UTV Tests

2020 HONDA PIONEER 700 4-DELUXE: Versatile, effective, and fun for a bargain By the staff of Dirt Wheels  2020 HONDA PIONEER 700-4 DELUXE The point of view is important in the case of the 2020 Honda Pioneer 700-4 Deluxe. If you are looking for a capable work machine that looks stylish but will also provide fun for recreation, then you have good reasons to look at a Honda. If the idea of no drive belt to deal with is attractive, you’re getting even warmer. Looking for an affordable four-seat machine with a short…

By the staff of Dirt Wheels ROCK & ROLL KAWASAKI LINEUP Some of the biggest news in the UTV world has been the entry of Kawasaki into the true sport side of the market, with the Teryx KRX 1000.  This Rock & Roll Kawasaki Lineup is impressive. Serious trail drivers have completely embraced the machine, and with good reason. The KRX has the perfect pedigree for technical trail driving: the right wheelbase, track width and ground clearance. The drivetrain and 4WD system are equally qualified to conquer all…

Comfort, capable, comfort, fun, comfort By the staff of Dirt Wheels From the very first time we saw or, more accurately, rode in the General 4, we were fans. Even though the suspension travel was on the modest side as far as sport machines go, it is on the generous side for recreation utility models. And then there is that cab. Great seating, comfort and an interior fit and finish that are as refreshing as it is unexpected in the UTV world. Now, with the General XP models, Polaris has super-sized the General (two- and…

2021 Arctic Cat First Look  More models &  more customization kits By the staff of Dirt Wheels 2021 Arctic Cat First Look Specialized Vehicles (www.arcticcat.com.) has announced a complete 2021 line of handsome quads, nicely equipped utility/recreational UTVs, and the rowdy and ready Wildcat XX for sport UTV enthusiasts. Unlike some brands with a million esoterically named models, Arctic Cat has simplified its product lineup. At most, there are two different models for each displacement. For the…

First to fast By the staff of Dirt Wheels Chris Leaming is a facilitator. He and his father Rob are partners in Gilbert, Arizona-based XTC Power Products. They moved there to grow their company that specializes in UTV electronic parts, such as street-legal turn-signal kits, and switch and wiring solutions. Rob and Chris have owned and built a large number of machines over the years. Despite not owning many Hondas lately, Leaming describes himself as a “Honda guy.” Among his current machines are a scratch-built,…

Midwest Performance builds a monster By the staff of Dirt Wheels The off-road and side-by-side culture is thriving these days. Stock and modified machines are dotting the trails and tracks across the country and around the world. What’s interesting is how different regions of this country build machines for their particular terrain. Many of these examples are way beyond stock equipment. From the $150,000 desert racers out West to wild mud rigs of the south, they sure do draw a lot of attention. We recently caught up…

Putting fun in work and comfort in fun When Polaris came up with the concept of the General, it proved to be a whale of an idea—an idea that created or at least redefined the sport-utility segment of the UTV market. The General has all the payload, bed-load capacity and towing of all but the best utility models. The bed is not as large, but it can move a significant amount of stuff for work or for play. One of the drivers for our test has owned a Polaris 800 Sport, as well as a Polaris RZR XP 1000. He noted that the…

This Polaris really flies By the staff of Dirt Wheels So many companies build truly amazing machines for the annual Sand Sports Super Show that it is difficult to come up with a combination that literally stands out in a massive crowd. As builders of many impressive machines, Assault Industries knows that standing out in such a crowd takes an over-the-top effort. As it turned out, Assault was up to the task. We spotted the Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S project from 100 yards off as we walked the lanes of the Sand Show.…

A Pro for four By the staff of Dirt Wheels Polaris debuted the great new RZR Pro XP for 2020, and given the success that the brand has had with four-seat machines, it was only a matter of time. That time has come, and the RZR Pro XP 4 is here. In addition to the base RZR Pro XP 4, the new machine is available as a RZR Pro XP 4 Premium and a RZR Pro XP 4 Ultimate. Our test unit was a RZR Pro XP 4 Premium. In terms of driveline and suspension performance, there is no difference between the base model and the Premium…

An X3 that rocks! By the staff of Dirt Wheels When Can-Am introduced the Maverick X3 X rc Turbo R in 2018, it was an immediate sales success. Not only did it have that great 72-inch track width and long-travel suspension like the premium performance X3 X rs Turbo R, but it came stock with highly desirable features. For 2020, the model designation includes an “RR” that replaces the “R” of that 2018. The single R designates 172 horsepower and the double RR reveals that the 2020 has a whopping 195 horsepower! At the moment…

Feature-filled for less By the staff of Dirt Wheels While the sport 1000s and turbos get all the fanfare, it’s the utility machine that manufacturers sell most. This segment has a crazy number of offerings from all the major manufacturers. In fact, some brands have multiple offerings in the same category to attract buyers with different budgets. In the June issue we featured a comparison between the Polaris Ranger 1000 and the Ranger XP 1000, and learned you don’t have to pay more to get more of what you need. CFMoto…

How scared do you want to be? By the staff of Dirt Wheels, Photos by the staff and Evolution Powersports Late in 2018 we had the chance to drive some cool projects built as rolling test beds for ideas from the mad scientists at Evolution Powersports (EVP). In addition, we had sampled some project builds that chose EVP hop-ups for the engines. In all cases the performance was eye-opening and impressive whether the base car was a Can-Am, Polaris or even a Wildcat XX. We had seen the team’s Can-Am X3 drag car that…