jumped on the UTV bandwagon. There are now more options than ever for work, play and everything in between. In June of 2010, Can-Am tossed their name in the ring with big performance numbers and some innovative features. The Commander 1000 was one of the most anticipated introductions in sport UTVs short history. Let’s hope this trend does not stop!
Top of the line Can-Am Commander 1000 X with beadlock wheels and Fox 2.0 shocks
Other names for UTV include:
- UTV – Utility Task Vehicle or Utility Terrain Vehicle
- ROV – Recreational Off highway Vehicle
- RUV – Recreation Utility Vehicle (primarily Kawasaki)
- SxS – Side by Side
- MUV – Multipurpose Utility Vehicle (primarily Honda)
Sport UTVs
- Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000
- Bennche Spire 800
- Polaris RZR 800
- Polaris RZR 570
- Polaris RZR S
- Polaris RZR 900 XP
- Polaris RZR 4
- Precision Discovery SX800
Sport/Utility
- Arctic Cat Prowler XTZ 1000
- Arctic Cat Prowler XTX 700 H1
- Arctic Cat Prowler XT 550
- Bennche Bighorn 500
- Bennche Bighorn 700
- Bobcat 3200 4×2
- Bobcat 3400 4×4
- Can-Am Commander 1000
- Can-Am Commander 800
- Cub Cadet Volunteer 4×4 EFI
- John Deere Gator 825i XUV 4×4
- John Deere Gator XUV550 4×4
- Kawasaki Teryx 750
- Kawasaki Mule 610 4×4 XC
- Kymco UXV 500 4×4
- Kymco UXV 500 SE
- Polaris Ranger 800 XP
- Polaris Ranger 500
- Precision Discovery XLT 700
- Precision Discovery XLT 500
- Yamaha Rhino 700 EFI
Utility
- Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700
- Bobcat 3450 4×4
- Bobcat Toolcat 5600D 4×4
- Bobcat Toolcat 5610 Utility Work Machine
- Case IH Scout
- Case IH Scout XL
- Club Car XRT1550
- Club Cat XRT1550 with ItelliTach
- Honda Big Red
- Husqvarna HUV4421
- Husqvarna HUV4214
- John Deere Gator XUV 625i 4×4
- John Deere Gator 825i XUV 4×4
- John Deere Gator XUV 855D 4×4
- Kawasaki MULE 4000
- Kawasaki Mule 4010 4×4
- Kawasaki Mule 4010 4×4 Diesel
- Kawasaki Mule 600
- Kubota RTV 500 4×4
- Kubota RTV 900 4×4
- Kubota RTV900XT 4×4
- Kubota RTV 1100 4×4
- Polaris Ranger Diesel
- Polaris Ranger HD
- Polaris Ranger 800 6×6
- Toro Workman MDX-D
Mutli-Passenger / Crew UTV
- Bennche Bighorn 700X Crew
- Bobcat 3400 XL
- Club Car XRT 1550 SE
- Cub Cadet Volunteer VTX
- Husqvarna HUV4421XL Crew
- John Deere Gator XUV550 S4 4×4
- Kawasaki Mule Trans4x4
- Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4
- Kubota RTV1140CPX 4×4
- Polaris Ranger 800 Crew
- Polaris Ranger 500 Crew
- Precision Discovery XLT 700 Crew
Electric
Youth
Past Model Year Archives
- 2010 Honda Big Red MUV
- 2009 Honda Big Red 700 4×4 MUV
- 2009 Honda Big Red – Natural Gear Camouflage
- 2009 Kawasaki TERYX™ 750 EFI 4×4
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 600
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 610 4X4
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 4000
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 4010 4×4
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 4010 4×4 Diesel
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 4010 Trans4x4
- 2009 Kawasaki MULE 4010 Trans4x4 Diesel
- 2009 Yamaha Rhino 450 Automatic 4×4
- 2009 Yamaha Rhino 700 FI Automatic 4×4
- 2008 Kawasaki Teryx 750 4×4
- 2008 Kawasaki MULE 3010 Trans4x4 Diesel
- 2008 Kawasaki MULE 3010 4X4 Diesel
- 2008 Yamaha Rhino 450 Automatic 4×4
- 2008 Yamaha Rhino 700 FI Automatic 4×4 Sport Edition
- 2008 Arctic Cat Prowler 700 XTX FI
- 2007 Yamaha Rhino 660 Auto 4×4
- 2006 Kawasaki 3010 Trans4x4 Diesel
- 2005 Kawasaki MULE 610 4×4 and MULE 600
- 2005 Kawasaki MULE 3010 4×4
- 2005 Kawasaki MULE 3010 4×4 Diesel
- 2005 Kawasaki MULE 3000
- 2005 Kawasaki MULE 3010 Trans4x4
- 2004 Yamaha Rhino 660 4×4
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 3000
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 3010
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 3010 Diesel
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 3020
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 520
- 2003 Kawasaki MULE 550
- 2001 Kawasaki MULE 3010
- 2001 Kawasaki MULE 3020
Long Travel Kits
