How To Choose A UTV: First Time Side-by-Side Buyer’s Guide
The UTV market is booming, and consumers are spoiled for riches regarding choices for their first UTV/Side-by-Side. From job site workhorses to race-inspired sport Side-by-side, and everything in between, UTV manufacturers have models to satisfy any potential buyer.
Each UTV serves a different purpose and offers a range of performance levels and abilities. With that kind of variety sitting on dealership floors, it can be tough to decide what is right for you. In this first-time UTV buyer’s guide, we’ll cover all the basics you need to know.
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The Basics: UTV Categories
UTVs come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, but let’s begin by explaining the three main Side-by-Side categories that will help us understand a model’s purpose: Utility, Sport, and sport utility (also known as Hybrid).
Knowing these definitions will lead buyers to make an informed choice depending on their use case. Think about what you must do: Are you hauling rebar and five colleagues across a job site in a massive six-seater UTV, or are you ripping the dunes with a buddy in your two-seater Sport rig? All of these scenarios will influence your purchase.
All 3 Categories:
Utility Side-by-Sides are there to get a job done and are equipped with features like a bed to carry heavy loads or seating for personnel. Due to hauling abilities, utility models are at home on the farm, at construction sites, or on academic and corporate campuses. In addition, they’re handy when towing equipment. The longstanding Kawasaki Mule and Polaris Ranger lineups help put this category on the map.
Sport UTVs are the cream of the high-performance crop, boasting impressive horsepower and long-suspension travel to take recreation up a notch. Anything that doesn’t report to performance is left out of the design brief, and while they aren’t as well suited for cargo or personnel, they make up for it by hitting high speeds, soaking up massive jumps, and blasting berms. Examples of sport-focused UTVs include the Arctic Cat Wildcat, Kawasaki KRX 1000, and Can-Am Maverick ranges.
Sport-Utility strikes a balance between life on the farm and trail ripping. Typically, models in this category offer additional suspension travel and engine performance, when compared to pure utility models but still have practical amenities for enthusiasts, such as commendable maximum cargo capacities, storage, and seating options. This category is especially popular with outdoorsmen and hunters. Yamaha’s Wolverine and Can-Am General models fit the bill perfectly.
Be Honest About Experience
Few people start their riding or driving careers tackling black-diamond-rated trails — we all need to work up to those. That same logic applies to those buying their first UTV/Side-by-Side. As we mentioned in our helpful Beginner Dirt Bike Riding Tips article, picking a machine that’s too powerful isn’t a strategy for a long-riding career.
UTVs have a massive performance ceiling compared to what most people drive daily. Those who don’t understand traction and suspension feedback well, or can’t handle the raw power of a performance UTV will become intimidated, instead of enjoying their new ride.
This bit of advice is aimed primarily at those interested in recreational Side-by-Sides. It’s always best to start with smaller displacement engine sizes, which will be far easier to manage. By the same logic, we also don’t recommend first-time buyers picking models equipped with turbochargers — they’re pricier and can be a handful for the uninitiated. All that said, you might be surprised what a humble Utility Side-by-Side can do with a halfway decent driver behind the wheel.
On the same note, becoming hung up on having the latest gadgets or niceties as a first-time buyer will only raise the price and entry fee. Features such as active suspension, turbochargers, and high-end performance parts should be acquired as you progress and upgrade to focused models. That could be quite an investment that you’ll take a heavy loss on in the future. After all, what if UTV driving isn’t for you?
No Clutch, No Problem — UTVs Make Shifting Easy
Shifting manually is a hurdle for many newbies, but UTVs are incredibly accommodating in that respect. If you’re getting into UTVs, you might know a thing or two about performance and can operate a manual transmission. However, most UTVs flatten the learning curve by using various engineering solutions to offer what can be described as an automatic transmission.
A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is what most UTVs use. Two cone-shaped pulleys transfer power from the engine, through the gearbox, and eventually to the wheels. All the driver needs to do is place the UTV in gear and press the accelerator. Simple.
Only a select few don’t use CVT in their UTV products. Yamaha’s sequential Sport Shift transmission is available in Yamaha YZX Side-by-Side models. Yamaha engineers take things a step further by adding paddle shifters attached to the steering column to give it an extra dose of performance vibes and allow manual upshifting.
Meanwhile, Honda employs its tried-and-true Dual Clutch Transmission design. Honda fans will recognize the DCT acronym, as it’s used widely across its Powersports and automotive offerings.
Whatever the brand you choose, know that manufacturers have gone to great lengths to make Side-by-side as accommodating as possible, which is part of why they’ve gained so much popularity with families.
Clean and Lube Logistic Hurdles and Considerations Your Machine
As much fun as recreational Side-by-side is, we need to pump the brakes a bit and think about where we’ll spend most of our time and how we’ll get there.
Everything has a purpose off-road and bringing the wrong tool for the job isn’t going to translate to fun in the sun. Thoroughly research the areas you think you’ll spend the most time in and base your choice on those realities. Check out our article, How to Find Off-Road Trails: Top Resources and Apps, to familiarize yourself with what your region offers.
Regions on the West Coast have countless desert landscapes to explore, and for that, you might want to look at options with wider wheelbases for those high-speed runs through sandy environments. Meanwhile, those with technical, rocky trails in proximity might begin to turn their attention towards machines with tighter dimensions perfect for scrabbling up rocky routes.
Then there are logical hurdles to clear:
UTVs are street legal in some states, which simplifies the problem for some, especially if you live near trails or OHV parks. For the rest of us, we’ll need to factor distance into the equation and how you’ll get there. A quality trailer isn’t cheap, although a reasonably powerful vehicle can get the job done when towing a lighter Side-by-Side. Trust us; the internet has shown plenty of hatchbacks taking toys to the OHV park.
If you’re going the hardcore route, you might need to invest in a mid or full-sized truck with large-scale towing capacity. That’s a significant hidden cost associated with UTV ownership. However, it is offset by the fact that you’ll own a truck. Finally, try to calculate how often you’ll get out on the weekends and the operating costs associated with it — fuel, tires, consumable fluids, and maintenance all add up. Make yourself aware of the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals to prepare yourself financially.
Ultimately, your budget will dictate what you park in your garage, but we always encourage potential owners to look at associated costs with Powersports rigs carefully. Things add up quickly, and your monthly payment might not look great after a few unexpected expenses.
New or Used
The used market is an excellent way for new UTV drivers to get into the sport, and with owners moving up to more focused models, that leaves an opportunity for someone else to enjoy a well-maintained unit.
When dealing with used purchases, it should come down to maintenance history and condition. A used Side-by-Side with a documented history of timely servicing is always the best bet. Right behind that is the vehicle’s state: Inspect the suspension, chassis, and engine for any damage. Things like hairline cracks in the frame of chassis components, as well as leaking seals are trouble signs. If everything checks out, picking up a used unit is cost-effective.
Buying new avoids haggling and ensures that you’re getting a trouble-free UTV. Of course, you’ll have to pay for it, but that’s the price of peace of mind.
Ready for Action
Don’t let picking a Side-by-Side be a troublesome task. Following these simple strategies will help you make an informed decision, whether you’re spending time hauling materials around, exploring the wilderness, or holding it wide-open through desert landscapes — UTVs have something for everyone these days.
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Quantum Fuel Systems is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. Be sure to reach out via phone or email to our support staff with any technical questions about the make and model of your Side-by-Side.
