Honda's Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES - 2008 Entry level Utility ATV of the Year

There is a lot to like about the Honda Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES. When designing the 2008 Rancher 4x4 ES, Honda reached deep into their endless bag of magic, and the result is an ATV that does almost everything extremely well, and fits many riders perfectly. It’s no secret that ATVs have been growing in displacement, horsepower, and size every year, and the top of the line utility ATVs of a decade ago would barely be one cylinder on some models today. The trouble is, many people don’t need or want the extra horsepower, weight or size, and most smaller displacement ATVs will do just about any job the average owner will ever ask of them. The Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES will do most of them better!

Overall size of the Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES is ever-so-slightly smaller than many other utility quads, which helps make the ES feel nimble and precise when winding through the trees or tight quarters. Smaller or less experienced riders feel they have better control with the Rancher, and they don’t miss wrestling a bigger, bulkier machine down the trail, but even veteran riders are very comfortable on the Rancher as well. One feature riders of all skill levels appreciate is the electronic shift button found on the left handlebar. Shifting gears is as simple as a flick of your thumb, and the digital center mounted display shows what gear you are in, along with plenty of other valuable information. We do wish it had a digital fuel gauge as well, but the center mounted dial gauge just ahead of the fuel cap gets the job done. As with every Honda we have ever been on, the controls are perfectly placed and almost reach back to you, while offering excellent control over the vehicles operation on any terrain. A solid set of pegs keep your feet securely anchored just above the floorboards, which do an excellent job of draining away any water, while the fenders offer good splash protection. At all speeds the Rancher 4x4 ES is extremely stable, and it holds its line extremely well, even on a rough trail, and only at high speeds did we manage to bottom the rear suspension. After many miles of testing, about the only feature test riders asked for was slightly softer seat foam for long, multiple day trail rides.

At the heart of the Rancher 4x4 ES is a 420cc liquid cooled 4 stroke engine mounted down the long axis of the chassis for better efficiency, and better ergos for the rider. The longitudinally mounted motor allows the rider to tuck their feet in much tighter than on most other utility quads, but we believe the best feature on the Rancher is electronic fuel injection. The beauty of the Honda EFI system is excellent starting at any temperature or elevation, a clean and complete fuel burn, a smooth running motor, and better fuel economy. Regular air filter and oil changes are also easily done on the Rancher 4x4 ES, and as with practically every Honda we have ever tried, reliability has set the standard for excellence. Keep the air filter and oil clean, and we fully expect the engine to run forever.

Utility ATVs in the same category as the Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES (under 450cc) have been steadily improving each year, and today you can get them with more features and capabilities than top of the line ATVs offered only a few years ago. There are many strong competitors in the category, and we tried them all. Some were faster, but the handling was a little quirky or unpredictable. Some were bigger, but less nimble and less powerful, and some dropped out with a mechanical issue. The Fourtrax Rancher 4x4 ES excels in practically every area, but the excellent handling, EFI, ride-ability, and reliability puts it at the top of the class, and for those reasons it is the ATV Illustrated entry level Utility ATV of the Year. For many riders, it will be perfect.