ATV TEST: 2015 Suzuki KingQuad 400ASi

The utility 4×4 ATV market has seen a large increase in purchases of small-bore machines. Massive power may be nice to have, but it isn’t needed to get the job done. Suzuki caught on to that notion and produced the 2015 KingQuad 400ASi to satisfy the market. This ATV gives you everything that a utility quad should at a price of $6499 that won’t break your bank.

POWER FOR WORK AND PLAY
The KingQuad 400ASi comes with a 376cc, four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. While it may be carbureted, the Suzuki fires up with ease, even on cold days. It also has electric start, which is always nice to have. When you first take off on the quad, the QuadMatic, fully automatic, CVT transmission helps produce a decent amount of torque in high gear. It has a smooth power range that picks up from the low end to the mid end and calms down at the top. The KingQuad is by no means a powerhouse, but it gives you enough to enjoy the ride.

When you get to the steeper or stickier situations, the low gear not only has great engine deceleration to help keep slower speeds on the downhills, it also has a smooth and strong range of power for climbing the steep stuff. The 4×4 system, that can be switched to 2×4 with a handlebar-mounted lever, works well. The front and rear wheels grab equally. The KingQuad may not get your adrenaline pumping with its power, but that isn’t what the 400 is designed for.

HANDLING
The KingQuad 400ASi is a great trail machine and does well as a workhorse. The front of the Suzuki has a dual-A-arm setup with 6.7 inches of travel. The rear is a swingarm setup with two shock absorbers that have 6.7 inches of travel as well. The suspension seems to be sprung tightly, so it is no race machine, but in the trails and crawling over rocks, it has a smooth ride. We feel that if the Suzuki came with independent suspension in the rear, the ride would be even smoother.

The steering of the 400ASi is tight. Even in 4×2, the bars do not saw side to side with ease, and when you engage 4×4, it gets a bit tougher to manage. Going down a steep rocky section in low gear and 4×4, the bars of the KingQuad try to fight against the terrain. On smooth roads or around the farm, the steering never bothered us. The ASi comes with tubeless tires. The fronts are sized 25×8-12, while the rears are 25×1012. They provide decent traction for most types of terrain. To help slow the machine, the KingQuad comes with a hydraulic disc brake on each front corner and a drum brake on the rear axle. The back brake can be a little touchy and cause the machine to slide easily, but it’s very controllable.

The Suzuki does handle water and mud quite well. The 4×4 system will dig through the soft stuff with ease, and the design of the fenders on the KingQuad helped keep the mud off of our test riders. The seating and riding position on the machine is very comfortable, even for taller riders. The seat has a nice layer of cushion for long rides, and the handlebars are tall. We never felt cramped on the 400ASi, and that is a big plus.

WORKHORSE
The Suzuki KingQuad 400ASi is a utility ATV at a great price point. If you don’t plan to be pulling a lot of weight but need a quad that can get you around the job site or farm with tools and equipment loaded onto the racks, the Suzuki could be right for you. A metal rack on the front and rear of the 400ASi holds a total weight of 198 pounds. The engine can also tow up to 992 pounds. The KingQuad will handle even better with a bit of weight on it and feels less bouncy over terrain.

To help you keep track of your fuel, speed, miles and hours on the machine, the Suzuki has an LCD digital instrument module in the center of the handlebars. It also shows whether you are in high, low, neutral or reverse gears. There is an automotive-style DC outlet on the fender of the ATV, and the KingQuad is winch ready with factory-installed tubing to help route wires.

CONCLUSION
Spending a lot of pennies on a high-dollar utility ATV that does far more than what you need it for probably isn’t the best choice. Suzuki designed their KingQuad 400ASi to provide exactly what some customers really need. The Suzuki has a smooth engine with a decent amount of torque. The 4×4 capabilities of the machine are impressive, and for the
working world, the 400ASi gets the job done. Honda sells their FourTrax Rancher Automatic 4×4 for a starting price of $6699, so the KingQuad 400ASi that is priced at $6499 to start is hard to beat for a utility 4×4.

2015 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400ASI
Engine………376cc, SOHC, air-cooled,
4-stroke, single cylinder
Bore x stroke………………… 82 x 71.2 mm
Fuel system…………………………………..EFI
Fuel capacity……………………….. 4.2 gal.
Starting system…………………….. Electric
Transmission…………… Automatic CVT
Final drive………………………………..Shaft
Suspension/wheel travel:.
Front…………………. Double A-arm/6.7”
Rear……………………….. Swingarm/6.7”
Tires:
Front………………………………….. 25×8-12”
Rear………………………………… 25×10-12”
Brakes:
Front…………………………Hydraulic disc
Rear……………………………………….Drum
Wheelbase……………………………………50”
Length/width/height…….. 81”/45.1”/48”
Ground clearance……………………….9.8”
Seat height………………………………..33.1”
Total rack capacity…………………198 lb.
Towing capacity………….. 992 lb. (level
surface), 400 lb. (uneven surface)
Curb weight……………………………628 lb.
Colors……….. Flame Red, Terra Green
Price………………………………………….$6499