The 17 Best UTVs of 2024 to Drive on the Wild Side

Side-by-side UTVs are a perfect choice for everything from ranch work to off-roading adventures. These are our favorites for this year.

Don’t forget, manufacturer demo and test rides will be available at the SXS Adventure Rally on the Rocks all week long. May 16-18, 2024

Original article from Men’s Journal: Eric Hendrikx and Kurt Spurlock. March 11, 2024 Original Article and Credit here.

Are you ready to blast through sand dunes, peel through mud, and explore some of the world’s toughest trails? Looking for an easier way to get into the backcountry or just feed your friends a face full of dirt? Sounds like you need some seat time in side-by-side UTVs (utility task vehicles), the ultimate outdoor vehicles.

UTVs—also called side-by-sides (SXSs)—are relatively small, maneuverable four-wheeled vehicles designed for off-road use. Ideal for navigating tight trails and rough terrain, UTVs are also great for recreational riding, hunting, and hauling supplies and people to locations where a road-going vehicle might be impractical. Can-Am Maverick R X RS is our pick for the best overall side-by-side you can buy today—as long as you’re looking for off-road thrills and not a farm or ranch workhorse.

But to help guide your search, we’ve rounded up our favorite side-by-side UTVs for 2024—including an EV model—for sport, ranch work, and leisure. Any of these four-wheeled beasts will satisfy your off-road appetite.

In This Article

• Best Overall Side-by-Side: Can-Am Maverick R X RS Smart-Shox
• Best Budget Sport Side-by-Side: Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 eS
• Best Recreational Side-by-Side: Polaris RZR XP 1000 Sport
• Best Four-Seater Side-by-Side: Can-Am Maverick X3 Max X Rs Turbo RR Smart-Shox
• Best Reliable Side-by-Side: Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R
• Best Sport/Utility Side-by-Side: Kawasaki Ridge XR HVAC
• Best Budget Side-by-Side: Honda Pioneer 1000-5
• Best Entry Level Side-by-Side: Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 R-Spec
• More Side-by-Side UTVs We Love
• How to Choose the Best UTV for You
• What We Look for in the Best UTVS
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Overall Side-by-Side: Can-Am Maverick R X RS Smart-Shox

Can-Am launched a brand spankin’ new unlimited-class sport machine for 2024. The new Maverick R is easily the wildest production side-by-side we’ve ever seen or driven. Its turbo-charged engine cranks out a face-melting 240 horsepower, and runs it through an impossibly fast 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The striking “Tall Knuckle” suspension system is easily the smoothest and most stable we’ve tested to date, especially when bolted to the Fox Podium Smart-Shox found on the flagship version. Simply put, this is the fastest production UTV in the world.

Best Budget Sport Side-by-Side: Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 eS

If you’re looking for an extremely capable rig but don’t need the ungodly power of a turbo-charged machine, Kawasaki’s Teryx KRX 1000 delivers serious bang for your buck. The brand’s “eS” trim level is our favorite option because it includes Fox’s outstanding 2.5 Podium Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks while still coming in well below the $25K mark. You’re also getting shift-on-the-fly electronic four-wheel drive and a locking front differential; a rugged CVT transmission; and Kawasaki’s electronically controlled suspension, which offers three selectable modes (soft, medium, and firm) without touching a single clicker. The eS model also comes equipped with a Hifonics stereo system and 31-inch tires spooned onto bead-lock wheels, making it a particularly smart buy compared to the base model.

Best Recreational Side-by-Side: Polaris RZR XP 1000 Sport

For 2024, the entire Polaris RZR XP lineup, the industry’s best-selling sport side-by-side, has been completely redesigned from the ground up with a focus on class-leading durability, comfort, and performance. It’s available in two- and four-seat configurations in three trims: Sport, Premium, and Ultimate. RZR XP Sport certainly has plenty of oomph: Owners can enjoy 114 horsepower from a ProStar 1000 Gen 2 engine. Extra traction for technical terrain comes via Polaris’ fast engaging on-demand All Wheel Drive system. Rocks, roots, sand, and mud are no match for this rig’s 20 inches of usable travel and 2.5-inch Walker Evans Racing needle shocks. It features 29-inch Trailmaster X/T tires, color-matched seats and springs, LED headlights, illuminated in-cab switches, and a new digital display. To fully align the ride experience with the terrain, there are four RZR XP rider collections with more than 60 accessories–doors, storage, fender flares, windshields–designed for trail, mud, backcountry, and all-season use.

