SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1479178
2023 UTV BUYERS GUIDE More Power, Better Handling, And Greater Versatility By Stuart Bourdon Photography Courtesy The Manufacturers One of the most versatile and popular off-road motor vehicles on the market today is the UTV or Side-by-Side. The modern UTV has more power than ever before, with improved transmissions, and high-travel suspension systems with adjustable and tunable components. Advanced powertrain control technology, sophisticated four-wheel-drive systems, and high-level interior creature comforts and electronics have turned the UTV into an exciting, recreational, and sport vehicle. The selection of UTVs presented here are some of the hottest new rides on the market. There are four-seaters, two-seaters, big and not so big engines, CVTs of varying designs, sequential gear transmissions (Honda Talon models and Yamaha YXZ1000R SS), different approaches to suspension, and accessories like in-car navigation and sound systems. You’ll find something to fill your need, whether that be for work, play, or both, in this collection of UTVs showcasing a wide variety of designs and equipment. Polaris Polaris Pro R 4 From Polaris’ Wide Open segment of UTVs, the 2023 Pro R 4 just might be the ultimate model in four-seater side-by-sides. Featuring a powerful 1997cc four-stroke DOHC inline-four-cylinder engine rated at 225hp, a proprietary Dynamic DV system with four selectable drive modes, and FOX 3.0 Live Valve X2 internal bypass shock absorbers with electronically controlled compression and rebound, the Polaris Pro R 4 (in the Ultimate trim pictured) delivers world-class power and handling performance with four seats. A boxed dual-A-arm front suspension with 22.25 inches of travel and a boxed trailing arm rear suspension system comes with high-clearance radius rods offer 34.5 inches of wheel travel. Polaris Turbo R The two-seat 2023 Polaris Turbo R (also pictured in the Ultimate trim package) is also part of the company’s Wide Open segment. Its turbocharged 925cc four-stroke DOHC twin-cylinder engine turns out 181hp. The 93-inch wheelbase combined with the vehicle’s quick-turn electronic power steering is great for tight and twisty trails. The suspension consists of boxed dual-A-arms and Walker Evans 2.5 Velocity Needle Shocks up front and boxed, gusseted tubular trailing arms, and Walker Evans 3.0 Velocity Needle Shocks out back. Aggressive 32-inch tires are mounted to unitized hubs on all four corners. Polaris RZR XP 1000 The 2023 Polaris RZR XP 1000 has good bones from the ground up. The suspension system features dual-A-arms, and Walker Evans 2.0 Needle Shocks which make up the front and provide 16 inches of wheel travel. A rear trailing arm system with Walker Evans 2.5 Needle Shocks gets the Polaris RZR XP 1000 a full 18 inches of wheel travel. And with a 90-inch wheelbase combined with 110hp from its 999cc four-stroke DOHC twin-cylinder engine, the Polaris RZR XP 1000 is bound to be fun. Can-Am Can-Am Maverick X3 Can-Am is out to further solidify its position as the mid-horsepower sport UTV leader by increasing the 2023 Maverick X3 DS Turbo’s horsepower to 135, up 15 horsepower from the 2022 model. Increased power was achieved on the Maverick X3 lineup through upgraded drivetrain components, such as a new turbo assembly, new turbo Injectors, and a new electronic control unit (ECU) and calibration package. The Maverick X3’s new P-Drive Primary Clutch CVT provides faster acceleration and a quieter driving experience. The Maverick X3 is the company’s premiere, sport-category contender. Can-Am Defender The 2023 Can-Am Defender is claimed to offer unrivaled suspension performance and tire clearance in the utility-recreational category. Many in the Defender line also received additional upgrades and new equipment. For example, the Defender X MR model is now available with half-doors. Arched suspension A-arms are now standard equipment on the DPS CAB, Limited, Lone Star, and X MR models. And new 30-inch tire fitments across the line improve traction and performance for all Can-Am Defender models. Arctic Cat Arctic Cat Wildcat XX Black Hills Edition Available in four trim levels, the Arctic Cat Wildcat UTV is the company’s all-out-sport model with a 130hp electronic-fuel-injected 998cc three-cylinder engine. Our favorite is the Wildcat XX Black Hills Edition. Its 2WD/4WD electric-actuated drive system with a selectable front differential lock delivers power to the sizeable 32-inch tires wrapped around 15-inch wheels. A double A-arm in front and trailing arm suspension in rear features FOX 2.5 PODIUM QS3 shocks on all four corners for 18 inches of wheel travel. The Wildcat also gets a 40-percent reduced gear ratio, four-spider front gear case, and Warn 3,500-pound winch. Arctic Cat Prowler Pro EPS Designed with utility in mind rather than sport, the Arctic Cat Prowler Pro features a no-frills, squarish outline that has recreation written all over it. The 812cc electronic fuel injected four-stroke three-cylinder engine produces 50hp, the front differential is 2WD/4WD open, and the rear differential is a selectable locker. The double A-arm