BUYER’S GUIDE: 2024 FOUR-SEAT SPORT UTVs

FOUR-SEAT SPORT UTVS

Normally aspirated, high-performance people movers By the staff of Dirt Wheels

Sport side-by-sides have been around for about 20 years now, and the original offerings were 50–60 inches wide with a foot or less of travel. Today, most sport UTVs have grown to 64–72 inches wide with up to 2 feet of travel and triple-digit engine output. Polaris raises the non-turbo sport performance bar with the 2024 RZR Pro R 4 to 220 horsepower and up to 29 inches of travel, and it’s 74 inches wide. For this “2024 UTV Buyer’s Guide,” here are the top 11 four-seat sport family fun wagons in 23 trim and performance levels. 

Note: Honda hadn’t yet released its 2024 UTV line when this story originally went to print, so we included their 2023 Talons.

CAN-AM COMMANDER MAX DPS/XT/XT-P

The Can-Am Commander Maxes are a 62- (DPS/XT) or 64-inch (XT-P)-wide sport utility UTVs powered by a 52-horsepower 650cc single or a 100-horsepower 976cc V-twin with Sport and Eco power delivery modes. Variable-rate power steering, double-A-arm front and rear suspension with front and rear sway bars and up to 15 inches of travel give the Commanders agile handling and the ability to handle rough trails at speed. These machines have fully automatic transmissions with engine braking, a cabin that’s easy to enter and exit, full doors, unlocking rear differentials, and a tilting bed that holds 600 pounds of cargo and has storage compartments in its sides. The DPS and XT models have 12.5 inches of front travel and 13 inches in the rear. The DPS comes with 27-inch tires, 14-inch steel wheels and a 4.5-inch instrument display.

The XT package also includes 28-inch tires on 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels, XT front bumper, 4,500-pound winch, full roof, 7.6-inch digital display with keypad, LED headlights and painted bodywork. The Commander Max XT-P has 15 inches of travel front and rear. It gets 30-inch Hammer Force tires on 15-inch beadlock wheels, Smart-Lok fully locking front differential, Fox 2.5 Podium QS3 piggyback shocks, XT front bumper, 4,500-pound winch, full roof, panoramic mirror, 7.6-inch digital display with keypad and LED headlights.

CAN-AM COMMANDER MAX X MR

The 2024 Can-Am Commander Max X MR is a 64-inch-wide machine with a special accessory package for mud riding and extreme terrain. It comes with snorkeled engine and transmission intakes, arched A-arms for added ground clearance, Smart-Lok front differential, 30-inch XPS Swamp Force tires on 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels, 4,500-pound winch, heavy-duty front steel bumper, special seats, Wildland Camo bodywork and a 7.6-inch-wide digital display with fuel gauge, speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip and hour meters. The X mr is powered by a 100-horsepower 976cc V-twin with Sport and Eco power delivery modes. Variable-rate power steering, double-A-arm front and rear suspension with front and rear sway bars and 15 inches of travel give the Commander X mr agile handling and the ability to handle rough trails at speed. The Commander also has a fully automatic transmission with engine braking, a cabin that’s easy to enter and exit, full doors, unlockable rear differentials, and a tilting bed that holds 600 pounds of cargo and has storage compartments in its sides.

HONDA TALON 1000XS-4 /FOX LIVE VALVE

The Honda Talon 1000XS-4/Fox Live Valve UTVs are 64 inches wide. All models have a 999cc, eight-valve, Unicam parallel-twin engine and beltless six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with automatic and manual modes. The transmission features sport and normal shift programs, and high and low range. The Fox Live Valve models also have launch mode that allows full-throttle acceleration from a standing start. Front travel on the 1000XS models is 14.4 inches in front and 15.1 in back.

Honda’s computer-controlled Fox Live Valve suspension delivers a smoother ride in slow and fast driving, and the system also offers better control and stability because it’s so aware and responds so quickly. Sensors monitor the engine, transmission, steering, brakes, G-forces and the vehicle’s angle and continuously adjust the suspension accordingly. The system firms the outside shocks during cornering, firms the front shocks during braking, and it even sets the suspension for smooth jump landings. In addition to instant automatic adjustability, Honda’s Live Valve suspension also offers two 

 

HONDA TALON 1000R-4 LIVE VALVE

Honda’s Talon 1000R-4 is the long-travel version with 17.7 inches of front and 20.1 inches of rear travel via trailing-arm suspension. Wheelbase is 118.4 inches, and ground clearance is 13 inches with 28-inch tires. A width of 68.4 inches provides a wide stance for hard cornering. All models have a 999cc, eight-valve, Unicam parallel-twin engine and beltless six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with automatic and manual modes. The transmission features sport and normal shift programs, and high and low range. The Fox Live Valve models also have launch mode that allows full-throttle acceleration from a standing start.

