There is no denying it - the Sport side-by-side (UTV) craze is here and it's not slowing down anytime soon. While UTVs were born from a utilitarian need, leave it to powersports enthusiasts to find a way to make them faster and even more fun - it was just a matter of time before the factories took notice and started pumping them out for the sport riders of the market.
With so many choices (and for good reason - there are a ton of good side-by-sides on the market these days), it can get a little overwhelming for someone who might be new to the industry and doesn't really know what to look for.
We have taken our favorite 3 OEM Sport UTV models and highlighted them here, in an attempt to narrow that field down for anyone who might be perusing through different models. Everyone has their own wants and needs - and our wants and needs are speed, power and fun!
The Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS embodies everything we want in a factory side-by-side vehicle. Its fast, it has great suspension right out of the box, and it has 2 and 4 wheel drive capabilities. The fact that it comes from the factory with 107HP and can go from 0-50mph in 5.33 seconds is just the icing on the cake.
With 16" of front travel, 18" of rear travel and a three-link rear trailing arm suspension setup, the RZR XP is the ideal desert, trail and duning machine.
Polaris has refined the interior cabin space over the past couple of years, and the seats have gotten more comfortable, in addition to the driving and passenger areas of the cockpit.
With factory "doors", 3-point seat belts and a factory roll-bar, the RZR XP encompasses the driver and passenger nicely and offers some decent protection without having to spend a ton of money on upgrades.
However, we do like upgrades, and fortunately for us, there is a large aftermarket accessories industry built around these models, so modifying the XP is fun and easy to do.
Is it affordable? This model is a bit more pricey than some of the other XP models, but we like the Electric Power Steering option and color combo. We also prefer the two-passenger model over the 4-passenger model, simply because it's smaller, lighter, and more nimble for the type of driving we like to do.
With a starting price of $19,999, the RZR XP is not an economy vehicle - it's the sports car of UTVs and the price reflects that - but it's a price many sport UTV enthusiasts are willing to pay, as reflected by the number of these machines we see being used every day.
LIKES
-107HP
- Electronic Fuel Injection
- long-travel, trailing arm designed suspension
- Walker Evans shocks from the factory
- doors
- LED headlights
- 2WD / 4WD options
- steering wheel design/feel
- factory Maxxis Big Horn tires / cast aluminum wheels
The Can-Am Maverick is another sporty side-by-side that we feel is an excellent choice when it comes to shopping for a fun and fast UTV. With a starting price of $16,299.00 this 101-HP Rotax 1000R V-twin powered vehicle has an excellent price point when compared to the competition.
The Maverick doesn't have quite as much suspension travel as the XP (14" of travel, front and rear), but what it lacks in actual inches it makes up for in the design of their innovative TTA rear suspension design. This is basically a compact version of the popular 5-link design used in off-road race trucks. This design eliminates bump steer and minimizes scrub for maximum tread contact.
We have always liked the fit and finish of the Maverick, and this model lives up to our expectations. The cockpit area is fully functional and well laid out, and includes some great features such as an adjustable driver's seat and tilt steering wheel, a digitally encoded security system, as well as a mid-engine layout for a good front-to-rear weight ratio.
The Maverick also has a decent bed for storage and comes with more space between the driver and passenger seat than other similar models, offering a more spacious driving experience.
The Maverick does not come with the doors that we like on the RZR, but it does have side netting that helps to keep the occupants arms and legs in should things get a little rough.
LIKES
- 101 HP (we always like HP!)
- Electronic Fuel Injection
- Digitally encoded security system
- Visco-lock auto-locking front differential
- FOX Podium 2.0 shocks from the factory
- Maxxis Big Horn tires/front and rear
- Storage capacity in the cockpit
- Fit and finish of interior
We can't talk about the Polaris XP and the Can-Am Maverick without talking about the Arctic Cat Wildcat, and we have chosen the X Limited model to include in our top 3 list of sport side-by-sides for several obvious reasons.
First, this fun and fast machine is also in the 1000cc class, powered by a 951cc liquid cooled v-twin motor and featuring 17" of wheel travel in the front and 18" of wheel travel in the back.
The Wildcat features a 5-link rear trailing arm set-up as opposed to Polaris's three-link design, making it a mix between the XP and the Maverick when it comes to rear suspension handling properties.
We chose to feature the X Limited, even though it's more expensive than other Wildcat models at $20,399 due to some of the extra features you get, including Elka Stage 5 shocks (with Dual Speed Compression / Rebound adjustment) and ITP Blackwater Evolution tires.
Artcic Cat equipped the Wildcat with their Rapid Response Clutch, 2/4 WD - Electric Front Diff Lock and an 8.8 gallon fuel capacity.
The Wildcat X Limited also comes with electric power steering, aluminum beadlock wheels (a big plus when it comes to running lower tire pressures), tilt steering and aftermarket style bumpers. The all-aluminum side doors are also a feature we like, as it gives the driver and passenger an extra feeling of security while driving in off-camber situations.
