The Ultimate Utility Task Vehicle Showdown: The Best UTVs of 2022

Did you know that each year 0.7 million UTVs are sold throughout the world with on average 41 thousand sold in the US alone? and the total value of the off-road market is valued at 5.69 billion in 2021 with an average growth of 4.82 percent.

These numbers show why manufacturers keep on producing highly capable utility task vehicle options each year and continue to invest millions. If you are thinking about buying at UTV now is the right time! Keep on reading below and discover everything you need to know about the best UTVs in 2022.

Why Buy a UTV?

Most people buy a UTV because they are looking for some versatility in their repertoire of vehicles in the garage and with a UTV you get exactly that. UTVs are usually thinner than your bigger 4×4 vehicles. This makes them easier to navigate on skinny roads. It is specifically designed to manage more uneven terrain than an asphalt path.

UTVs are steering wheel and gas pedal-powered making it an easy transition from driving a conventional vehicle. Above all else, which gas junkie doesn’t love hitting jumps in a vehicle that shouldn’t be able to leave the ground under its own power? You can do something you can’t do in your car or street motorcycle!

Different Types of Utility Task Vehicles

There are two main types of UTVs available to own that are built differently to accommodate different off-road needs.

The first type is a recreational or sports UTV that is mainly performance-based and designed to push max speeds. They should have a suspension strong enough to handle jumps, and responsive steering to maneuver tight corners. Think of it as a sports car that’s main aim is to go as fast as it can, all while handling any terrain thrown at it.

The 2nd type is more suited for work and utility-based needs, typically with a large cargo bed and a high towing capacity. Think of it as more of a mix between a truck and a smaller pickup.

Can-Am Maverick X3

The first performance UTV on our list is the Can-Am Maverick X3. The epitome of what a performance UTV should be is the Maverick. This guy boasts 200hp from its Rotax RR engine that is turbocharged and has the reputation of being the most powerful side by side on the market.

The Maverick is packed full of market-leading features. Starting with a smart lock front differential with 4 different modes. This offers maximum traction and double A-arm suspension with fully loaded fox racing shocks for landing softly when necessary. You get a new advanced clutch system with a quick response CVT transmission. You also get 32-inch tires and 4-way adjustable seats with 4 point locking harness.

It is difficult to find a UTV that can match the Maverick when it comes to performance. Built for sand dunes and having the most fun possible, the Maverick is available in a number of different packages all boasting their own features and varying performance levels. The Maverick has something for anyone out there.

Honda Pioneer 1000

Built to enhance every driving experience, the new Honda Pioneer offers a very compact design. The design is made as such to tackle all types of terrain thanks to its strong chassis. Coming with large 27-inch tires and a long-travel independent front. Also, rear suspension with a massive 12.4 inches of ground clearance, it will make light work of any off-road trail.

The Pioneer is powered by a fuel-injected 999cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine. It won’t be short on any pulling power and have Honda reliability to back it up. In the transmission department, Honda has coupled a fully automatic dual-clutch transmission to the engine. Why? Because it features 4 different drive modes including 2WD and 4WD with a front differential lock.

The front and rear suspension feature independent double-wishbone technology with 10.4 inches of travel that allows for a carrying capacity of 1000 pounds on the cargo bed. The pioneer is perfect as a farm vehicle or for any job that requires a tough, reliable utility vehicle.

Yamaha Wolverine Rmax 1000

The Yamaha Wolverine Rmax is Yamaha’s latest offering in the UTV market. It has a whole lot of upgrades and technology improvements that now make the Wolverine one of the class leaders.

The 2022 edition packs a 999cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, double overhead cam engine. This engine has two exhaust and intake valves delivering an impressive 109 hp. Strapped to the engine is a responsive Ultramatic v-belt transmission with all-wheel engine braking technology. You have a choice between 3 driving modes:

• Sport mode for wide-open trails, sand dunes, and spirited driving
• Trail mode for fun, relaxed trail driving
• Crawl mode to take on slow technical trails like rock climbing.

The drivetrain has a class-leading on-command 3-way locking differential. The options included are 2WD, 4WD, and full diff-lock 4WD that changes with the push of a button. Coming standard in the Wolverine is a tilting cargo bed. It is built with hydraulic assistance and a robust latching system that can transport up to 600 pounds.

Add in a full 2000 pounds of towing capacity and the Wolverine is ready to work and play anytime you need it. The Wolverine is one of the few UTVs that are capable of either recreational use or carrying heavy loads. Come work or play the Wolverine does both.

John Deere Gator XUV835M

Built with only one purpose in mind the latest version of the John Deere Gator series is purely for working hard and towing big loads. Equipped with a 3 person cockpit that even has heating and air conditioning, the gator is marketed as a crossover utility vehicle that can handle rough terrain as well.