Sensors monitor the engine, transmission, steering, brakes, G-forces and the vehicle’s angle, and continuously adjust the suspension accordingly. The system firms the outside shocks during cornering, firms the front shocks during braking, and it even sets the suspension for smooth jump landings. In addition to instant automatic adjustability, Honda’s Live Valve suspension also offers two dashboard button-selectable modes, a comfort focused standard mode and sport mode for fast driving. Two-inch shock bodies are used on the front and 2.5-inch bodies on the rear. A roof is standard equipment.

 

KAWASAKI KRX4 1000 SPECIAL EDITION

The 2024 Kawasaki KRX4 1000s are 68.1-inch-wide machines powered by a naturally aspirated 112.6-horsepower parallel twin. The fully automatic transmission has a centrifugal clutch on the driven clutch that protects the drive belt, provides precise power delivery and creates predictable engine braking. Fox Podium 2.5 shocks with 24-position compression adjustments are used front and rear, with 18.6 inches of front and 21.1 of rear travel. The four-link trailing-arm rear suspension’s design minimizes toe-in change through its stroke for outstanding stability in bumpy high-speed conditions and when cornering. This machine comes with 31-inch 8-ply Maxxis Carnivore tires on 15-inch beadlock wheels. The 2024 Kawasaki KRX4 Special Edition has a 600-watt Hifonics audio system with subwoofer, 4,500-pound Warn winch and a new Pearl Matte Sage Green/Metallic Carbon Gray color scheme to the KRX4’s extensive list of features.

See more 2024 Kawasaki UTVs here: www.kawasaki.com.

KAWASAKI KRX4 1000 ES/ES SPECIAL EDITION

The Kawasaki KRX4 1000 eS and eS Special Edition are specially equipped versions of the KRX4 1000. The KRX4 1000 eS comes with Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension, which offers Soft, Normal and Firm modes, selectable from the dashboard. The KRX4 eS sports Internal ByPass (IBP) damping on the Fox 2.5 Live Valve piggyback shocks. A 7-inch TFT display shows suspension settings and instrumentation,and offers Bluetooth connectivity. Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension automatically adjusts to enhance stability and ride smoothness, stiffening the outside shocks during cornering and front shocks under braking. A KQR roof, steel front bumper and special color and graphics are also standard equipment on the eS. The eS Special Edition adds steel bumpers, Hifonics AM/FM/Bluetooth audio system with woofer, quick-release roof, 4500-pound WARN VRX-45 winch 600 and a Cypher Camo Gray/Super Black color scheme to the KRX’s extensive list of features.

POLARIS RZR PRO R 4 PREMIUM/ULTIMATE

The 2024 Polaris RZR Pro R 4 Premium and Ultimate are 74 inches wide and are powered by a 1997cc, inline four-cylinder engine with 225 horsepower. Three throttle-control modes let the driver adjust the power delivery. All models have 27 inches of front suspension travel, boxed front A-arms, 29 inches of rear travel, full doors and 32-inch tires on 15-inch five-lug wheels. The Premium package has Ride Command navigation, rear camera and ride sharing, Rockford Fosgate audio, LED accent lighting, aluminum roof, retractable six-point harnesses and telescoping wheel. The Ultimate model adds Dynamix DV (Dual Valve) suspension with computer-controlled Fox 3.0 Podium shocks with on-the-fly compression and rebound damping, and four dashboard-selectable ride modes.

POLARIS RZR XP 4 1000 SPORT/PREMIUM/ULTIMATE

The original RZR XP 4 1000 has been a number-one seller, and it got updates in 2019. For 2024, the four-seat RZR XP 4 gets an all-new chromoly frame that’s 25 percent stiffer and stronger, stronger suspension arms while retaining the original width and wheelbase, all-new aggressive styling with improved sight line over the hood, 1-inch-lower front seats with 6-inch adjustability, roomier interior, restyled dash with driver and passenger covered storage bins, new dead pedals and driver-side heel pocket, and a new over-molded passenger T-bar with 18mm/19mm lug wrenches in the T-handle. New solid doors have front hinges and indexed inner latches. A Gen 2 ProStar inline twin puts out 114 horsepower and has a new vented head. It’s tuned for increased midrange and impressive 15–30-mph acceleration via a new hybrid Turbo Ranger transmission with lower ranges, new output splines and geared reverse instead of chain. A new CVT has better ducting and cooling airflow for lower belt temperatures. Driveline upgrades include a stronger prop shaft and axles, and the stronger frame has less bolted joints for less vibration and rattles. The new rounded cage has A-pillar support tubes, inner strengthening tubes up top, and B-pillar triangulation supports. Rear 2.5 Walker Evans needle shocks now have triple springs and revised rebound damping. Also new out back is the removable bed tray, which improves engine access for maintenance.