LIKES:
- 951cc engine
- 5 link rear suspension design
- Elka Stage 5 shocks
- beadlock aluminum wheels
- factory aluminum doors on each side
- LED Headlights/tail lights
- Power steering
- agressive styling
With so many choices (and for good reason - there are a ton of good side-by-sides on the market these days), it can get a little overwhelming for someone who might be new to the industry and doesn't really know what to look for.
We have taken our favorite 3 OEM Sport UTV models and highlighted them here, in an attempt to narrow that field down for anyone who might be perusing through different models. Everyone has their own wants and needs - and our wants and needs are speed, power and fun!
1. Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS
The Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS embodies everything we want in a factory side-by-side vehicle. Its fast, it has great suspension right out of the box, and it has 2 and 4 wheel drive capabilities. The fact that it comes from the factory with 107HP and can go from 0-50mph in 5.33 seconds is just the icing on the cake.
With 16" of front travel, 18" of rear travel and a three-link rear trailing arm suspension setup, the RZR XP is the ideal desert, trail and duning machine.
Polaris has refined the interior cabin space over the past couple of years, and the seats have gotten more comfortable, in addition to the driving and passenger areas of the cockpit.
With factory "doors", 3-point seat belts and a factory roll-bar, the RZR XP encompasses the driver and passenger nicely and offers some decent protection without having to spend a ton of money on upgrades.
However, we do like upgrades, and fortunately for us, there is a large aftermarket accessories industry built around these models, so modifying the XP is fun and easy to do.
Is it affordable? This model is a bit more pricey than some of the other XP models, but we like the Electric Power Steering option and color combo. We also prefer the two-passenger model over the 4-passenger model, simply because it's smaller, lighter, and more nimble for the type of driving we like to do.
With a starting price of $19,999, the RZR XP is not an economy vehicle - it's the sports car of UTVs and the price reflects that - but it's a price many sport UTV enthusiasts are willing to pay, as reflected by the number of these machines we see being used every day.
LIKES
-107HP
- Electronic Fuel Injection
- long-travel, trailing arm designed suspension
- Walker Evans shocks from the factory
- doors
- LED headlights
- 2WD / 4WD options
- steering wheel design/feel
- factory Maxxis Big Horn tires / cast aluminum wheels
2. 2014 Can-Am Maverick
The Can-Am Maverick is another sporty side-by-side that we feel is an excellent choice when it comes to shopping for a fun and fast UTV. With a starting price of $16,299.00 this 101-HP Rotax 1000R V-twin powered vehicle has an excellent price point when compared to the competition.
The Maverick doesn't have quite as much suspension travel as the XP (14" of travel, front and rear), but what it lacks in actual inches it makes up for in the design of their innovative TTA rear suspension design. This is basically a compact version of the popular 5-link design used in off-road race trucks. This design eliminates bump steer and minimizes scrub for maximum tread contact.
We have always liked the fit and finish of the Maverick, and this model lives up to our expectations. The cockpit area is fully functional and well laid out, and includes some great features such as an adjustable driver's seat and tilt steering wheel, a digitally encoded security system, as well as a mid-engine layout for a good front-to-rear weight ratio.
The Maverick also has a decent bed for storage and comes with more space between the driver and passenger seat than other similar models, offering a more spacious driving experience.
The Maverick does not come with the doors that we like on the RZR, but it does have side netting that helps to keep the occupants arms and legs in should things get a little rough.
LIKES
- 101 HP (we always like HP!)
- Electronic Fuel Injection
- Digitally encoded security system
- Visco-lock auto-locking front differential
- FOX Podium 2.0 shocks from the factory
- Maxxis Big Horn tires/front and rear
- Storage capacity in the cockpit
- Fit and finish of interior
3. 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat X Limited
We can't talk about the Polaris XP and the Can-Am Maverick without talking about the Arctic Cat Wildcat, and we have chosen the X Limited model to include in our top 3 list of sport side-by-sides for several obvious reasons.
First, this fun and fast machine is also in the 1000cc class, powered by a 951cc liquid cooled v-twin motor and featuring 17" of wheel travel in the front and 18" of wheel travel in the back.
The Wildcat features a 5-link rear trailing arm set-up as opposed to Polaris's three-link design, making it a mix between the XP and the Maverick when it comes to rear suspension handling properties.
We chose to feature the X Limited, even though it's more expensive than other Wildcat models at $20,399 due to some of the extra features you get, including Elka Stage 5 shocks (with Dual Speed Compression / Rebound adjustment) and ITP Blackwater Evolution tires.
Artcic Cat equipped the Wildcat with their Rapid Response Clutch, 2/4 WD - Electric Front Diff Lock and an 8.8 gallon fuel capacity.
The Wildcat X Limited also comes with electric power steering, aluminum beadlock wheels (a big plus when it comes to running lower tire pressures), tilt steering and aftermarket style bumpers. The all-aluminum side doors are also a feature we like, as it gives the driver and passenger an extra feeling of security while driving in off-camber situations.
LIKES:
- 951cc engine
- 5 link rear suspension design
- Elka Stage 5 shocks
- beadlock aluminum wheels
- factory aluminum doors on each side
- LED Headlights/tail lights
- Power steering
- agressive styling