Why Are UTVs Limited to 1000cc? | Comparison Guide of 100+ UTVs

So maybe like me, and you like the nuts and bolts of off-road machines and were wondering what all the different engine size options were in Side by Side vehicles. After a little research, I quickly realized that a lot of side by side manufacturers were pushing their engines right up to a 1000cc limit.

So why are UTVs limited to 1000cc? UTVs are limited to 1000cc because the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association defined the vehicle to meet certain restrictions so that state and federal agencies can enforce land access, registration, and tax laws. Because of these guidelines put in place by the ROHVA, race associations have also adopted the engine size limit to stay within their definition.

Contents

1 What is an ROV and How is it Defined?
- 1.1 Which Side by Sides are 1000cc?
2 1000cc UTV Comparison Guide
3 Comparing MSRP – Here are some Tips
4 Now the Real Question: Does Having the 1000cc Engine Limit Lessen my Off-Road Experience?
5 Fastest 1000cc UTV
6 Cheapest 1000cc UTV
7 1000cc Turbo Side by Side
8 UTV 1000cc Diesel
9 Which 1000cc UTV are 50” wide?
10 What is the Best 1000cc Side by Side?

To further explain this limit we have to understand what these agencies define a UTV or ROV as.

What is an ROV and How is it Defined?

So real quick, the acronym ROV stands for Recreational Off-highway Vehicle and is commonly interchanged with terms like UTV, Utility Terrain Vehicle, Utility Task Vehicle, Side by Side, SxS, MOHUV, multipurpose off-highway utility vehicle and yes, these are all the same vehicle class. They are just different names for the same machine.

The ROHVA defines an ROV as a vehicle meeting almost ALL of these specs:

Designed for off-highway use
4 or more tires
Steering wheel
Non-straddle seating
Seat belts
Roll over protective structure
Max Speed greater than 30Mph
Less than 80 inches in width
Engine displacement less than 1,000cc
17 character VIN or PIN

A UTV manufacturing company could technically have a larger engine in one of their side by sides but then it would possibly be placed in a whole new class of Off-Highway Vehicle. In most states, the next class up would be the dune buggy and rock crawler class.

Which Side by Sides are 1000cc?

We took some time diving into the top Side by Side manufactures and found over 110 different models for you to compare some specs on. Most of these stay around the 1000cc limit or are a little under. However, we did find some that are larger than the 1000cc and are still considered UTV’s.

1000cc UTV Comparison Guide

Yamaha 1000cc side by side

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*3rd party horsepower stats

Honda 1000cc side by side

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*3rd party horsepower stats

Can-am 1000cc side by side

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Polaris 1000cc side by side

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Kawasaki 1000cc side by side

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Arctic Cat (Textron) 1000cc side by side

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*3rd party pricing information

Hisun 1000cc side by side

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*3rd party horsepower stats

Coleman 1000cc UTV

Coleman’s largest UTV engine is an 800 cc engine.

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Roxor Mahindra (Jeep) 1000cc UTV

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Massimo 1000cc UTV

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Odes 1000cc UTV

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*3rd party horsepower stats

Komodo 1000cc side by side

*Chironex Motorsports Inc. is no longer in business*

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Comparing MSRP – Here are some Tips

The above Pricing table shows the newest model years, specs and the MSRP for those units. The MSRP may not include destination fees or dealer fees and taxes.

However, if you were to go to the manufacturer’s website or walk into a dealership there’s a good chance the UTV company will be offering special rebates, low-interest rate financing options, additional warranty coverage or other dealer incentives.

Consider these when comparing the different UTV models.

Another thing to consider about this comparison data is that these are the newest possible side by sides you can get right now so this doesn’t take into account last year’s model or even the model before that that might still be brand new at your local dealership and might be a cheaper way to go.

So keep those things in mind when price shopping.

Now the Real Question: Does Having the 1000cc Engine Limit Lessen my Off-Road Experience?

The Quick answer: No not really! See, the Performance of these smaller sized engines pack a lot of punch! The High-performance UTV’s have max speeds of 85 mph and considering they only weigh around 1450 – 1850 lbs they really do get up and go! Especially on dirt, sand, hills, and trails going 80 mph can be a pretty intense experience considering the terrain.

Now to elaborate, it really does depend on what you are used to driving, and how you are using the off-road vehicle! Are you an experienced ATV rider or have you had the pleasure of driving a high-performance dune buggy or rock-climbing rig?

Plain and simple if you are used to driving a larger machine with a bigger engine and pushing the pedal to the medal then you might want to stay with the rides you are used to. So if you have a 5 seat long travel sand rail with Corvette LS1 engine, you might be a little disappointed with the switch.

However, you could test drive a side by side at a local dealership or if you are really getting serious you could always go to a jamboree which usually offers a variety of manufactures and they even provide and borrow you riding gear for your demo ride. Keep in mind you will have to sign some waivers and go through their safety ahead of time but it’s well worth it.

If you are used to driving a smaller ATV in and out of 50” narrow trails then chances are you have seen some of these UTVs on some of the trails with you but keep in mind, not all of them fit. Most of the higher-performance side by sides are 64” inches or wider.