RZR XP4s come in Sport, Premium and Ultimate trim levels with the four-seat Sport having half doors, 29-inch tires, new digital display and illuminated switches. Premiums add 30-inch Pro Armor tires, color-matched dash, 7-inch Ride Command screen, Rockford Fosgate Stage 1 audio with PMX head, poly roof, and four-point harnesses. Ultimate trim adds Ride Command+ technology that lets you trace your rides, connect with other riders and back up safely, and audio by MB Quart to the Premium package.

POLARIS GENERAL XP 4 1000 SPORT/PREMIUM/ULTIMATE

The Polaris General XP 4 1000 Sport/Premium/Ultimate are four-seat, 64-inch-wide sport-utility machines with 14 inches of travel and high-clearance A-arms. The General XP 1000 Sport was new for 2023 and comes with the same suspension and tires as the Premium and Ultimate. All models are powered by a 100-horsepower parallel ProStar twin. Pro Armor Crawler 30-inch tires give these machines aggressive looks and impressive capability in rugged terrain. The Premium features full doors, a roof, rear-view mirror, factory-installed Stage 1 audio by Rockford Fosgate, Polaris Pro HD 4,500-pound winch and the Sport low-profile bumper. The Ultimate adds Ride Command+ navigation, ride sharing, Walker Evans Velocity shocks, and Rockford Fosgate Stage 3 audio. 

YAMAHA WOLVERINE RMAX4 1000 R-SPEC/XT-R/LIMITED EDITION

The Wolverine RMAX4 1000 R-Spec/Sport/XT-R/Limited Edition are four-seat sport utility machines with a fully automatic CVT transmission and a 108-horsepower, 999cc parallel twin. Three power delivery modes—Sport, Trail and Crawl—let you tune the throttle response for your driving style and conditions. RMAX4s are 66.1 inches wide and have double-A-arm front and rear suspension with 14.2 inches of travel up front and 13.3 inches of travel in the rear (3.6 less than the RMAX2). Wheelbase is an agile 90.2 inches, and ground clearance is 13.4 inches. The rear seats fold up and slide forward so that the bed can hold up to 600 pounds of cargo.

The R-Spec has Fox QS3 piggyback reservoir shocks with tool-less compression damping adjustment and 29-inch Maxxis Carnage tires on 14-inch cast-aluminum wheels. The XT-R features Fox QS3 piggyback reservoir shocks on beadlock wheels,  Maxxis Carnivore tires, 4,500-pound Warn VRX winch, integrated Adventure Pro trail mapping and vehicle integration, and painted bodywork. The Limited Edition adds Fox iQS on-the-fly adjustable suspension with Comfort, Medium and Firm settings, stereo system, and specially painted bodywork. The Limited upgrades to Fox iQS 2.0 Live Valve shocks with on-the-fly electronic valving with comfort and sport settings and a fully integrated SSV audio system with four 6.5-inch speakers. All have a 10-year drive belt warranty. 

YAMAHA WOLVERINE X4 850 R-SPEC/XT-R

The 2024 Yamaha Wolverine X4 850 R-Spec/XT-R are sport-utility machines that seat up to four adults. A smooth, quiet 847cc, eight-valve, double-overhead-cam, parallel twin with plenty of torque provides the power. The fully automatic continuously variable transmission features a centrifugal clutch with a sprag clutch for precise power delivery, predictable engine braking and extra drive belt life. Yamaha Wolverines have a 10-year belt warranty.

Wolverines are 62.2 inches wide and have double A-arm front and rear suspension using KYB piggyback-reservoir shocks with adjustable spring preload, rebound, and high and low speed compression damping. Both models come with a roof and 27-inch GBC Dirt Commander tires. Soft touch knee areas add comfort. The XT-R comes with a 4500-pound Warn winch, KYB shocks with high- and low-speed compression adjuster plus rebound, and Tactical Black/Titanium painted bodywork.