Each year we put in thousands of miles and countless hours riding, wrenching on, and basically living with new ATVs and Side x Sides. While there are a lot of great machines we enjoy on the trails and track, there are always a few that stand out and deserve recognition as being the best of the best. After much debate, consideration, and consternation here are the machines our staff picks as the best models of 2013.
ATV of the YEAR
The POLARIS SCRAMBLER XP 850 H.O.
Legions of loyal Polaris fans began their lifetime of riding adventures on a trusty, sporty, Polaris Scrambler ATV. However, not one began on a Scrambler even remotely close to the new Scrambler XP 850 H.O.
Nobody is going to mistake the new Scrambler XP 850 for anything else. The styling department at Polaris must have watched a Tim Burton movie marathon right before going to work on the new Scrambler, and styling is what we would call edgy, aggressive, and sporty. As different and unique as it is, we’ve come to like the styling, especially the color-matched A-arms and front bumper. The Scrambler XP 850 is still a Polaris, though, and that means it can also handle some work. Incorporated in the front bodywork is a small cargo deck with a couple tie-down points and at the rear is a minimalistic, composite rack with a capacity of 25 pounds. It will easily haul a little camping gear or cooler. From the saddle, the Scrambler XP 850 feels narrow between your knees and very natural, with all controls in easy reach. We also like the seat which gets a racing inspired, raised rear section, and down below is an excellent set of floorboards with a grippy, raised peg. Based on the Sportsman 850 platform with nearly identical engine and chassis specs, the new Scrambler also gets dual A-arms up front, independent rolled rear suspension, and 14” wheels, but the Scrambler 850 is nearly 30 pounds lighter than its Sportsman cousin. It’s the engine that really gets your attention, however.
The Scrambler XP 850 H.O. engine is a dual cylinder, liquid cooled, EFI equipped motor with dual counter balancers and 77 horsepower. That’s more than twice as much as any previous Scrambler, making the 850 H.O. by far the largest sport machine Polaris has ever built. The exhaust makes a throaty, all-business growl but it’s neither obnoxious nor annoying on the trail, and on the trail the new Scrambler XP 850 is impressive! Ride quality is very smooth thanks to the high quality suspension, and the Scrambler 850 floats over the whoops like a magic carpet with no kicking or swapping at any speed. It’s comfortable, powerful, and predictable and the engine is always ready to deliver a burst of power at any RPM, thanks to the high-performance clutch. The engine also runs extremely smooth and not one rider came back asking for more power.
There’s been a Scrambler in the Polaris lineup for decades, but never one like the new Scrambler XP 850 H.O. It’s a refined, high-performance machine far advanced over any previous Scrambler in every way, and far more capable. It’s the machine we enjoyed riding most on the trails this year, and it’s our pick for the ATV Illustrated ATV of the Year.
SIDE x SIDE of the YEAR
The CAN-AM MAVERICK Xxc DPS
High-performance machines like the Can-Am Maverick are all about a perfect balance between power, suspension and handling. The Can-Am Maverick 1000R certainly has that magic formula. On our first ride, we skipped across knee deep whoops in the Nevada desert faster than we ever had before, thanks to a powerful engine and excellent suspension. The problem is most of the country doesn’t have desert terrain. The Can-Am Maverick Xxc DPS is designed to bring that perfect balance of hi-performance capabilities to woods and trail riders everywhere.
Can-Am’s Maverick Xxc DPS is equipped with the same potent, 976cc, V-twin, liquid-cooled, EFI equipped engine as its desert loving brother and with 101 hp on tap, there certainly is no lack of power. A center mounted engine means the interior is slightly louder than a rear engine design, but the better weight balance makes a huge difference in handling. One of our favorite features about the Maverick, though, is the ergonomics. The Can-Am styling team did a great job and it feels very finished with a wrap-around cockpit, well designed controls, and a feeling that one is sitting “in” the vehicle rather than on top of it. Seat placement is also kept low for a reduced center of gravity and better handling. We also really like Can-Am’s side nets which securely clip in place with a seat belt style latch. While the passenger gets a couple rubber mounted hand holds, the driver gets a tilt wheel, a combination analog and digital display that tilts with the steering wheel (nice touch), and most importantly, Can-Am’s Dynamic Power Steering. It’s the suspension, however, that sets the Maverick Xxc apart.
While all Maverick models share a common main chassis, engine, and ergonomics, shorter A-arms make the Maverick Xxc a full four inches narrower than the standard model, and that makes a huge difference on tight trails. Tucking the wheels deeper inside the fenders also gives a little better splash protection as well. On the trail, the Xxc feels slightly narrower and more nimble, but the engine delivers enormous power and the suspension does a great job of sucking up ruts, logs, and bumps with ease. You can attack the trails at will, but it’s the versatility we love most. The Maverick Xxc is happy to play in the woods, but it’s also ready to run in open spaces and that makes it far more usable to the majority of riders. The combination of power, ergonomics, and suspension is impressive, but it’s the versatility that makes the Can-Am Maverick Xxc DPS our choice as Side x Side of the year.