Of course, the pros of a UTV are that they carry more people and provide you with physical cover from the elements and provide extra safety measures like a roll cage and seat belts.

Here is a 4 wheeler example that compares to a 1000cc UTV with similar specs and of course there are plenty more examples out there.

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Fastest 1000cc UTV

The Top three fastest UTVs are the: Yamaha YXZ1000R, Can-AM Maverick X3 Turbo, and the RZR XP Turbo S models have a top speed locked in at 80-85 mph.

One aspect of UTV top speed is that the UTV manufactures actually have factory top speed limiters that govern these machines to stay under a set speed.

Having a speed-limiter helps protect the engine so that it lasts longer, and I’m sure having lower speed also helps reduces the severity of the crash and or chances of a crash.

Some people reprogram their speed limiters (ECU), like on the Yamaha YXZ1000R and can reach speeds of 100 mph or greater.

Cheapest 1000cc UTV

We did a lot of research, hours and hours and what we found might shock you…. (see 2nd place)

1st Place:

*3rd party pricing information

2nd Place:

3rd Place:

1000cc Turbo Side by Side

If these bad boys weren’t already fast enough for you, the big names all have some UTVs with turbo offerings or add-ons.

Polaris offers 10 turbocharged models ranging from $21k all the way up to $31k
Can-am offers 15 turbocharged models ranging from $19k all the way up to $30k
Yahama offers a factory turbo kit that can be added to their 4 non-turbo SxS models ranging from $24.5k all the way up to $27.3k

Yamaha GYTR has a new Turbo kit that, when installed by Yamaha dealers, retains the factory warranty! The $5499.99 kit includes a Garrett GT860RS Turbo and gives you a 60% increase in power.

Polaris UTVs with Turbos

Can-am UTVs with Turbos

Yamaha UTVs with the GYTR Turbo add-on ($5499.99)

UTV 1000cc Diesel

If you are looking for a diesel Side by Side with a 1000cc engine then here are the options:

Which 1000cc UTV are 50” wide?

The next closest 50″ UTV is the Polaris is RZR 900 at 875cc.

And in case you are wondering Yamaha currently does not have a 50″ trail-sized UTV. Yamaha’s 1000cc YXZ lineup is 64 inches and the Wolverine X2 comes in at 59.1 inches wide at 847cc.

What is the Best 1000cc Side by Side?

Best Value 1000cc UTV:

2020 Can-am Maverick Trail 1000cc I mean come on it’s got the 1000cc engine, it’s Turbocharged and is around $13k. That’s a lot of CCs for the money!

Best Performance 1000cc UTV:

Yamaha YXZ1000R Steering wheel paddle shifting 5 speed and ECU Reprogrammable Speed 100MPH

Best Utility Diesel 1000cc UTV:

Kawasaki MULE PRO-DXT DIESEL Switches between 3 or 6 passenger seating in about a minute with a 1-ton towing capacity

Best Turbo 1000cc UTV:

Yamaha YXZ1000R with a GT860RS Turbo Kit and with Dealer install it remains under Factory Warranty ($5499.99 kit)

	Model	MSRP	CC	Horse- power	UTV type	Engine
	Hisun Strike 900	$11,999	924cc	65*	Sport	4-Stroke V-Twin Cylinder OHC

	Model	MSRP	CC	Horse- power	UTV type	Engine
	2020 Can-am Maverick Trail 1000	$13,399	976 cc	75hp	Sport	Rotax V-twin, liquid cooled / Rotax Turbo- charged 3-Cylinder

	Model	MSRP	CC	Horse- power	UTV type	Engine
	2020 Kawasaki MULE PRO- DX-EPS	$14,099	993	24hp	Utility	4-stroke, 3-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled, diesel

Model	MSRP	CC	Horse- power	Engine
2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S	$30,999	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo Dynamix	$28,499	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S Velocity	$28,399	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP Turbo S	$28,199	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP Turbo Dynamix	$25,999	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP Turbo S Velocity	$25,399	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo LE	$24,899	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo	$23,699	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP Turbo LE	$21,999	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo
2019 RZR XP Turbo	$20,999	925cc	168hp	ProStar 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder with turbo

Model	MSRP	CC	Horse- power	Engine
2020 Maverick X3 Turbo	$18,999	900cc	120hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 DS Turbo R	$20,999	900cc	172hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 RS Turbo R	$22,499	900cc	172hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X DS Turbo RR	$24,999	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR	$27,499	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X RC Turbo	$23,999	900cc	120hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X RC Turbo RR	$29,599	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X MR Turbo	$23,199	900cc	120hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 X MR Turbo RR	$26,399	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max Turbo	$21,999	900cc	120hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max DS Turbo R	$23,699	900cc	172hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max RS Turbo R	$25,199	900cc	172hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max X DS Turbo RR	$27,499	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max X RS Turbo RR	$29,999	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled
2020 Maverick X3 Max X MR Turbo RR	$28,899	900cc	195hp	Rotax ACE Turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, liquid cooled

Why Are UTVs Limited to 1000cc? | Comparison Guide of 100+ UTVs