With the largest towing capacity on offer at 2000lbs or 907 kgs, a 3 cylinder 54 hp gas powered economical engine, a CVT transmission, power steering, high capacity alternator, locking capabilities of both, and rear differentials, and a cargo box capacity of 1000lbs, the gator is one of the best working UTVs to buy.

Polaris RZR XP 1000

Fighting for the superiority of the performance market, the Polaris RZR XP 1000 doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, powered by a 110hp twin-cylinder four-stroke engine that is only surpassed by the Can-Am Maverick, this vehicle does however come packed full of technology and advanced features.

The drive system is a choice between 2WD and AWD with the click of a button, an automatic PVT transmission that has a choice of high or low, the suspension is where Polaris is in a league of its own with 2 in 1 Walker Evans needle shocks with 16 position adjustable clickers and dual A-arm with stabilizer bars.

Linhai 570i

Recently Chinese manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon of utility task vehicle manufacturing and are in no way of inadequate quality and have come a long way over the years. For its price tag, the Linhai is packed full of features and the latest technology.

With a 499cc single-cylinder fuel-injected engine that produces 32hp and fuel efficiency that is unmatched in the segment. Other notable features include electric power steering, differential lock, 4WD, and a sturdy cargo box tipper that can load up to 200kg of cargo.

Kawasaki Tery X4

A manufacturer with a long history of producing some of the best vehicles men have ever known and is no different when it comes to the Kawasaki Tery X4. The Tery is a UTV in the performance segment and isn’t that capable when it comes to carrying heavy loads with limited cargo space.

However, on the performance side, Kawasaki does produce one of the fastest most powerful UTVs on the market with its 4-stroke, 4-valve v-twin motor with a displacement of 783cc and neck-breaking 47lb of torque. The transmission is a CVT type with a centrifugal clutch that can handle the power and torque thrown at it from the engine.

The Tery is still capable of towing around 1300lb and still, the cargo bed can hold a modest 249lb. If you are after a UTV that can dominate the trails and still be able to tow a jet ski or modest size boat then this Kawasaki is equally capable of doing both.

Of course from the manufacture, there are a few notable accessories available that can take your UTV to the next level with a full windshield, door covers for those winter days, and an option to customize the cargo box on the rear.

CF Moto Z-Force 1000

Straight from China, the CF Moto brand has been a revelation since it has come onto the market and has gone from strength to strength. Focusing on the performance side of the UTV world, CF Moto brings together a capable UTV that won’t cost an arm or a leg.

The Z-force 1000 features an impressive 963cc two-cylinder, four-stroke engine that produces 80hp on the crankshaft and has four valves per cylinder and a max speed of 70 mph. As is the trend with all UTV, the Z-force has an automatic CVT transmission, limited differential lock, and can be driven in 2WD or 4WD by the push of a button.

Not that capable in the pulling department, the Z-force is more to be used as an off-road machine that tears up the trails or in the sand where it’s most comfortable.

To Go Electric Or Not

Up until quite recently, very few people believed that an electric utility task vehicle would ever come about but manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon and started investing money into this segment of EVs.

The 2022 Polaris Ranger EV is one of the first all-electric UTVs options in the world. In the engine department, the ranger has a traditional lead-acid, single 48 volt, high efficiency, AC induction motor that produces 30hp with a direct drive transmission.

The tow rating comes in at an exceptional 1500lb with 500lb carrying capacity in the cargo box. You would not expect this from an electric vehicle making it highly capable when it comes to tough tasks.

There is no mention of how many miles the Ranger can do on a single charge or how long it takes to charge the battery but with fossil fuels in doubt, this will be the way forward for UTVs in the future and we will see many more manufacturers coming out with there own electric examples and this will most likely change the whole UTV market for years to come.

Taking Care of Your UTV

Before you buy your UTV make sure you have sufficient space available to store the vehicle and be able to put a cover on it. Like any other vehicle, a UTV has to be serviced on time and properly maintained especially for use in colder climates. Things like your oil, fuel, and air filter should be replaced once a year or after heavy use.

It’s a good idea to wash and polish your UTV every couple of months to keep the plastics looking new and prevent any mud or dirt build-up from trail riding. Only use the best auto care products for washing so you don’t land up damaging or scratching the plastics, rather than doing good.

The Ultimate Utility Task Vehicle Owner

By this point, you should know which utility task vehicle you are going to choose. Will it be a performance model, a workhorse, or a UTV that is capable of doing both?

Whichever it is that you go with making sure it ticks all your boxes so you are not left wanting more and wondering what could have been. Do you find yourself still wondering what makes a UTV different from an ATV?

Then you should head on over and read our article on the top ATVs of 2021, we have got you covered!