Looking to save some money and bring home a brand-new side-by-side from a reputable manufacturer? Well you’ve come to the right place.
With the growth of the side-by-side (UTV) market, there are more options than ever for buying a new machine.
In fact, did you know there are over 40 different UTV manufacturers selling units in the US alone right now? Some of the absolutely cheapest side-by-sides from these brands can be as little as $5,000.
Some of the names you might have heard before are HiSunn, CFMoto and even Kymco. We are not saying that these models are bad… and we’re also not saying that they’re good. We’ve just chose to say nothing about them..for now. We’ll dive back into these ultra-low cost options at a later date.
Today, we’re only looking at machines from the mainstream manufacturers that you have no doubt heard of many times. So let’s get going!
Honda Pioneer : $8,999
At number five, we have the only brand on the list that also builds vehicles for North America: Honda.
You can get a Pioneer 500 starting at $8,999 US ($11,799 CAD). This machine comes with a 475cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine good for a towing capacity of 1000 pounds. Ground clearance with this 50-inch wide model measures in at 8.5 inches while Honda backs it with a one-year limited warranty.
Honda: Pioneer 500 – $8,999 US ($11,799 CAD)
475CC single-cylinder liquid-cooled 4-stroke
Tow capacity: 1000 lbs
Ground clearance: 8.5 inches
Width: 50-inches
Length: 102 inches
Wheelbase – 73 inches
Weight – 1025 pounds
Warranty – One year limited warranty
Polaris Ranger : $8,999
Polaris actually sells the cheapest UTV in North America, but the brand is number four on our list.
We’re referring to the Polaris ACE 500, a single-seat machine that is much more like an ATV with a steering wheel than a side-by-side. You can pickup an ACE 500 for just $6,999 US, but we’re not going to count that here.
No, the actual SxS from Polaris worth your money is the Ranger 500, offering the same powerplant as that smaller ACE in a bigger, more capable package for a total of $8,999.
The 500 can tow up to 1,500 lbs, handle 1000 pounds of payload and has 10-inches of ground clearance. With a with of 58-inches and a wheelbase of 73 inches, it is also the largest machine on this list, so if size matter to you, Polaris has your answer. Polaris also offers a one-year limited warranty.
Polaris Ranger 500 $8,999 US ($10,999 CAD)
Same 500cc engine with 32 hp
Tow capacity: 1,500 lbs
Payload: 1000 lbs
Ground Cleanrace: 10-inches
Width: 58 inches
Wheelbase: 73 inches
Polaris: Ace 500 – $6,999 US ($8,499 CAD)
500cc single-cylinder with 32 hp
Tow capacity: 1,500 lbs
Ground clearance: 10-inches
Width: 48 inches
Length: 90 inches
Wheelbase: 61.5 inches
Textron Prowler : $8,499
In third we have the Textron Prowler 500, which you might still know better at the Arctic Cat Prowler.
The basic model from Textron sells for $8,499 ($10,999 CAD) and nets you a 443cc engine, good for towing up to 1500 lbs. Ground clearance is a full 10-inches, while the Prowler measures in with a width of 56.4inches. A six-month warranty backs up the Prowler.
Textron: Prowler 500 $8,499 ($10,999 CAD)
443cc 4WD
Towing capacity: 1500 lbs
Width 56.4 inches
Ground clearance: 10 inches
Wheelbase: 72 inches
John Deere : $8,139
A famous name in tractor makes the second spot on the list: John Deere.
The XUV560E retails for just $8,139 US, netting the driver a 570CC single-cylinder engine with 16 hp. THE XUV can tow up to 1100 lbs with a cargo carrying capacity of 800 lbs. Ground clearance is 10.5-inches, width is 56.5 inches and the top speed for this model is pegged at 28 mph.
It might not be a speed demon, but it is one of the cheapest ways to get heavy work donw.
John Deere: XUV560E $8,139 ($10,581 CAD)
570CC with 16 hp and 4×4
Tow capacity: 1100 lbs
Cargo capacity: 800 lbs
Ground Clearance: 10.5 inches
Width: 56.5 inches wide
Wheelbase: 72.8 niches
Top speed of 28 mph
Kawasaki Mule : $7,299
And finally, the cheapest unit on this list if the one that started it all: the Kawasaki Mule.
The 2018 Mule XS sells for a price of $7,299, nearly $1,000 cheaper than the next closest competition. A large part of that could be because this is the only machine on the list that doesn’t offer four-wheel drive as standard equipment, so just two of the wheels are powered.
But that doesn’t mean the Mule SX can’t work. A 401CC air-cooled engine is capable of towing up to 1,100 pounds, while the bed has a carrying capacity of 400 lbs.
Kawasaki: Mule SX – $7,299 ($9,399 CAD)
401CC air-cooled engine
2WD only
Tow capacity: 1,100 pounds
Ground clearance: 6.1 inches
Width: 52.6 inches
Length: 106.7 inches
Wheelbase: 70-inches
Curb weight: 967 lbs
Warranty: Three-year limited warranty