Best Four-Seater Side-by-Side: Can-Am Maverick X3 Max X Rs Turbo RR Smart-Shox

Four-seat UTVs are great for hauling friends and family, but Can-Am’s top-of-the-line Maverick X3 Max Turbo RR also happens to be great for hauling ass. Ultra-wide, ultra-stable, and ultra-powerful—thanks to a 200-horsepower 900cc Rotax engine—Turbo RR will take you and three lucky passengers just about anywhere on the planet. This machine wants for nothing with Smark-Lok differentials, 22 inches of suspension travel via Fox 3.0 Podium Smart-Shox, 32-inch tires on bead-lock wheels, and a trophy truck-style double A-arm front end. The Smart-Shox version also gets upgraded 4-point harnesses throughout, which your kids will appreciate whenever all four wheels leave the ground.

Best Reliable Side-by-Side: Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R

With its factory-installed Warn winch, red and tan livery, color-matched wheels, and 998cc inline-triple engine, Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R is a stylish and high-spec standout among UTVs. Its drivetrain incorporates Yamaha’s On-Command 4WD system for ultimate traction with easily selected 2WD, 4WD limited-slip, and 4WD full-differential lock modes. Lower-spec versions of YXZ1000R are the only game in town with a true manual transmission (which is just as fun as it sounds), but we’re also big fans of the flagship trim XT-R’s “Yamaha Sport Shift” system, which employs a 6-speed sequential gearbox (no CVT here) with an automatic clutch for maximum power and traction at all times.

Best Sport/Utility Side-by-Side: Kawasaki Ridge XR HVAC

Sport/utility UTVs are the most versatile rigs out there, combining equal parts work and play for speed when you want it and capability when you need it. Kawasaki earns our top pick in the segment with its all-new Ridge XR HVAC, which delivers more bang for your buck than anything else on the market. Major highlights include a rev-happy 116-horsepower, inline-4-cylinder engine, as well as a fully enclosed cab with both heat and air conditioning. Pricing was just announced for the brand-new Ridge and it starts at $23,999 for the base model; $29,999 for XR; and $31,999 for XR HVAC, featured here. That reasonable sum buys you a bunch of goodies like selectable four-wheel drive, locking differentials, selectable power modes, a handsome full-color TFT dash, an HVAC system (hence the name), as well as serious utility specs like a 2,000-pound tow/haul rating and an extra-large dump bed rated for 1,000 pounds. We’ll also note that Kawasaki offers the best warranty in the business with a full three years of coverage, adding serious value to a rig that’s intended to work as hard as it plays.

Best Budget Side-by-Side: Honda Pioneer 1000-5

Honda Pioneer 1000-5 Side-by-Side UTV can tow the whole crew around, thanks to its 999cc parallel twin engine. We love the extra safety touches Honda includes as standard, like debris-blocking side nets and an effective traction control system, which uses the brakes to limit wheel spin for optimal grip in place of a locking differential. The base model Pioneer is a great deal at well under $20,000, but if extra features are what you’re after, Honda offers three additional trim levels with extra seats, storage space, a 4,500-pound winch, and even Fox QS3 shocks.

Best Entry Level Side-by-Side: Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 R-Spec

Entry level isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 is wildly affordable, yet also benefits from one of the most reliable engines on the market, Big Blue’s 847cc parallel twin. The power plant has more than enough giddyup to keep you entertained on the trail, but this rig is also built to work with a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a cargo bed that’s rated up to 600 pounds. The X2’s narrower 62-inch width and 84-inch wheelbase also make it well-suited to narrow trails than your typical recreational side-by-side, so it’s a great candidate if you’re looking to venture deeper into the woods for work or play.

More Side-by-Side UTVs We Love

Best Non-Turbo Sport Side-by-Side: Polaris RZR Pro R Ultimate

As far as halo products go, look no further than the 74-inch, wide-open stance RZR Pro R Ultimate. Polaris’ strongest RZR, the 2024 Pro R Ultimate has an all-new chassis that delivers two times the torsional stiffness. A welded one-piece cage is built from two-inch tubing with tapered joints for added strength. A ProStar Fury 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, 16-valve engine delivers 225 horsepower and features a naturally aspirated design for cooler operating temps and improved reliability. It also comes with Dynamix DV advanced suspension control with modes for Rock, Comfort, Track, and Baja—all controlled via a glove-friendly seven-inch touchscreen display. Want to crank some music? A Rockford Fosgate Stage 2 audio system ensures everyone in the vicinity will enjoy. Choose between two- and four-seat options.

