Sport & Recreation UTV Buying Guide: Choose The Best Side-By-Side For Off-Road Adventures

Utility vehicles, also known as “UTVs” or “side-by-sides,” began as tough, flexible work vehicles for farmers, loggers, and field crews. They were handy for carrying tools and materials to remote jobsites that were tough to reach in a pickup or other full-size vehicle.

But because they were—and are—lots of fun to drive on forest and mountain trails or just across country, UTV manufacturers soon began designing UTV models just for fun, and the sport and recreation UTV market was born. Sport and recreation UTVs have since gone on to rival utility UTVs in popularity, trading practicality for enhanced speed and off-road capability.

What Are Sport & Recreation UTVs?

Sport and recreation UTVs are 2- to 4-seat off-road vehicles built for adventure. They are at home on just about any terrain and have heavy-duty suspensions, high-horsepower engines, and lightweight, aerodynamic frames. Manufacturers such as Polaris and Can-Am offer models for all types of riders, from those who love spending a weekend on far-flung trails to those who enjoy nothing more than rock crawling or blasting across sand dunes. There are even models built especially for younger riders.

When you visit the sport and recreation UTV listings on MotorSportsUniverse.com, you’ll find new and used models for sale in a wide range of prices to fit just about any budget.

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Sport and recreation UTVs are commonly available in 2- and 4-person configurations, as illustrated by the 2017 Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail XT (left) and 2024 Honda Talon 1000X-4 shown here.

Which UTV Suits Your Riding Style?

Choosing the right UTV requires first identifying what kind of riding you’d like to do. You might want a UTV built for trail riding that can also handle work tasks, tipping the scales in favor of one model over another. You may instead prefer a model tailored for rougher terrain, such as desert racing or rock crawling.

Sport UTVs are normally designed for specific purposes, with varying widths to suit different trail types. If top speed is your priority, opt for a sport UTV. Sport models are engineered with an emphasis on pure speed and precision handling. These UTVs often have larger engines and typically come with higher price tags than recreational models as a result.

Designed for both work and play, recreational UTVs help you explore the joy of off-roading and can tackle property chores. They haul hundreds of pounds in their cargo beds and can tow up to 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) more. They exhibit excellent trail manners and often come equipped with adjustable suspensions. These models usually come at a lower price than sport models, but this can vary depending on a model’s accessories, engine power, and seating capacity.

Trail Riding

When it comes to choosing the best UTVs for trail riding, consider the types of terrain you’re most likely to encounter. Trails can be rocky and technical or sandy and open. Some of the more popular models for trail riding are the Polaris RZR, Honda Pioneer, and Kawasaki Teryx.

Trail-riding UTVs often feature powerful engines, typically ranging from 600 to 999 cc, and come equipped with heavy-duty suspensions capable of absorbing frequent impacts.

Dunes

If you’re looking to ride your UTV on dunes, there are plenty of options, such as Hot Well Dunes in Arizona, Little Sahara State Park in Oklahoma, and Silver Lake State Park in Minnesota.

Finding UTVs suited for sand dunes is trickier than selecting trail-only models. Choose UTVs with dune-ready specs: low-tire pressure capability, a wide chassis, and corrosion-resistant components. Some models, like the Can-Am Maverick, come equipped with greater suspension travel and high-horsepower engines. Four-seat Maverick X3 Max models also feature dual-speed compression adjusters and dual-rate crossover springs. They also have a 135-inch (3,429-millimeter) wheelbase and weigh over 250 lbs (113 kg) more than the 2-seat X3 models.

Desert Racing

Desert thrills aren’t limited to dunes—you can tackle desert races in machines like the Can-Am Maverick X3. The X3 is built for high-speed desert runs and sustained performance. The X3 is a dynamic and capable choice for desert racing, offering high-performance use in challenging terrain.

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Many sport and recreation UTVs, like those in the Can-Am Maverick line, are suitable for desert driving and rough terrain.

