An ATV for Every Season

All work and ALL play. There’s an ATV and a UTV for every task, trail, and season. Whether it’s for property maintenance or fun, our ATV dealer can help you find the right off-road vehicle.

ATV vs. UTV: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve started shopping for an ATV, you’ve no doubt noticed there are a LOT of vehicles to choose from. And what’s the deal with UTVs? How are they different from ATVs?

Both of them are four-wheel drive and suitable for off-road use, but there are some differences. Here’s how you can spot the difference between an ATV and a UTV:

• An ATV (also called a “quad”) has a saddle that you straddle over like you would a motorcycle. They also have handlebars for steering. ATVs have no roll cage protection and generally are single-rider. Their smaller size makes them better suited for trail riding and other recreational activities.
• A UTV has individual bucket seats (and sometimes bench seating) with seat belts and a steering wheel. UTVs can seat as many as 4, and a roll cage protects the driver and passengers. Their larger size and hauling capability make them ideal for property management.

Although ATVs are better suited to recreation and UTVs for land management, you can hit the trails in a UTV and use your ATV to help you with tasks such as snow plowing.

All-Terrain for Work and Play

You might think of ATVs as trail-eating thrill rides, but many ATVs can be fitted with cargo racks and have towing capability. ATVs typically come in three or four styles:

• Sport/Racing: A wider track and sport-tuned suspension delivers better handling and stability when cornering at higher speeds.
• Touring: Touring ATVs offer larger, more comfortable seating for two, plus added stability to prevent tipping.
• Utility: These ATVs have the flexibility that makes them well-suited for recreation and work. Their traction and suspension deliver a smooth ride for long-haul comfort.
• Youth: Smaller in size and weight, youth-size ATVs have additional safety features, including speed-limiting software and boundary-setting GPS technology.

Multi-Purpose UTVs

UTVs were purpose-built primarily for land maintenance but offer flexibility for recreational riding as well. Although UTVs are larger and more expensive than ATVs, they serve a broad range of needs, and you can find models for specific purposes.

• Side-by-Side (SxS): These UTVs seat the driver and up to 2 passengers. SxS UTVs include a cargo bed and can carry payloads of up to 1,500 pounds.
• Crew Cab: These typically come with closed cabins and seating for 4-6 people. The larger cabin and wheelbase sacrifice some maneuverability and cargo capacity. But for family outings such as hunting trips, a crew cab is a great option.
• Sport: Sport side-by-side and crew cab UTVs are tuned for performance, with many achieving over 200 horsepower. They’re tuned to traverse a wide variety of surfaces, including mud to sand. Sport UTVs offer individual bucket seats with 4-point harness belts. They do not include cargo beds and are not suitable for hauling or towing.
• Youth: Scaled to fit riders over age 10, youth SxS UTVs, like their ATV cousins, includes several safety features.

Which One’s Right for You?

As you see, ATVs and UTVs have many uses. Whether you’re looking for an all-terrain vehicle for work or play (or both), your ATV dealer can help you figure out which one is right for you.