Best Side-by-Side for Families: Honda Talon 1000R Fox Live Valve

You can’t go wrong with any model in Honda’s Talon 1000 lineup, but 1000R Fox Live Valve is our weapon of choice from Big Red. These sporty side-by-side UTVs come in both two- and four-seat versions, and they all share the same high-output 999cc engine and snappy dual-clutch automatic transmission. Talon also gets Honda’s exclusive i-4WD tech, an intelligent system that offers brake traction control, hill-start assist, and electronic brake force distribution, all of which translates to better grip on challenging surfaces without using a locking front diff. As the name suggests, the Live Valve version also gets Fox’s automatically adjusting suspension; Honda’s riotous “launch mode” function; as well as a generous helping of standard factory accessories including lower door panels, a full-length roof, and window screens for front and rear seats.

Best Utility Side-by-Side: Polaris Ranger XD 1500

There are hard-working UTVs, and then there’s Polaris Ranger XD 1500. To put it plainly, this is the most impressive utility rig currently available on four wheels, sporting a jaw-dropping 3,500-pound towing capacity and an equally impressive 2,110-pound payload capacity. That’s better than some street-legal pickup trucks, and if you opt for the six-passenger version, it’s got more seating than most pickups, too. The bed box alone is rated to carry up to 1,500 pound of whatever your heart desires, so chances are you’ll run out of work before the Ranger runs out of steam.

Best Side-by-Side for Hunting: Can-Am Commander X MR

Built with recreation and hunting in mind, this mud-ready, camouflaged, 64-inch-wide beast can haul up to 1,030 pounds—so it’ll have no problem carting mountain bikes or bringing home that Booner whitetail you’re going to tag this season. The Commander X MR has 15 inches of ground clearance and the XPS Swamp Force tires will have you flying through muck with ease. It comes with a 4,500-pound winch, features a 7.6-inch digital display with keypad on the dash, and its 100-horsepower Rotax 1000R V-twin 976cc engine has enough grunt to get you out of (almost) anything.

Best Bang for Your Buck Side-by-Side: CFMoto ZForce 950 H.O EX

CFMoto has made waves in recent years by offering well-made and shockingly affordable motorcycles in both the street and off-road segments, and its ZForce 950 UTV brings that same approach to the four-wheeled market. This rig may not feature all the brand-name components of its established competition, but its torque-rich 963cc V-twin engine puts down a respectable 60 lb-ft of grunt and comes standard with two power modes and ride-by-wire throttle control. Independent dual A-arms deliver 13.4 inches of fully adjustable travel up front, while Quadlink trailing arms bolted to piggyback gas shocks are good for over 15 inches out back. We also appreciate that CFMoto includes a 3,500-pound winch on ZForce 950, further sweetening the pot for this capable trail buggy.

Best Underrated Side-By-Side: Arctic Cat Wildcat XX SE

The new Arctic Cat Wildcat XX SE can handle just about any terrain thanks to its beefy 130-horsepower engine, CVT, and premium Fox 2.5 Podium Qs3 shocks. It comes with a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system and a locking front differential for maximum grip when the trail gets gnarly. And if you get stuck, you’re in luck: This cat comes with a 3,500-pound winch to pull yourself out of sticky situations.

Best Newcomer Side-by-Side: Segway Villain SX10 WP (72”)

Segway has come a long way since its original two-wheeled personal transporter arrived on the market two decades ago. The new Villain SX10 WP brings maximum performance with maximum tech that should give its driver plenty of confidence for exploring. The engine is a 1000cc, four-stroke, twin-cylinder DOHC motor that delivers 105 horsepower. Engineered with extreme conditions in mind, Villain comes with double A-arm suspension and 16 inches of travel up front and a multi-link trailing arm suspension with 18 inches of travel in the rear. The Villain’s Smart Commanding System (SCS) connects with an app and the onboard touchscreen to display real-time vehicle data and allow you to tweak the settings for different drivers, terrains, and conditions from your smartphone.

Best Electric Side-By-Side: Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic Premium

For the electric cowboy, Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic is an EV workhorse that delivers 110 horsepower and 140 pounds of torque. The electric powertrain means fewer moving parts to wear out on the ranch. Kinetic’s high-performance drive system provides true AWD, 2WD, and VersaTrac Turf mode; when engaged, the rear tires work independently for tighter turns. The Premium trim is equipped with 14.9 kWh of lithium-ion battery capacity and offers an estimated range of up to 45 miles; the Ultimate trim package boasts 29.8 kWh of battery capacity and offers an estimated range of up to 80 miles.

