The most anticipated new Side x Side in years has landed, and it’s a winner. The pre-production model we tried last year ignited a fire in the high-performance UTV world and promised innovative new features along with true, sporty performance. The 2026 CFMOTO Z10 has so many upgrades from those early units, it’s practically a second-generation model. I took the new Z10 deep into the Nevada and Arizona desert—dodging wild burros and threading through couch-sized boulders—to see if this North American designed and tested model is a contender for a performance crown. Let’s pull the panels, look at the oily bits, and dive into the top ten features that stood out on the trail.
1. TRAIL APPEAL: THE Z10’S AESTHETIC GRIT
From any angle, the Z10 demands attention. Aggressive body lines carve a clean path from the hood to the rear bumper, while oversized, gaping wheel wells aren’t just for show—they’re a statement about what the Z10 is truly capable of.
The bodywork strikes the perfect balance: it’s tough enough to shrug off deep brush and keep mud out of the cab, yet pliable enough to handle the rocks and scrub we bounced it off of on the Arizona desert trails. More importantly, it’s built with purpose. Every panel and vent is functional, featuring high-flow air intakes that keep the engine, CVT, and cabin breathing easy when the going gets hot. It looks fast, precise, and ready for a fight—mostly because it is.
2. BUILT FOR REAL DRIVERS: THE AUTOMOTIVE BENCHMARK
Performance car manufacturers love to claim their vehicles are an “extension of the driver,” but the CFMoto Z10 actually delivers on that promise. As much as we liked the exterior styling, the interior shifts it into overdrive.
Finished with Purpose:
You don’t just get into the cockpit of the Z10; you “put it on.” The doors open wide for easy access, and the interior panels are cleanly finished—no sharp plastic edges to dig into your sides or elbows when you’re leaning into a turn. Once you’re in the seat, everything is exactly where it needs to be. The steering wheel reaches back to you perfectly, there is plenty of legroom, and the pedal spacing is spot-on. And unlike the Polaris RZR (which twists your feet toward the center), the Z10’s pedals are positioned directly ahead of you.
We especially like the seats; they’re sculpted for excellent support and feature a base suspension system that makes a real difference on long rides. Even the seatbelts are dialed in, sitting comfortably across your chest without that annoying tendency to dig into your neck—a common flaw we see in other machines. My favorite detail, however, is the build quality: there isn’t a single exposed, sharp-edged bracket behind the head or on the roll bar. The Z10 hits all the styling details wrapped in a premium-quality, high-performance package.
Mission Control:
Somebody at CFMOTO really wanted connectivity. The dual displays of the Z10 doesn’t just offer screens; it offers a command center. You’ve got a beautiful, massive 12.3-inch RideSync™ MMI in the center of the dash for your mapping, Apple CarPlay, and other functions, but the real winner is the 7-inch driver display positioned just above the wheel. It keeps your critical data—speed, gear position, and other vehicle functions—right in your line of sight. About the only thing either display sometimes needs is a slightly larger visor for easier reading under bright sun. This is a cockpit designed for someone who actually plans to drive—not just point it at a trail.
3. THE OVERACHIEVING POWERPLANT: 998CC TURBO TRIPLE
Don’t let the 154 hp rating on the spec sheet fool you; this engine is an absolute overachiever. Spec sheet or not, the seat-of-the-pants reality is a machine that punches well above its weight. Managed by a sophisticated Bosch® EFI system, the power delivery is linear and predictable, allowing for absolute control and surgical precision when you’re threading between rocks and ledges in the technical sections.
But when you put the spurs to it, the Z10 stands up and rips. Nail the throttle to the floorboard and the engine howls like a rabid raccoon, clawing at the ground and slinging dirt at anything behind it. During my desert testing, it clocked 82 mph with ease—and the best part is that it does so with zero vibration and none of that annoying “sawmill” drone from the cooling fans.
The CFMOTO Design Difference:
- Interactive ECU Mapping: The real brilliance is the integration between the EFI and the cockpit. I spent the entire day flipping between Comfort, Trail, and Sport modes depending on the terrain. It transforms the machine from a casual trail cruiser to a desert racer at the touch of a button, making the drive feel inherently more responsive and far more fun than your average Side x Side.
- CVT Cooling Strategy: Heat is the enemy of belt reliability. CFMOTO addressed this head-on with a four-port intake/exhaust system in the CVT cover, providing dedicated air tracts for both the primary and secondary pulleys. It’s a clever, mechanical solution to a common problem that plagues other machines. It proves the Z10 was designed for long-term reliability and performance.
4. ADJUSTABLE EPS: STEERING PRECISION
EPS shouldn’t take away trail feedback; it should enhance it. You need to be able to hold a line with precision, but at the end of the day, you shouldn’t feel like you’ve been wrestling a steer at branding time. The CFMOTO Z10’s electronic power steering system nails this balance by offering four distinct modes: Low, Mid, High, and Auto.
During technical rock sections, the Low or Mid settings provide that effortless, light-touch precision that allows for pinpoint line placement without wearing your shoulders out. If you prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach, the Auto mode automatically adjusts input based on speed and sensor feedback, firming up the steering effort as you transition from a slow crawl to high-speed desert washes. This gives the Z10 a planted, confident feel at speed, eliminating the nervous, twitchy handling that plagues some models.
However, I’m one to fiddle with the controls, and I found myself opting for manual settings based on the terrain. I spent most of the day in Mid, which provided the perfect balance: it delivered enough feedback from the trail to let me know exactly what the tires were doing, without sacrificing comfort or inducing arm pump.
Why It Matters:
- Tactile Feedback: Unlike cheaper EPS systems that filter out every bit of information and feel like a budget game controller, the Z10’s system is designed to provide genuine feedback and trail feel. It’s a confidence booster when you’re pushing the limits.
- The Power Wheel: We love the CFMOTO Z10 steering wheel. Beyond the connectivity and the integrated controls, it’s the perfect size for a high-performance machine. It feels substantial, precise, and gives the cabin a race-car vibe.
5. SUSPENSION ADJUSTABILITY: THE GAME CHANGER
The ability to change suspension settings “on-the-fly” elevates the driving experience and the ride in every way. Beyond the fun factor though, the suspension works. It’s a blast pointing the Z10 at a trail, and whatever terrain you encounter, you’ve got the perfect suspension setting to handle it at your fingertips. You’re not stopping to clicker-adjust your shocks anymore; you’re adapting to the terrain in real-time, bump by bump, mountain, ditch, or desert. Here’s the magic behind the mechanics:
Suspension Mastery: QuadLink™ Gen II
- State-of-the-art FOX® QSE (Quick Switch Electronic) 2.5-inch shocks with the ability to toggle between Soft, Medium, and Firm suspension settings right from the steering wheel.
- The QuadLink Gen II geometry features 17 inches of front wheel travel and 20 inches of rear travel. Beyond the numbers are the details, and the CFMOTO Z10 is built for reliability. The chassis and suspension is crafted from high-strength, low-alloy steel, and all suspension pivots ride in double-shear mounting points. It’s not just marketing, it’s the engineering details that matter, and CFMOTO engineers got it right.
A WINNER FROM ANY ANGLE
Five top features down, and five to go on the outstanding 2026 CFMOTO Z10. From the aggressive hood styling to the high-tech suspension underneath, there is so much to love about this machine that we simply couldn’t pack it all into one article. From any angle, it’s a proven winner. Stay tuned, because Part 2 is dropping soon!
https://atvillustrated.com/cfmoto-2025-z10-and-z10-4-review-redefining-off-road-adventure
