The Best Small UTVs in 2022
Utility Task Vehicles, or UTVs as they’re often called, are a branch of off-roading vehicles that— unlike their All-Terrain cousins—tend to be suited more for work than for recreation.
As such, they are generally designed to be larger, more powerful, can sit passengers side-by-side, and are built with lots of extra storage space to help haul equipment and supplies. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also be used for recreation!
When it comes to shopping for a new UTV, potential buyers can often get overwhelmed at the sheer variety of vehicles available, which come in just about every shape and size imaginable from the smallest sport quad to some four seat models that are bigger than a Jeep!
UTVs are generally known to come in four available sizes: sport measure, utility measure, two-seater measure, and four-seater estimate–each design is well-engineered for transporting and hauling cargo to be sure, but differing in width and, predictably, the number of passengers they can safely hold.
If you’re in the market for a new, small UTV, and are finding yourself having trouble knowing where to start, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the top, small-sized UTVs on the market today.
Table of Contents
- What are the Top Small UTVs?
- The Polaris RZR RS1 SxS
- The Honda Pioneer 700-2
- The Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Limited Edition
- The Kawasaki Mule SX 4×4
- The Kymco UXV 450i LE
- The Arctic Cat Prowler Pro Crew
- Conclusion
What are the Top Small UTVs?
To be sure, there is absolutely no shortage of small UTVs on the market today—but there are definitely some models that stand out from the crowd, each coming from well-known and highly regarded brands.
To help get you started in your UTV search, we’ll take a closer look at the following models:
- The Polaris RZR RS1 SxS
- The Honda Pioneer 700-2
- The Wolverine RMAX2 1000
- The Kawasaki Mule SX 4×4
- The Kymco UXV 450i LE and, finally,
- The Arctic Cat Prowler Pro Crew
In the following sections, we’ll take a look at each of these models more in-depth and highlight the top specs for each of them!
The Polaris RZR RS1 SxS
The Polaris RZR RS1 SxS is being marketed as “the most nimble RZR ever” offered by Polaris. This “race-inspired” machine comes with a center-cockpit design that helps deliver high-visibility sight lines to help drivers clearly see the terrain ahead of them, while the rear-mounted dual-fan radiator offers maximum engine cooling.
The RZR RS1 SxS also has a 110-horsepower ProStar engine and industry-leading suspension for “unparalleled control, confidence, and comfort” while driving.
Coming in at about 64 inches wide, you can’t even technically call this UTV a “side-by-side” since there’s only room for one! The suggested MSRP for these little dirt devils comes in at just under $16,000—meaning that while they may not be the cheapest out there, they’re also nowhere near as expensive as some of the other models out there. As far as off-roading vehicles go, this would be a solid middle-ground choice for those trying not to completely break the bank!
The Honda Pioneer 700-2
The Honda Pioneer 700-2 is another solid choice if you’re looking for a small UTV that still packs a punch!
Honda’s Pioneer 700 line of off-roading vehicles is designed to “punch way above their weight class” and, while smaller than their 1000 line, are “overachievers when it comes to how much work they can do.”
Coming in at 60 inches wide, the 700-2 is designed with—you guessed it!—two seats situated next to each other (though there is a 700-4 model as well that adds an additional two seats) and comes equipped with Honda’s new Electric Power Steering on select models as well as a 1,000-pound bed capacity.
Coming in at a suggested base MSRP of only $11,799 for their 2023 model means this ride could be an even better deal for your wallet than the Polaris RZR RS1!
The Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Limited Edition
The Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Limited Edition from Yamaha is another small UTV that comes equipped with “max power and capability” coupled with “ultimate style and comfort.” Add to that the best-in-class power delivery and FOX Intelligent Quick Switch suspension technology, and you’re looking at a top-of-the-line UTV that Yamaha is proud to have boast its name!
The RMAX2 1000 L hedges toward the upper end of what would still be considered a small UTV at only 64 inches wide. It also boasts a 999cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke Parallel Twin Engine and comes equipped with 3 driving modes suitable for varying driving needs: Sport Mode for wide open trails, Trail Mode for fun, relaxed rides, and Crawl Mode for slow technical situations like rock crawling.
This is a bit of a pricier model than the ones previously mentioned, coming in at an MSRP of $27,699! But with all of its deluxe features and specs, many drivers would say it’s still only a small price to pay.
The Kawasaki Mule SX 4×4
The Kawasaki Mule SX 4×4 is a UTV that is so small it can fit in the bed of a pickup truck!
Coming in at just under 53 inches wide, this two-passenger vehicle offers drivers “compact strength and versatility” and features 24-inch Duro tires as well as a “capable 401cc engine” and is capable of towing up to 1,100 lbs when used with the optional hitch.
For those riders looking for a smart, powerful, and compact UTV that was designed to get work done, look no further than the Kawasaki Mule SX 4×4! With a suggested MSRP of only a little over $9,000, this is another great option for those buyers who are trying not to break the bank.
The Kymco UXV 450i LE
The Kymco UXV 450i LE is an upgraded version of Kymco’s base UXV 450i model of UTV, with the addition of a 2500 lb ComeUp winch as well as 12-inch black and silver aluminum alloy wheels.
The 450i LE also comes with a bench seat as well as a fuel-injected 443cc SOHC liquid-cooled engine, on-demand 2- and 4-Wheel Drive, 4-wheel independent suspension for powerful handling performance in rough terrain, and a variety of gear options (with Low, High, Neutral, and Reverse gears) in addition to hydraulic disc breaks.
This UTV measures at just under 57 inches wide means that it is also the perfect size to fit onto the back of just about any full-sized pickup truck as well! Coming in at a suggested MSRP of $8,799 means that this is another option for drivers looking for a vehicle that’s on the lower end price-wise.
The Arctic Cat Prowler Pro Crew
Last, but certainly not least on our list of the best small UTVs is the Arctic Cat Prowler Pro Crew.
Built to perform with a class-leading quiet engine, optimized suspension, and built with an all-new transaxle designed to be more durable for tough terrains, this line of UTVs by Arctic Cat comes equipped with a 50-horsepower, 812 cc liquid-cooled-4-stroke engine as well as electronic fuel injection and 4-wheel hydraulic disc breaks and is able to tow up to 2,000 lbs!
The Prowler Pro Crew is also highly customizable, with over 50 custom-built accessories that can be installed, from lights to doors to mirrors and roofs!
At 63 inches wide, the Prowler Pro Crew is almost big enough to punch into the next weight class—but not quite! Its relatively small size means it’s still a great choice for those drivers who may need to maneuver in smaller spaces.
The MSRP for the Prowler Pro Crew starts at $16,999 for the base model, with more deluxe models ranging upwards $20,999. Definitely not the cheapest on this list, but still worth a look if you’re looking to really make an investment in your new UTV.
Conclusion
Shopping around for a new UTV can definitely be overwhelming—as you can see, there is no lack of quality vehicles out there on the market today!
However, when you actually take some time to stop and look into some of the options that are available to you, and once you figure out for yourself what exactly you truly hope to get out of it, things all start to become a lot simpler! Do you want a UTV that is known for being small and compact to get you through tight spaces, or do you want one that is capable of hauling heavy loads? Do you want one that has one seat or two? Or maybe 4? And what about engine power? Of course, you can’t forget to think about the price as well!
Once you can narrow all of that down, there’s no doubt that you’re bound to find a vehicle that is the perfect fit for you! If nothing else, hopefully, this article has helped to at least point you in the right direction as you move forward in your search.