Best Side-by-Side for Adventures: Polaris Xpedition ADV 5 Northstar

Polaris’ new Xpedition blurs the line between a well-equipped overlanding rig and an incredibly capable side-by-side. For overlanding duty you’ve got room for five people and a full load of camping gear, plus a bewildering list of factory accessories that run the gamut from rooftop tents to mountain bike racks. You’ve also got the industry’s first fully enclosed cab with factory heat and air conditioning, which was an absolute blessing when we test-drove Xpedition this year through hundreds of miles of desert heat and dust. In terms of off-roading prowess, we found it delivered a bewildering level of capability whether we were smashing through sandy washouts at full speed or crawling up steep rock gardens. This rig truly wants for nothing.

How to Choose the Best UTV for You

UTVs come in various types, each designed for specific purposes and terrain. Generally you’ll want to match the type of side-by-side UTV you need with your intended use, whether it’s for high-speed off-roading, hard-wearing utility work, or more relaxed adventures in the great outdoors.

Utility

• Designed for work-related tasks like farming, ranching, and landscaping
• Prioritize functionality and durability over speed and agility
• Have a more robust construction with heavy-duty frames, powerful engines, and stronger suspension systems to better handle demanding workloads
• Usually come with practical features such as dump beds, larger towing capacities, and multiple seating options in bench-style configuration for comfortable transport at lower speeds

Sport

• Made for high-performance driving and can be used from the dealer to off-road races
• Typically have powerful engines, advanced suspension systems, and lightweight frames for agility and speed
• Built for enhanced maneuverability and handling on challenging off-road features like dunes, rocky trails, and mud pits
• Sleeker and sexier than most SXS designs; usually equipped with racing-inspired features like racing seats, harnesses, and high-performance tires

Sport Utility

• Combine elements of both sport and utility vehicles, offering a balance between performance and practicality
• Versatile and handle a wide range of tasks, from recreational riding to light-duty work
• Usually have more horsepower and beefier suspension systems compared to regular utility UTVs, allowing them to go on rougher terrain
• Also come with options like cargo racks, increased towing capacities, and comfortable seating for longer rides

Recreational

• Designed for recreational activities such as trail riding, hunting, camping, and exploring the outdoors
• Prioritize comfort, convenience, and entertainment for leisure
• Often have various amenities like comfortable seating, sound systems, GPS navigation, and extra storage spots for gear and supplies
• Versatile and can be customized with accessories like roof racks, winches, and LED light bars

What We Look for in the Best UTVS

Engine Size

Engine displacement and power will affect the UTV’s speed, towing capacity, and overall performance. Most options offer around 100 to 200 horsepower, and the typical displacement is 500 to 1,000cc across almost all UTV manufacturers. Generally speaking, larger displacement creates more horsepower, which equals higher top speeds and better towing and hauling capacity. However, turbochargers can wring more power out of smaller engines (and several models on this list are turbocharged), so bigger displacement isn’t the only way to get more oomph.

Suspension

Suspension dictates the smoothness of the ride and handling. UTVs are typically equipped with either a fully independent suspension system or a solid rear axle setup; the former is the best option for UTVs because it provides more flexibility and balance for off-road terrain.

When it comes to shocks, typical options include standard non-adjustable shocks (while they lack adjustability, they have stronger springs to manage bumps and vibrations); preload adjustable shocks (a beginner-friendly system that offers consistent operation); and fully adjustable piggyback reservoir shocks (for the advanced rider, typically included with premium models).

Why You Should Trust Us

Eric Hendrikx has contributed to Men’s Journal and conducted extensive testing, reviews, and coverage of motorsports vehicles, gear, and riders for major publications such as Rolling Stone, Motorcyclist, Revolver, and Playboy for more than 10 years. As a lifelong motorcyclist and passionate enthusiast, he’s dedicated to presenting the latest and most exciting developments to readers who value detailed information to guide their vehicle and gear purchases. Motorcycling is part of his DNA. He’s embraced the thrill of off-road riding since he got his first motorcycle, a 1987 Honda CR125, at age 15. 

Motorcycles may be Kurt Spurlock’s first love, but side-by-sides will forever be his guilty pleasure. A well-made UTV is quite simply the most capable off-road rig money can buy, and over the years they’ve taken him rock crawling through the Grand Canyon, slinging mud around the woods of Wisconsin, and surfing sand from the dunes of Glamis to the Wild West that is Baja California. He’s seen triple-digit speeds in factory race machines, worked in the pits for championship desert teams, and ridden shotgun with some of the sport’s most exciting athletes. Writing about power sports may be his full-time job, but believe him when he tells you, driving a side-by-side has never felt like work.