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD
THE HONDA PIONEER 700-4
Honda’s new 700-4 Side x Side isn’t the fastest or most powerful machine in its class, but it is one of the most unique and innovative machines we’ve seen in quite a while. While other machines have slipped into a “cookie-cutter” design mode, Honda is to be applauded for coming up with their own unique solutions that make the Pioneer perform beyond what the spec sheets would lead one to believe. The two features we found most impressive on the Honda are its automotive style transmission and its transformable rear cargo bed with fold out seats.
Unlike every other Side x Side today, Honda equips the Pioneer with a three-speed automatic transmission that works very much like the one in your truck. All the driver needs to do is shift into Forward or Reverse and he’s ready to go, regardless of load or task. The Pioneer transmission constantly monitors speed and load, and makes shifts accordingly. We’ve loaded the box with every shovel of sand and firewood we could pile on it, far above the 1000 pound capacity listed, and it never whimpered or seemed to care. Upshifts are quite smooth, while downshifts can be slightly more abrupt, but overall it works very well. The Pioneer performed every task we asked of it and it’s as reliable as a good horse, and as faithful as your best dog; it will be there for you.
The second major feature worthy of an award is Honda’s transformable rear cargo bed. When not hauling sand, firewood, or camping gear, either one or two extra seats can be folded out, making the 700-4 a multi-passenger machine. We found the rear seats to be comfortable, and it was even fun to ride in the back. When it was time to get back to work, though, the seats easily folded back into the bed. It’s an extremely clever innovation.
The Honda Pioneer 700-4 isn’t going to win any races, but the attention to detail, build quality, design innovation, and clever engineering are worthy of acclaim. It’s our pick as 2013’s best example of Engineering Excellence.
UTILITY ATV of the YEAR
The 2012 CAN-AM OUTLANDER MAX 650
For the second year in a row, our pick for Utility ATV of the Year is a two-up machine. There are a lot of reasons to love the Can-Am Outlander Max 650, but one of its best features is its versatility. Use it for work, take it on an adventure ride with your buddies, or pop the rear seat into place and it can be a casual trail machine for you and your significant other. It’s a joy to ride in any configuration or over any terrain.
When Can-Am reworked the Outlander MAX 650 a year ago, it completely transformed the machine, elevating it from a pretty good ATV to one of our all-time favorites. The new G2 chassis rides and handles excellent. The motor has as much power as some manufacturers’ top-of-the-line ATVs, and the new bodywork styling looks great. Besides a passenger, it can also carry plenty of gear, thanks to composite front and rear racks and a cavernous rear storage box. For two-up riding, the passenger gets a very comfortable seat with integrated hand holds. When riding solo, a nifty storage box quickly latches down into place and you’ll forget it’s a two-up machine. Handling and stability is excellent, the motor runs extremely smooth with zero vibration, and it delivers instant throttle response with a very controllable power delivery.
The Can-Am Outlander Max 650 is one of our all-time favorite ATVs and if we could only pick one ATV for everything from work to weekend trail rides, this would be it. It’s powerful, comfortable, easy to ride, very versatile and every time we ride it, we’re reminded why we love it. You can do no better than the Outlander Max 650, and it’s our pick as Utility ATV of the Year.
BEST HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATV
The YAMAHA YFZ 450R
Great ATVs have more to offer than the perfect balance between power, handling, and suspension; they make the rider better as well.
The Yamaha YFZ 450 has been making every rider better for a decade with the same magic formula of performance and handling. Continuous updates have improved the YFZ 450R each year as well, and today it comes with a hybrid chassis that is mostly cast aluminum with a steel tube engine cradle. The swingarm and subframe are cast aluminum also, and high-quality, long travel shocks with nearly infinite adjustability are used at both ends. Power is from a 449cc, 4-Stroke, Liquid Cooled, 5-Valve DOHC engine which is unique in that the oil reservoir is carried within the engine cases, and Electronic Fuel Injection insures crisp, instant response every time you crack the throttle. Every part of the YFZ 450R was designed for performance and that includes the ergonomics. Riding position puts you in an aggressive stance ready to attack the track and it feels very natural.
Whether turning laps on the track or blasting up and down huge dunes, the YFZ 450R is so easy to ride it practically finds its own way around the course. Power is impressive, handling is spot-on, and it will carve a line like a scalpel. Through the whoops or in the air, it holds its line and stays exactly where you put it, and it comes with everything you need to go fast. Because of its pro-class performance in an easy to ride, forgiving package that makes every rider better, the Yamaha YFZ 450R is our pick as the High-Performance ATV of the Year.
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