suspension system gets gas-charged twin-tube shocks and offers 9.5 inches of wheel travel and 26-inch tires at each corner. The Arctic Cat Prowler Pro has a cargo dump bed with 1,000-pound capacity and a 4,500-pound capacity Warn winch, marking it as the workhorse of the Arctic Cat UTVs. Honda Honda Talon 1000R The Talons received a handful of significant improvements and upgrades for 2022. The Talon 1000R is the company’s “base model” and proves that Honda is headed in the right direction. The Honda six-speed automatic DCT transmission is a hydraulic transmission with six gears. To facilitate gear changes during dynamic steering maneuvers, the steering-column-mounted shift paddles have been extended by over half an inch on top and by more than an inch on the bottom, while matching the contours of the previous outer edge. As a result, access is greatly facilitated, regardless of where the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel. Honda Talon 1000X All Honda Talons, including the 1000X, received a retuned four-wheel-drive system for a more-aggressive torque transfer. And although the 1000X shares the same one-piece frame as the 1000R two-seaters, the 1000X has a different width and wheelbase – 64.0 inches and 87.6 inches, respectively – making it more maneuverable on narrow technical trails. All Honda Talon models gained additional rubber sealing in the floor area around all seats to better protect the occupants from mud and water, updated front fascia and bumpers for a bold new look, and new graphics to round out the aesthetic improvements. Honda Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve The Honda Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve is essentially a two-seat Talon 1000X with a four-seater interior configuration for more passengers. It has the same 64-inch width as the standard X, but the 1000X-4 wheelbase is 116.4 inches long. Front and rear wheel travel are 14.6 inches and 15.0 inches, respectively. However, the most significant upgrades on the Polaris Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve are the front and rear FOX Podium 2.5 shock absorbers with Live Valve shock absorbers that bring self-adjusting suspension technology to Honda’s four-seater side-by-side. SPEED UTV SPEED UTV El Jefe Team RG SPEED UTV currently offers three models in three trim levels. The Baja Bandit and El Diablo are shorter wheelbase two-seaters; the El Jefe is a 120-inch wheelbase, 77-inch wheel track, four-seater. Each trim level (Base, LE, and Team RG) features slightly different equipment and specifications. They all share the same powerplant, a turbocharged 999cc dual-cylinder DOHC four-valve with 230hp (91 pump @ 20psi), or 300hp (e85 @30psi) with the optional speed key, and all models come with 35-inch tires. The El Jefe in Team RG trim (pictured) offers a three-speed CVT, double-plunge axles (300M stars) like those used on Robby Gordon’s Dakar UTV racer, and an A-arm front and trailing-arm rear suspension with 3.25-inch adjustable IBP shock for a whopping 22-inches of wheel travel. Yamaha Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 R-Spec Bristling with off-road-ready attitude and equipment, the 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 R-Spec gets its power from a 999cc DOHC eight-valve parallel-twin engine. The RMAX2 1000 R-Spec comes with Yamaha’s On-Command three-way locking differential that provides 2WD, 4WD, or fully locked 4WD. Its heavy-duty suspension is designed for good low-speed articulation as well as control at higher speeds. Wide-arc A-arms and FOX 2.0 QS3 shocks allow for 14.2 inches of front and a generous 16.9 inches of rear wheel travel. Aggressive 30-inch tires on 14-inch wheels are standard equipment. Yamaha Wolverine RMAX4 1000 XT-R When you mix utility and sport in equal mounts, you get the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX4 1000 XT-R. It’s the perfect blend of a four-seater ranch, farm, hunt transport, and an off-road trail explorer. The RMAX4 1000 XT-R features the same 999cc DOHC eight-valve parallel-twin engine and On-Command 4WD system as the RMAX2 1000 R-Spec, but the RMAX4 1000 XT-R adds Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) system to optimize power delivery curves through Yamaha’s three-position selectable (Sport, Trail, Crawl) D-Mode settings. The XT-R package includes a selection of off-road travel necessities like a heavy-duty Warn winch and 29-inch mud-terrain tires. Yamaha YXZ1000R SS The Yamaha YXZ1000R SS is the company’s hot rod of the UTV line and features the company’s peppy 998-cc triple-cylinder DOHC engine that thrills all the way to redline at 10,500 rpm. The sequential five-speed manual transmission and its auto-clutch are controlled through the Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Shift (Y-CCS) system and its aluminum paddles mounted on the steering column. Top-shelf FOX 2.5 Podium RC2 dual-spring-rate adjustable crossovers shocks at all four corners help create tunable ride quality. Wheel travel numbers are exceptional. The front end offers 16.2 inches of travel, the rear end stretches to 17 inches from full compression to complete rebound.