Rock Crawling

Rock crawling is one of the most demanding off-road activities available to side-by-side owners, requiring considerable skill—and the right equipment. Rock crawling originated in the Jeep community, but navigating your UTV over extraordinarily rocky and uneven terrain makes for an exhilarating challenge.

Rock crawling demands power and torque, so consider a sport UTV model like the Polaris RZR XP 1000. Available in 2- or 4-seat configurations, the XP 1000 boasts four-wheel drive, dual-bore front calipers and single-bore rear calipers, electronic power steering, and hill descent control. It’s also equipped with a dual A-arm suspension with stabilizer bars, 20 in. (508 mm) of shock travel, and 16 in. (406 mm) of wheel travel.

Mixed-Use

For those seeking a recreational UTV that balances trail riding capability with the chops for property work, models like the Kawasaki Ridge XR can be a good choice. The Ridge XR has a 999-cc engine, a 1,000-lb (453-kg) cargo bed load capacity, and a 2,500-lb (1,134-kg) towing capacity, effectively blurring the line between rugged utility vehicles and comfortable recreational models.

Engine & Drivetrain Considerations

When choosing a UTV, key engine and drivetrain considerations include: horsepower and torque, turbo vs. naturally aspirated engines, and two-wheel vs. four-wheel drive.

Horsepower & Torque

Internal combustion engines generate power by drawing in and compressing air and fuel, then igniting the mixture. Larger engine displacement allows for more air and fuel to be taken in, resulting in greater energy production, which in this case equals more horsepower, which can often come at the expense of fuel efficiency.

Displacement and horsepower also affect torque, which can also be maximized through tuning. The balance between horsepower and torque varies based on the engine’s design and intended use. Torque is particularly critical for climbing, and if you’re looking for a recreational UTV that can also tow big loads, torque will be very helpful in this regard, as well.

Turbo vs. Naturally Aspirated

Turbocharged engines differ from naturally aspirated ones in their approach to managing air intake and compression. By boosting intake pressure, a turbo delivers more power per liter. This allows a turbocharged engine to match a larger naturally aspirated unit while using less fuel.

If you live or plan to ride at high altitudes, note that turbochargers compensate for thinner air at high altitudes. This means that turbocharged engines hold power better than naturally aspirated units, which can lose power as air density drops.

On the flip side, naturally aspirated engines have simpler designs with fewer moving components and, consequently, fewer parts susceptible to failure. They also excel in smooth operation, offering a more immediate throttle response than forced-induction engines, whereas turbochargers need time to spool up and build boost.

2WD vs. 4WD: How To Choose

Choosing between two-wheel and four-wheel drive can be tough when you consider your UTV’s intended use.

Four-Wheel-Drive Pros & Cons

Four-wheel drive is best for riding on:

• Dunes
• Rocky inclines
• Rough, varied terrain

CVTs vs. Geared Transmissions

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system uses an adjustable belt-and-pulley mechanism to deliver seamless power to its wheels, eliminating the need for traditional gears. Unlike other automatics, a CVT maintains a constantly changing ratio between engine and wheel speed, ensuring smooth acceleration without gear shifts. Adding CVT belt protection will protect the housing when the belt shreds or fails.

A geared UTV might be a better choice for you if you’re looking for a more responsive ride, with greater performance and quicker shifts during high-speed riding. Geared UTVs often feature an electronic gearbox with dual clutches. One clutch preloads the next gear, preparing it for a faster, smoother transition. They combine smooth, automatic operation with manual gearbox control.

Suspension & Handling Considerations

Even on jagged trails, regular inspections and suspension tuning ensure your UTV delivers a smooth, controlled ride. Tuning options—shock adjustability, sway-bar disconnects, or self-leveling rear systems—allow you to customize ride quality.

• Shock adjustability - Tailor ride height, preload, compression, and rebound to match your terrain
• Sway bar disconnects - Disconnect the sway bar to improve cornering on uneven ground—many UTVs offer a dash-mounted switch for on-the-fly control
• Self-leveling rear suspension - This system helps maintain ride height under load, preventing sag and preserving ground clearance when hauling heavy gear