One of the reasons my daily driver is a truck is pragmatics. While I enjoy driving my wife's WRX, I need my vehicle to haul and tow. However, that doesn't mean I have to give up on all of the performance enjoyment. Electronic, intake, and exhaust mods have improved my truck's fun factor by 100 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque.
I've noticed that my tastes in ATVs sort of run the same way. While I like riding my brother's sport quad, I lean a little toward working-class machines. I really like the 4x4 abilities of the newest utility quads, which combine cargo-hauling capabilities with excellent traction and ground clearance. The fun part is the power available on the biggest of the working 'utes. Yamaha's Grizzly 700, Arctic Cat's Thundercat 1000, the Polaris XP 850, and CanAm's Renegade 800 all have impressive acceleration and power along with 4x4 and cargo-carrying racks that any hunter or farmer would want to be able to get the job done.
The test machine I currently have in my pickup bed is an Arctic Cat TRV 1000. This two-up machine can tow and haul. It can carry you and a passenger nearly anywhere with 4x4 and a front diff lock. Better have a good grip when you crack the throttle, too. Practicality and power--that's just my speed. However, it may not be yours. Whether toughness and labor or speed and fun catch your eye, here's a selection of some of this year's best dirt machines.
ARCTIC CAT
Arctic Cat TRV 1000
Arctic Cat PROWLER XTZ 1000
Arctic Cat 366
Arctic Cat 90DVX
CAN-AM
Can-Am DS 250
Can-Am RENEGADE 800R EFI
HONDA POWERSPORTS
Honda XR650L
Honda BIG RED
Honda FOURTRAX RINCON
Honda CRF250X
Honda CRF450R
Honda TRX250X
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki PRAIRIE 360 4x4
KTM
KTM 690 ENDURO
KTM 450 SX
KYMCO
Kymco MONGOOSE 300
Kymco UXV 500 4x4
Kymco MXU 375 irs 4x4
POLARIS
Polaris RZR S
Polaris SPORTSMAN 850 XP
Polaris RANGER HD
SUZUKI
Suzuki KINGQUAD 500 AXI
Suzuki RM-Z250
Suzuki DR200SE
Suzuki DR-Z125L
YAMAHA
Yamaha YZ125
Yamaha WR250F
Yamaha GRIZZLY 550
Yamaha RAPTOR 700R
Yamaha RHINO 700